Attorney Jobs

Public Interest Firm Seeking Baltimore Attorney

Public interest law firm led by former Maryland Deputy Attorney General Thiru Vignarajah seeking a tenacious, skilled, and hardworking attorney looking to join firm with a diverse pro bono practice that assists seniors, small businesses, and victims of crime, corruption, and exploitation with no means to pursue justice and nowhere else to turn.

About Thiru Vignarajah

The son of Baltimore City schoolteachers and proud product of public schools himself, Thiru went from Woodlawn High School to Yale University and Harvard Law School, where he served as President of the Harvard Law Review. He then clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi on the U.S. Court of Appeals and Justice Stephen G. Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court. Thiru served as a federal and city prosecutor before being named Deputy Attorney General. He subsequently joined DLA Piper, where he was a litigation partner for five years. A devoted public servant, Thiru has run for Mayor and State’s Attorney for Baltimore. Although his campaigns fell short, Thiru has honored his pledge to continue to fight for the people of Baltimore and beyond.

Through his pro bono work, Thiru has scored a number of notable victories for neglected groups and individuals who had run out of options.

-When city prosecutors set an arsonist free on a plea deal after he torched his ex-girlfriend’s house while she and two roommates slept inside, Thiru successfully fought to invalidate the plea and push for a stiffer penalty — the defendant was returned to custody and is now serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison.

-When Baltimore City was poised to give a $8.4 million city contract to a company that had repeatedly failed to honor its commitments to minority contractors, Thiru successfully pushed the City to reconsider. The company was eventually debarred for 3 years, and the minority contractor was ultimately granted the award.

-When Vanessa Wagner was at risk of losing her home in a tax sale, Vignarajah fought and succeeded in saving a home she’d inherited from her parents.

-When politicians tried to scapegoat strip clubs for gun violence and drive them out of business to benefit well-connected developers, Thiru successfully fought the proposed shut down.

-When Charles Adams could not get a minimum-wage city job while he was on home detention, Thiru successfully pushed the city to give him a chance and later spoke on his behalf before the Baltimore County judge who took the rare step of giving a criminal defendant a suspended sentence and a second chance.

-When prosecutors proposed returning to the juvenile system the young squeegee worker who killed a motorist as the victim was returning to his car, Thiru successfully spoke up for the victim’s family who vigorously opposed the remand. Scott was kept in adult court and was recently convicted of manslaughter.

-When a top prosecutor on the Eastern Shore was named a judge, Thiru was appointed special prosecutor and asked to handle the murder prosecution of James Reddick, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Currently, Thiru is fighting to prevent the eviction of Deana Woodward and her ten-year-old son because of an overdue water bill from four years ago and is leading the battle against BGE as the utility company threatened to shut off gas service to strongarm city residents into installing unsafe external regulators to maximize profits.

On some of the most consequential issues facing Baltimore, Thiru has stood up for the disadvantaged and disenfranchised — and has won. From taking down BGF gang members to taking on BGE’s bullying practices, Thiru’s tireless and fearless work has made him the voice of the people.

Responsibilities:

-Represent clients in court proceedings, settlement negotiations, and to the media.

-Conduct research and prepare legal documents including pleadings, appeals, and agreements.

-Build trusting and constructive relationships with diverse clients and help them navigate the gauntlet of litigation from intake through resolution.

-Maintain organized client files, ensuring that materials are kept confidential and accessible.

Qualifications:

-JD degree from an accredited law school and an active Maryland bar license.

-Demonstrated passion for and experience in pro bono legal work.

-Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

-High level of professionalism, ethics, and commitment to client confidentiality.

-Proficiency in research tools such as Westlaw or LexisNexis.

Compensation:

This is a full-time, in-person position offering a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the community while gaining invaluable experience in substantive and public-facing legal work. Salary will range from $50,000 to $70,000, depending upon tenure and experience.

The Law Offices of Thiru Vignarajah is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all staff members.

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, likely by early September.