Open Positions at Florida Legal Services

Florida Institutional Legal Services Project 

Florida Legal Services (FLS) seeks an experienced dynamic, self-starting attorney with vision and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and criminal justice reform to fill a full-time position as part of our Florida Institutional Legal Services Project (FILS) team. For decades, the FILS Project has been at the forefront of protecting and advancing the rights of adults and youth who are incarcerated or detained in state and federal carceral institutions (and those recently released) in Florida. The attorney will investigate systemic civil rights violations for incarcerated people in Florida; advocate for people experiencing harm; develop impact litigation in federal and state courts; and engage in other types of advocacy to advance clients' civil rights. 

Our strategies combine impact litigation, advocacy, and community lawyering. Our work is statewide across a vast system of prisons, jails, and juvenile detention facilities. We prioritize legal advocacy on a range of issues impacting low-income people involved in the criminal legal system, including: institutional sexual abuse, solitary confinement, medical and mental health care, juvenile justice, discrimination against people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people, and reproductive justice. The focus of the position may change based on changes in the law, the circumstances in Florida, the needs of those we serve, or the needs of the organization and our partners. We also collaborate with community organizations to support advocacy and organizing strategies aimed at reducing mass incarceration. 

Florida Legal Services is a statewide leader in advancing economic, social, and racial justice. We are a non-profit public interest law firm that advocates for poor, vulnerable, and hard to reach people through impact litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, education, and strategic partnerships. Learn more about our work here.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Status: Exempt, full-time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc.

• Location: This position can be based out of located in our Newberry or Orlando offices with the ability to work remotely from another location in Florida.

• Education Requirements: Juris Doctorate Degree

• License/Certification Requirements: Admission to Florida Bar

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct fact investigation, potential claims analysis, and legal research as part of developing impact litigation and advocacy related to the Project's identified priorities;;

• Identify problems and challenges that people experience during incarceration and strategize about solutions;

• Conduct client interviews and case investigation at institutions around the state of Florida including prisons, jails, detention centers, and juvenile justice facilities;

• Engage in effective and regular communications with clients, witnesses, co-counsel, experts, and state agencies;

• Draft legal motions, briefs, memos, and other documents in support of impact litigation; 

• Draft and conduct all aspects of discovery;

• Advocate for incarcerated people directly with prison officials, jail officials, and local, state, and federal agencies;

• Litigate impact cases at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts;

• Respond to requests for legal assistance from incarcerated and formerly incarcerated persons; 

• Collaborate with community-based organizations and other allies related to FLS litigation and advocacy goals; and

• Any other duties as assigned by the Project Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctorate Degree;

• At least three years of federal court civil litigation or comparable legal experience, preferably including litigation of systemic reform cases, prison litigation, and/or civil rights litigation;

• Excellent research and writing skills; 

• Admission to The Florida Bar;

• Excellent and consistent attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines;

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities;

• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate as part of a team;

• Willingness to work in evenings or on weekends, as needed;

• Valid driver’s license;

• Ability to travel extensively, including overnight travel;

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice;

• Commitment to using trauma-informed approach to representing vulnerable populations;

• Experience using LegalServer (or similar computer-based case management system) and Google Suites, a plus; and

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary will be set depending on experience. FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off and fully-paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than February 7, 2025.

Florida Institutional Legal Services Project

Florida Legal Services (FLS) seeks an experienced, dynamic, self-starting attorney with vision and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and criminal justice reform to fill a full-time position as part of our Florida Institutional Legal Services Project (FILS) team. For decades, the FILS Project has been at the forefront of protecting and advancing the rights of adults and youth who are incarcerated or detained in state and federal carceral institutions (and those recently released) in Florida. 

The attorney will focus on post-conviction legal assistance for low-income people to challenge sentences, convictions, sentence administration (e.g., gaintime, split sentences, and revocation of early release credits), and advocacy opportunities for early release. This work addresses collateral attacks on convictions; our office does not represent people in criminal defense or direct criminal appeals. The attorney will work as part of our FILS Project team which engages in impact litigation, advocacy, and community lawyering for people impacted by the criminal legal system that is aimed at systemic change and reducing mass incarceration. 

Florida Legal Services is a statewide leader in advancing economic, social, and racial justice. We are a non-profit public interest law firm that advocates for poor, vulnerable, and hard to reach people through impact litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, education, and strategic partnerships.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Status: Exempt, full time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc. 

