UNCOMMON LAW
UnCommon Law supports people navigating California's discretionary parole process through trauma-informed legal representation, mental health counseling, legislative and policy advocacy, and in-prison programming led by those who have been through the process themselves.
Through our unique, trauma-informed model of advocacy, we provide the space currently missing in the system for healing, accountability, and safe pathways home from prison. In developing new self-narratives, the people we serve are able to more effectively disrupt violence inside and outside prison and become leaders who change negative societal narratives about those incarcerated for violent crime. Our groundbreaking approach is changing policy and outcomes, driven by the voices and experiences of system-impacted communities.
Litigation Assistant
Location: Oakland, CA
Hybrid or Remote: Hybrid (in-person staff meetings every other Monday and other miscellaneous in-person needs)
Supervisor: Supervising Attorney for Litigation and Policy
JOB DESCRIPTION
UnCommon Law is the only non-profit legal service provider in California that focuses exclusively on helping those serving life sentences navigate the parole system. 1 in 3 people incarcerated in California are serving life sentences, and every year, thousands of them go to parole hearings where nothing less than their freedom is at stake. UnCommon Law has represented individuals in their parole hearings for about 20 years but has come to recognize that dismantling the parole system’s fueling of mass incarceration requires sustained and strategic litigation and policy advocacy. As a result, UnCommon Law has recently expanded to include a Litigation and Policy team, and this position will be critical to the development of that team.
UnCommon Law’s litigation docket is largely composed of state court habeas corpus petitions that challenge unlawful denials of parole and other due process violations in the parole system. The Innovator will have the opportunity to assist with these cases and receive firsthand litigation experience prior to heading to law school. The Innovator will also assist with case development (with assignments such as public records requests, data analysis, research, witness interviewing, and declaration drafting), resource development (public-facing documents available to incarcerated people that explain updates in parole law and processes), responding to mail and phone inquiries from incarcerated people on litigation-related topics, and supporting policy goals (such as assisting with legislation advocacy and implementation and reviewing proposed regulations). The Innovator will also assist with general litigation and departmental administrative support duties. The Innovator’s varied portfolio will help shape and advance UnCommon Law’s litigation and policy goals to make the parole system more transparent and fairer.
Training will be provided in many areas, including, but not limited to, case management (including tools such as Box and Clio), parole and related areas of law, trauma-informed client interviewing, and how to compile legal briefs including tables.
DESIRED SKILLS
- Commitment to justice and challenging the status quo.
- Well organized. The Innovator will likely be involved in many projects at once, and the ability to stay organized and on top of deadlines will be important.
- Detailed-oriented. UnCommon Law’s legal work involves much dotting of i’s and crossing of t’s, and having an eye for details will help the Innovator thrive.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Strong writing skills.
- Self-starter. Being driven and able to work independently will help the Innovator thrive in this role, while they are also provided with dedicated supervision.
- Spanish speaking and writing skills are a plus but not required. Spanish is the most common non-English language needed for our work, but other language skills are also welcome.
- Creativity and open-mindedness. UnCommon Law is a think-outside-the-box organization.
