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Human Rights Defense Center

 

Job Description

Employment Opportunities at HRDC

The Human Rights Defense Center is a dynamic and vibrant non-profit organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, religion or other impermissible factors, nor on prior incarceration/criminal record status.

HRDC welcomes volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, interning or being a fellow at HRDC in a non-compensated capacity, please contact us at 561-360-2523.

 

STAFF ATTORNEY

Human Rights Defense Center: Staff Attorney Job Posting

 

Job Description

 

The Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) is seeking a full-time staff attorney in its Boynton Beach, FL office.

 

HRDC is a nonprofit organization that advocates in furtherance of the human rights of people held in U.S. prisons, jails, and detention facilities. HRDC is one of the few national opponents to the private prison industry and is the foremost advocate on behalf of the free speech rights of publishers to communicate with prisoners and the right of prisoners to receive publications and communications from outside sources. HRDC also does significant work around government transparency and accountability issues by filing and litigating public records and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases at the state and federal levels. In addition, HRDC provides representation in cases involving wrongful convictions and consumer class actions related to the financial exploitation of prisoners and their families.

 

HRDC has a national docket and works with the most skilled civil rights lawyers and firms around the country. Our opponents include state, local and federal agencies, as well as private prison companies and companies that profit from mass incarceration. All HRDC cases have a media component and often involve working with the affected communities.

 

Responsibilities: The attorney will primarily litigate Section 1983 and FOIA cases in Federal Court, and will also litigate cases under state public records laws. The attorney will be expected to handle all phases of complex civil litigation and maintain an active case load, although cases at HRDC are handled cooperatively among all in-house attorneys. The attorney will be directly supervised by the Litigation Director and will work with in-house legal support staff. In most cases, the attorney will coordinate and work with co-counsel from various jurisdictions across the country. The attorney will occasionally be expected to travel to various jurisdictions around the country. This is a full time, 40 hour per week job in our Boynton Beach office; however, remote work is an option for an ideal candidate.

 

Qualifications: A minimum of five years post-graduate experience as a full-time lawyer or judicial clerkship is preferred, but exceptions will be made for exceptional candidates with less experience. The successful candidate will have excellent writing and analytical skills, experience litigating § 1983 cases, a demonstrated commitment to improving the criminal justice system, and a personal interest in the preservation and advancement of civil liberties and individual rights. The attorney must be admitted in good standing to the Florida Bar (or to the bar of any state or the District of Columbia if working remotely,) must be self-motivated, energetic, capable of working in a dynamic, fast paced environment, and able to adjust to shifting priorities. Experience with First Amendment, public records, class action or consumer related litigation is a plus.

 

Salary/Benefits: Salary is $85,000-125,000 per year and will be set depending on experience skill sets. HRDC offers a generous benefits package including 100% employer paid group health, dental, and vision insurance. Generous vacation, including all federal holidays.

 

Application: Send resume, cover letter, and three references to litigation director Jonathan Picard, jpicard@humanrightsdefensecenter.org. No phone calls please. The position will remain open until filled.

 

HRDC is an equal opportunity employer. Formerly incarcerated persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

Human Rights Defense Center: Advertising Coordinator

 

Job Description: Advertising Coordinator

 

The Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) is hiring a full-time advertising coordinator to work with our executive director to sell print and digital advertising in the nation’s two premiere criminal justice magazines, Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News. This is a critical position which sustains and increases print and online advertising.

 

HRDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Boynton Beach, Florida. Our mission since 1990 has been to protect the human and civil rights of people in jails, prisons, and detention centers nationally. HRDC furthers its mission through advocacy, litigation, and the publication and distribution of two monthly magazines and numerous books intended for prisoners and their advocates. HRDC has 14 full time employees.

 

HRDC is a charitable organization and relies on sales of its books, advertising, magazines and donations to support its work. The advertising coordinator will promote sales of advertising in HRDC’s monthly magazines and websites. The advertising coordinator will report directly to the executive director and work under their direction and supervision. Primary areas of responsibility include: (1) maintaining and servicing existing advertising accounts, (2) generating leads for new potential advertisers, contacting them and doing outreach to sell print and digital ads, (3) reaching out to lapsed advertisers about renewing ads, (4) reviewing ad content for accuracy.

 

We will soon be launching a podcast which will be an additional opportunity to sell advertising.

 

The position is based in our Boynton Beach, FL office. It is a M-F, 9-5 job with all federal holidays off.

 

Annual salary range for this position is $60,000 to $70,000. HRDC has a generous benefits package that includes full health insurance, dental and vision insurance, and paid vacation.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

  1. At least 3-5 years direct sales experience successfully selling advertising, products, or services.
  2. Experience generating leads and following up.
  3. Proficiency with MS Office suit, Windows and Salesforce. Quickbooks expertise is desirable as well.
  4. A high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
  5. Able to function in a deadline driven, fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
  6. Creative ability to sell advertising.
  7. Excellent writing and communication skills.
  8. Experience or familiarity with the publishing industry is a plus but not required.

 

If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to: pwright@prisonlegalnews.org . No phone calls please. Position remains open until filled. HRDC is an equal opportunity employer and criminal justice impacted people are encouraged to apply.

 

Job Description Human Rights Defense Center:

Prison Legal News  Managing Editor

The Human Rights Defense Center (www.humanrightsdefensecenter.org) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the human rights of people held in U.S. detention facilities. For the past 35 years HRDC has published a monthly magazine, Prison Legal News, that covers civil case law and news related to prisons, jails and criminal justice issues. We are seeking a managing editor for our flagship publication Prison Legal News. www.prisonlegalnews.org

Candidates should be self-starters and motivated, able to work without direct supervision, and have an excellent work ethic and strong communication and interpersonal skills. This is a full- time salaried position that requires a minimum 40 hours per week, although actual work hours may exceed 40 hours per week and require time on weekends for deadlines. Knowledge and familiarity with the criminal justice system in general is required and prisons and jails is highly desired. Likewise, familiarity with legal terms, litigation and court rulings is required. Note that a successful candidate may work remotely from a home office, thus no geographical restrictions apply so long as reliable Internet and telephone service is available. Otherwise, they may work from our offices in Boynton Beach, Florida.

HRDC offers 100% employer-paid health and dental and vision insurance. We also provide paid vacation time, personal days and federal holidays off. Salary is in the $75,000 to $90,000 range, based on experience and qualifications. HRDC also offers bonuses and regular pay increases. A minimum five years in a journalistic position or related work experience is required; a degree in English, journalism, law or a related field is desired but not required. Familiarity with civil rights law, the court system and criminal justice-related issues are also desired.

Strong computer skills and knowledge of office software packages, including Microsoft OS, MS Office and Adobe Acrobat, are required. The successful candidate will have exceptional writing and editing skills as well as the ability to meet deadlines, track assignments and communicate with writers. The position also involves supervising and working with freelance writers, some of who are prisoners, and in house staff including interns and volunteers.

The successful candidate will be responsible for producing PLN each month and getting it to press; this does not include layout. Some content generation (article writing) will be required as well as generating web only and social media content. This includes collaborating with the HRDC editorial team for story ideas, investigative projects and articles, public records requests and more. HRDC is an equal opportunity employer. Formerly incarcerated persons are strongly encouraged to apply except those with convictions for crimes that involved fraud or dishonesty.

No phone calls, please. Submit a resumé with writing samples and three references from previous employers to Paul Wright, pwright@prisonlegalnews.org. This position will remain open until filled.