Litigation Attorney

Who We Are

Mountain State Justice is a nationally recognized, non-profit legal organization with offices in Charleston and Morgantown, West Virginia. MSJ is dedicated to redressing entrenched and emerging systemic social, political, and economic imbalances of power for marginalized West Virginians, through legal advocacy and community empowerment. Essential to our mission is an inclusive work environment that encourages, supports, and rewards the collaborative and creative pursuit of professional excellence. The MSJ team is committed to shared values of impact, excellence, empowerment, compassion, integrity, maximizing available resources, and addressing unmet needs.

At MSJ you will work with creative and aggressive advocates who care deeply about our work and our clients. MSJ values candidates who bring diverse experiences to the workplace, including economic, racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds, and legal system contact.

The Position

MSJ is seeking a full-time attorney to join our team working for social justice, in the area of prisoner and civil rights. Case subject matter may include conditions of confinement in various types of institutions, excessive force claims, the rights of the unhoused, and disability discrimination. Work may include individual cases, impact and class litigation, and appeals.

The position can be based out of our Morgantown or Charleston office, with preference given to the Morgantown office.

Who You Are

The following is an aspirational view of an ideal candidate; we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from historically marginalized groups. While no candidate will bring every qualification desired, the below are representative of the knowledge and skills that MSJ seeks for this hire:

• Experience litigating in state and federal courts
• Experience with class and impact litigation
• Experience in civil rights litigation, particularly prison litigation and § 1983 cases
• Lived experience with racism, poverty, and/or other inequity
• Ability to take initiative and to be self-directed
• Energetic and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Strong writing and analytic skills
• Strategic and creative thinking
• Interest in collaboration
• Excellent communication skills

West Virginia Bar admission is not immediately required: An attorney licensed in another state/jurisdiction may work in legal services for up to five years based on that out-of-state certification.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience. Salaries range from $55,000 for an attorney with little to no prior experience, $70,000-$75,000 for around five years’ experience, up to $105,000 for an extremely qualified individual under the metrics above. Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance as well as a flexible spending account, retirement contribution, and generous paid leave.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but applicants are encouraged to apply on or before April 30, 2026. An offer will not be made until after that date. For the right candidate, we could delay the start date until late summer or early fall 2026 to accommodate completing a judicial clerkship or post-graduate fellowship.

For more information about Mountain State Justice visit www.mountainstatejustice.org and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mountainstatejustice.