Location:This position can be based out of located in our Newberry or Orlando offices with the ability to work remotely from another location in Florida.

Education Requirements: Juris Doctorate Degree 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct fact investigation, fact analysis, and legal research related to post-conviction advocacy;

• Identify problems and challenges that people experience during incarceration and strategizing solutions;

• Conduct client interviews and case investigation at carceral institutions around the state of Florida;

• Engage in effective and regular communications with clients, witnesses, co-counsel, experts, and state agencies;

• Draft legal motions, briefs, memos, and other documents in support of post-conviction advocacy; 

• Advocate for incarcerated people directly with prison officials, jail officials, and local, state, and federal agencies;

• Litigate impact cases at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts;

• Respond to requests for legal assistance from incarcerated and formerly incarcerated persons; 

• Collaborate with community-based organizations and other allies related to FLS litigation and policy goals; and

• Any other duties as assigned by the Project Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctorate Degree;

• At least three years of state and/or federal court post-conviction, criminal defense trial and/or appellate work, background in civil rights litigation, prison litigation, civil rights litigation, or comparable legal experience;

• Excellent research and writing skills; 

• Admission to the Florida Bar;

• Excellent and consistent attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines;

• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and time management abilities;

• Initiative to work independently and ability to collaborate as part of a team;

• Valid driver’s license;

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice;

• Commitment to using trauma-informed approach to representing vulnerable populations;

• Experience using LegalServer (or similar computer-based case management system) and Google Suites, a plus; and

• Commitment to work and learn in a technology-based distributed office environment.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary will be set depending on experience. FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off, and fully paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for employees.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in working with us, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Please include your salary requirements. Submissions should be in PDF format or Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later than February 9, 2025.

Florida Institutional Legal Services Project

Florida Legal Services (FLS) seeks a dynamic, self-starting paralegal with vision, initiative, and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law to fill a full-time paralegal position as part of our Florida Institutional Legal Services Project (FILS) team. For decades, the FILS Project has been at the forefront of protecting and advancing the rights of adults and youth who are incarcerated or detained in state and federal carceral institutions (and those recently released) in Florida. 

The paralegal will assist with the full scope of our legal work as part of our FILS Project team which engages in impact litigation, advocacy, and community lawyering for people impacted by the criminal legal system aimed at systemic change and reducing mass incarceration. Our staff is committed to collaborative work and to supporting people who are incarcerated or otherwise harmed by the criminal legal system. Our legal work priorities include: institutional sexual abuse, solitary confinement, medical and mental health care, juvenile justice, discrimination against people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people, and reproductive justice. 

Florida Legal Services is a statewide leader in advancing economic, social, and racial justice. We are a non-profit public interest law firm that advocates for poor, vulnerable, and hard to reach people through impact litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, education, and strategic partnerships. Learn more about our work here.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Status: Exempt, full-time staff member of Florida Legal Services, Inc.

• Location: This position can be based out of located in our Newberry or Orlando offices with the ability to work remotely from another location in Florida.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide litigation support to attorneys, including legal drafting and preparing for discovery, hearings, and trials;

• Assist with client interviews and case investigation in the communities we serve by phone and onsite inside institutions such as prisons, jails, detention centers, or mental health facilities;

• Conduct fact investigation, fact analysis, and legal research as part of impact litigation development and advocacy; 

• Assist in review, organization, and analysis of records and other documents;

• Draft correspondence and maintain electronic case files; 

• Assist with intakes for clients seeking legal assistance in accordance with FLS policies and procedures and attorneys’ responsibilities; 

• Maintain litigation time records; and

• Any other duties as assigned by the paralegal’s supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS

• Valid driver’s license;

• Ability to travel extensively; 

• Excellent communication, time management, and organizational skills, including organizing and maintaining large case files;

• Commitment to using trauma-informed approach to representing vulnerable populations;

• Experience using LegalServer (or similar computer-based case management system) and Google Suites, a plus;

• Desire to work and learn in a technology-based distributed (remote) office environment;

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice; and 

• Bilingual with fluency in Spanish, both oral and written, a plus

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary will be set depending on experience. FLS offers an excellent benefits package including 17 paid holidays a year, generous paid time off, and fully paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance for staff employees.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in working with us, please send a resume, a letter of introduction that explains how your experience and contributions will further the mission of FLS, and your salary requirements in PDF format OR Google Docs format (sent to us as a link) to work@floridalegal.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to receive full consideration you are encouraged to submit your application no later February 9, 2025.