Mitigation Specialist

Overview of the Position The Mitigation Specialist is an integral member of the defense team, serving in a hybrid role that blends mitigation, investigation, and social-work-informed advocacy. This position works closely with attorneys and clients throughout all stages of federal criminal representation, including pretrial proceedings, plea negotiations, sentencing, and post-conviction matters. The Mitigation Specialist is responsible for developing thorough social histories and mitigation narratives that help courts understand the full context of a client’s life, circumstances, and challenges. This includes conducting in-depth interviews, reviewing records, investigating background factors, and identifying issues such as trauma, mental health concerns, substance use, and systemic inequities that may be relevant to advocacy and sentencing outcomes. In addition to mitigation development, the role involves investigative case support, including reviewing discovery, locating and interviewing witnesses, coordinating with experts, and assisting attorneys in court as needed. The position also plays a critical client-support function by helping individuals access treatment, housing, educational, vocational, and community-based resources, often in rural, remote, or resource-limited environments. This role is well-suited for a self-directed, mission-driven professional who can work independently while collaborating closely within a small office. The ideal candidate brings strong judgment, cultural humility, and compassion to their work, and is committed to the principles of public defense and client-centered advocacy. The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

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