CDPL is a non-profit law firm and advocacy organization that works to provide the highest quality representation to people facing execution, and to end the death penalty in North Carolina. CDPL’s commitment to representing indigent and disadvantaged defendants just as vigorously as corporate lawyers defend their highest-paying clients, and training other capital attorneys across the state to do the same, has saved the lives of many who faced execution. In addition to representing individual clients, CDPL spearheads litigation and public education campaigns that address systemic injustices and cast light on the arbitrariness and unfairness of our state’s capital punishment system. Our team of attorneys, mitigation investigators, paralegals, and public education specialists has been successful in identifying strategic opportunities to change public opinion and reduce the use of the death penalty. Over the past decade, CDPL has been a leading force in stopping executions in North Carolina.
CDPL is committed to exposing and challenging the racial bias inherent in the death penalty and to building an organizational culture of racial equity in all aspects of our work, from litigation and investigation to public education and advocacy. CDPL team members are encouraged to participate in cross-disciplinary projects that further our goals of ending the death penalty and promoting racial equity. CDPL is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations. We seek to recruit attorneys with diverse experiences and backgrounds who are committed to furthering our racial equity goals. Our racial equity statement can be found here.
CDPL is seeking to hire an attorney with at least two years of relevant experience interested in working on post-conviction cases and, if desired, trial cases. Relevant experience may include clinics and internships during law school.
In addition to these qualifications, ideal candidates will have:
- A commitment to ending the death penalty and addressing systemic unfairness
- Strong oral and written communications skills
- An understanding of issues common in capital cases, including mental illness, poverty, racism, and substance abuse
- An interest in advocacy and public education, in addition to direct representation of clients
Applicants should send a cover letter by August 31, 2020, detailing interest, as well as a resume, the names of two professional references, and a writing sample of approximately 10 pages to Ms. Barrie Wallace at barrie@cdpl.org. For additional information, please contact Barrie Wallace at barrie@cdpl.org.