Human Rights Research Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are 

The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church is committed to transformative justice in the promotion of effective and evidence-based diversion programs, racial justice, and victim services.  

We are dedicated to pursuing justice and protecting the rights and safety of citizens of the County and its visitors. As part of that mission, we work to enhance public safety and welfare through the vigorous enforcement of criminal laws in a fair, compassionate, ethical and just manner. We maintain a pro-active role in our community by working to prevent crime in addition to its mandate to prosecute with integrity, equality and excellence. We serve Arlington County, the City of Falls Church, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.  

We are looking for a full-time, limited-duration Conviction Review Attorney to dedicate a year to investigating convictions obtained by the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney that may have been based on questionable testimony and/or evidence. 
 

What You Will Do 

The conviction review process is a specialized, time-consuming legal process. As a member of our diverse and committed team, you will:  

• Review cases for potential DNA testing, indicia of wrongful convictions, and parole or pardon petitions;  
• Maintain and grow your expertise while training our Office on reliable forensic sciences;  
• Handle expungement petitions, restoration of rights, freedom of information act (FOIA), and serving as the FOIA officer; and  
• Maintain Brady and Giglio databases.  

Who You Are 

The ideal candidate has excellent research and writing skills, as well as strong interpersonal skills, the ability to organize, interpret, and apply legal principles to analyze and logically address complex legal circumstances to draw sound, objective conclusions. 

At a minimum, you are a lawyer who has: 

• Three years progressively responsible experience as a practicing criminal attorney including trial, legal research and clerk experience.   
• Completed the requirements for graduation with a JD in law from an accredited college or university. 
• Passed the Virginia State Bar or is eligible for waiver into the Virginia State Bar. 

Preferably, we would like you to have: 

• Experience in the practice of Virginia criminal law;  
• Experience with post-conviction review work; and 
• Extensive knowledge of Virginia Law enforcement or courtroom experience including trial, legal research and clerk experience. 

The salary range for this role is $97,052.80 - $107,000 annually. Starting salary will depend upon the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected.

Special Requirements 

A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You maywill be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. 
Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or willingness to use alternative modes of transportation. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. An offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record. 
Covid-19 Vaccination: Arlington County Government is committed to the health, safety, and wellness for all staff.  In support of that commitment, all current and newly hired employees are required to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination. For those qualified employees with a disability or sincerely held religious belief which prohibits them from receiving a vaccine, you will be able to contact the Office of Human Rights to request a reasonable accommodation. Adherence to this policy is a condition of employment.  

Work hours: Full-time, Monday through Friday with flexibility for occasional evening and weekend hours as needed. Limited telework is available. 

THE OFFICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER THAT IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our agency. We encourage all to apply and make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. 

Benefits 

Arlington County Government employee benefits depend on whether a position is permanent, the number of hours worked, and the number of months the position is scheduled. 
Specific information on benefits and conditions of employment can be found on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Careers/2-Employee-Benefits. 
Permanent, Full-Time Appointments 
All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available: 
Paid Leave: Vacation leave is earned at the rate of five hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases every three years until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. There are eleven County-paid holidays in addiiton to four Non-County-paid holidays each year. . 
Health and Dental Insurance: Three group health insurance plans are offered - a network open access plan, a point-of-service plan, and a health maintenance organization. A group dental insurance plan is also offered. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. A discount vision plan is provided for eye care needs. 
Life Insurance: A group term policy of basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance is available with rates based on the employee's age and smoker/non-smoker status. 
Retirement: The County offers three vehicles to help you prepare for retirement:  a defined benefit plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457).  The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County.  You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan.  General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service. The County also contributes to this plan.  
For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)) . The County also matches your 457 contribution, up to $20 per pay period, in this plan.  The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to set aside money on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit.  New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your base pay. 
Other Benefits: The County also offers health, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; long-term care insurance; tuition assistance; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other employee benefits. 
Permanent, Part-Time Appointments: 
Part time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week. 
Limited Term Appointments: 
Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status. 
Temporary Regular Appointments: 
Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above.  They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays. 

Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:  
Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.