Mitigation Specialist

Join Michigan’s State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) as a full-time, limited-term Mitigation Specialist for the Private Counsel Division of SADO. The salary range for this position is $57,252 to $96,048, depending on experience.

This is a full-time, limited-term position with funding allocated through September 30, 2027. Continuation of this position beyond that date is contingent on future budget allocations.

Roster attorneys are assigned to represent and advocate for people who are appealing their convictions on direct appeal, and those who are serving unconstitutionally cruel and/or unusual life sentences for crimes committed as youth. Their clients are adults–some are still adjusting to life in prison as young adults, while others have lived several decades behind bars. Mitigation Specialists are a crucial part of the defense team and work with attorneys and clients to develop mitigating information for new sentencing hearings. Mitigation specialists perform a variety of functions with the end goal of helping to obtain release for their clients.

Qualifications

Mitigation specialists draw from a diverse range of professional, academic, and life experiences to inform their work. Mitigation specialists must be empathetic communicators, effective interviewers, curious investigators, critical readers, data managers, creative writers, compassionate listeners, and zealous advocates. At SADO we are dedicated to building a multi-disciplinary team with diverse perspectives and experiences, so if you are excited about this role but you do not meet every qualification in this job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for the job.

Education:

• Education and/or equivalent experience in social work, social sciences, psychology, forensic psychology, journalism, anthropology, criminal justice, or a related field;

Commitments:

• Commitment to client-centered, zealous advocacy;
• Commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of clients;
• Commitment to cultural humility and cultural competency;

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the criminal legal system, preferably in Michigan;
• Experience in investigation;
• Excellent communication, trauma-informed interviewing, and interpersonal skills;
• Understanding of mental health signs and symptoms, the effects of trauma, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and the impacts of social, cultural, historical, political, religious, racial, environmental, and ethnic influences on behavior;
• Ability to prioritize multiple client cases, deadlines, and demands;
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, nights, and early mornings, and to travel throughout the state to attend hearings, meet with incarcerated clients, interview witnesses, and obtain mitigation material;
• Possess a valid driver’s license;
• Ability to organize, interpret, and synthesize large quantities of information into persuasive, compelling, and thorough written narratives;
• Flexible and creative thinking;
• The ability to work as part of the defense team under the lead of the case attorney, and maintain confidentiality;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, Excel, and general office equipment;
• Self-motivated, with the ability to handle constructive feedback; and
• Candidates must be a current resident of or relocate to Michigan by hire date.

To Apply

Submit a resume and a cover letter via email by October 11, 2026, to jobs@sado.org and include “MAACS Mitigation Specialist 2026-13” in the subject line.  Applications without a resume and cover letter will not be considered.

The cover letter should address the reasons underlying your interest in the work and explain your commitment to working with incarcerated people and people convicted of crimes.

SADO is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. A felony conviction does not prohibit employment at SADO.