Legal Director

Legal Director, Indiana Innocence Project (INIP)

Location:

Indianapolis, IN (hybrid/remote flexibility, but must be based in Indiana)
The Indiana Innocence Project

The Indiana Innocence Project (INIP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying and vacating wrongful convictions and preventing future miscarriages of justice. INIP provides pro bono legal advocacy to innocent individuals who have been wrongfully convicted in Indiana, educates the public, and works with legal stakeholders and institutions of higher education to improve the fairness and reliability of the post-conviction process in Indiana.

The Legal Director will serve as chief litigator and supervisor of the INIP client-based mission. This is a senior leadership role focused on advancing high-quality legal representation in state and federal courts, while serving on the leadership team building the organization.

The Legal Director reports to and works closely with the Board of Directors and collaborates with all staff, development and communications partners, and justice-sector stakeholders across Indiana and the country.

Partner with the Board of Directors and Director toward INIP goals;

Engage in a role of leadership and supervision within INIP tied to all matters of client representation and litigation, including supervision of attorneys, staff and volunteers, and working with experts;

Appear and pursue necessary legal actions on behalf of INIP clients, with the ability to file pleadings and present evidence in state and federal courts;

Engage, when appropriate, as co-counsel with other law firms and innocence organizations in the representation of INIP clients;

With the Director responsible for day-to-day functions, team manage matters of intake, file review, case review, investigations, interviewing, visiting incarcerated people, and retrieving and analyzing pertinent case information;

Collaborate with INIP stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Indiana State Public Defender, wrongful conviction organizations, academic institutions, and private attorneys, to assist, engage, and strengthen ties to the organization when necessary and desirable;

Travel as required for job duties, including, when appropriate, for donor engagement;
Promote the work of INIP to the community.

• Significant litigation experience (typically 10+ years) in legal advocacy.
• Experience leading teams and managing organizational staff.
• Strong communication, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

• Prior innocence movement experience.
• Experience in criminal legal representation, civil rights, or related fields.
• Familiarity with Indiana’s legal and nonprofit systems..

• Location: Indianapolis, with some flexibility for hybrid/remote work.
• Compensation: $120,000–$140,000, commensurate with experience in the post-conviction innocence field. This is the full and complete compensation for the role; no additional benefits are offered.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Indiana Innocence Project

www.indianainnocenceproject.org

2104 E Washington St, Suite. 205, Indianapolis, IN 46201