CAPITAL HABEAS ATTORNEY POSITION

The Georgia Resource Center is accepting applications for an experienced attorney to join our dedicated and passionate team fighting against the death penalty for people on Georgia’s death row.

The Georgia Resource Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit law office established in 1988 to provide high quality, client-centered representation to people under a sentence of death in Georgia in state and federal habeas corpus proceedings, and in clemency proceedings before Georgia’s Board of Pardons and Paroles.

As part of a team, the attorney will undertake all aspects of state and federal habeas corpus litigation and clemency proceedings, including identifying habeas issues through exhaustive review of trial, appellate, and collateral records; working with investigators and experts to develop those issues into legal claims; conducting legal research; drafting and filing appellate briefs and pleadings; conducting depositions; preparing expert and lay witnesses for evidentiary hearings and clemency proceedings; conducting evidentiary and clemency hearings and presenting oral argument; and providing legal and investigative assistance to pro bono attorneys.

Experience and Qualifications:
– A demonstrated commitment to indigent criminal defense, racial justice, and the dignity of all people no matter their worst act.
– A strong preference for a candidate with at least five years of trial, appellate, or post-conviction criminal defense experience. The ideal candidate will also have experience in capital defense and the ability to supervise and lead legal teams representing clients in state and federal capital habeas proceedings. Exceptional applicants with less experience will be considered.
– Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, and the ability to think strategically and creatively about litigation and advocacy.
– Self-motivated, organized, and able to manage a variety of tasks with short- and long-term deadlines.
– Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to work independently and collaboratively on a team, and the capacity for resilience in the face of challenging circumstances.
– Ability to communicate effectively and establish rapport with clients and witnesses from a variety of backgrounds.
– Ability to travel and work irregular hours when needed.
– Member of the Georgia Bar, eligible for admission on motion, or willing to seek admission at the earliest opportunity.

Salary and Commitment:
– The Resource Center offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and role, within a range of $80,000-140,000.
– The Resource Center offers a competitive benefits package, including a generous paid time off policy; fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums; employer contributions to retirement; remote work options (though the attorney must reside in metro Atlanta); and training and professional development opportunities.

Application Process:
– Email cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and three professional references to Operations Manager Brandie Martinez Bedard at [email protected]
– Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, but applicants are encouraged to submit an application by September 26, 2025.

The Resource Center is an equal opportunity employer. We recognize the criminal legal system’s disproportionate impact on people of color and seek a diverse workforce to better serve our clients. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or criminal record.

SUMMER 2026 INTERNSHIP

The Georgia Appellate Practice & Educational Resource Center (“Georgia Resource Center”) is a small 501(c)(3) non-profit law office located in Atlanta, GA providing free representation throughout the state of Georgia to poor people on Georgia’s death row in their state and federal habeas corpus proceedings, and in clemency proceedings before the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles.

The Georgia Resource Center was established in 1988 through a partnership with the State Bar of Georgia, the Georgia Supreme Court, the federal judiciary, and Georgia State University College of Law, to address the crisis in the lack of appellate representation for people on Georgia’s death row. Georgia is the only state in the country that provides no mechanism, statutory or otherwise, for the appointment and compensation of counsel in post-conviction proceedings for those under a death sentence. For more than three decades, the Georgia Resource Center’s work has exposed major errors in death penalty trials, including deficient legal representation, prosecutorial misconduct, racial discrimination, and wrongful death sentencing of people with intellectual disability and severe mental illness.

During our 10-week Summer Intern Program, law students will directly assist Georgia Resource Center staff in all aspects of its work, including visiting clients, interviewing witnesses, compiling life histories, and conducting legal research and writing. Interns often have the opportunity to attend court proceedings, such as state court evidentiary hearings and oral arguments before the Georgia Supreme Court and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. We seek highly motivated, creative, and team-oriented students committed to indigent defense and the dignity of all people. Previous experience working with incarcerated persons or individuals with mental health issues is a plus.

Applications should be submitted by email to: [email protected]. All applications should include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references. Applicants interested in interning during the 2026 Summer are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with a priority given to applications received by February 13, 2026.