Death Penalty Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 882042
Agency: Justice Administrative Commission
Working Title: CRIMINAL CONFLICT AND CIVIL REGIONAL COUNSEL, 1ST REGION - MITIGATION SPECIALIST - 21014733
Pay Plan: Regional Counsels
Position Number: 21014733
Salary: Experience
Posting Closing Date: 01/18/2027
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Job Opening: Capital Mitigation Specialist
The Office of Criminal Conflict & Civil Regional Counsel First DCA Region is now accepting applications for a full-time mitigation specialist position in its Capital Litigation Unit located in Jacksonville, Florida. The mission of the Regional Conflict Counsel Capital Litigation Unit is to tackle problems endemic to the administration of the death penalty and to seek justice by offering superior representation for indigent clients facing capital punishment. We represent individuals facing the death penalty in state trial courts.
The capital mitigation specialist will work with an in-house team of experienced attorneys and fact investigators who specialize in defending capital cases. This position involves investigative work for the purpose of developing mental health, medical and social history information necessary to both the first and second stages of death penalty murder cases. The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting in developing a mitigation plan for presentation at trial. Duties include interviewing and building rapport with clients; locating and contacting witnesses; locating, collecting, and analyzing educational, medical, mental health, and various other records. The mitigation specialist will also assist defense attorneys in locating and working with experts, serving subpoenas, coordinating witnesses, creating demonstrative evidence, summarizing records, preparing timelines and genograms of client, researching medical/mental health issues, memorializing investigative efforts, and writing comprehensive sentencing memorandums. Travel is required and you will be eligible for reimbursement per the office's employee manual. The qualified applicant should have at least three (3) years of experience as a mitigation specialist. Beginning salary will be commensurate with experience. Additionally, the State of Florida offers generous benefits provided to State employees including health insurance, retirement, and paid vacation.
The successful applicant should possess the following:
A master's degree in social work or social services from an accredited university;
Familiarity with the law governing the introduction of mitigating evidence at the penalty phase of a capital case;
Substantial familiarity with the psychological, behavioral and neurological diseases and disorders set forth in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;
Substantial familiarity with the protocols for interviewing family members, relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers, employers and other potential mitigation witnesses to obtain information regarding the defendant's background and evidence to support statutory and non-statutory mitigating circumstances;
Familiarity with record collections including, but not limited to, educational, employment, medical, social services, military and prison records;
The ability to work as part of the defense team, follow the instructions of defense counsel regarding the handling of the case, and maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained while working on the case;
Be comfortable working with a diverse set of clients and their families, often in the setting of a jail or prison; and
Commitment to our mission and work well in a team environment.
If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at 1-844-377-1888 on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
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