Career Staff Attorney

United States Courts; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Courts are seeking a career staff attorney to perform independent legal research, draft opinions and memoranda, and advise judges and court staff. This permanent position reports to the Deputy Senior Staff Attorney and includes mentoring term staff attorneys and coordinating training.

Qualifications include a Juris Doctor from a recognized law school, at least two years of post-JD experience, and bar admission.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from a law school of recognized standing.
• At least two years of relevant post-JD experience and bar admission required.
• Superior analytical, research, writing, and editing skills.
• Preferred experience as staff attorney or judicial law clerk for appellate courts.

Responsibilities

• Independently conducts legal research and drafts proposed opinions, memoranda, and orders.
• Reviews case records and filings and provides objective advice to judges, chambers, and court staff.
• Mentors and collaborates with term staff attorneys under the supervision team.
• Tracks developing legal issues and supports appellate matters.

Skills

Legal research

Analytical thinking

Writing

Editing

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Overview of the Position The career staff attorney is a permanent position rather than a term position and reports directly to the Deputy Senior Staff Attorney. The career staff attorney independently conducts legal research; reviews case records/filings; drafts proposed opinions, memoranda, and orders; and provides objective advice to judges, chambers, and court staff. The incumbent also mentors and works with less experienced term staff attorneys in conjunction with members of the supervisory team, assists with coordinating orientation and training as needed, and tracks developing legal issues.

About the Staff Attorney's Office

The Eleventh Circuit’s Staff Attorney’s Office serves the Court as a central legal staff, assisting it in the disposition of federalappeals through the preparation of legal memoranda. The Staff Attorney’s Office is currently made up of attorneys, includingcareer staff attorneys and staff attorneys who serve staggered two-year terms, as well as administrative professionals whoperform administrative, operational, and supervisory functions. Staff attorneys review case records and filings, conduct legal research, and draft bench memoranda and proposed opinions to assist the judges in the consideration and resolution of awide variety of cases on appeal. Staff Attorneys develop expertise in civil and criminal procedure and in various areas ofsubstantive law, including criminal, sentencing, immigration, employment discrimination, civil rights, habeas corpus, and SocialSecurity. Additionally, a specialized team within the office assists the Court in the initial review of all appeals for the purposeof determining appellate jurisdiction. Another specialized team presents substantive motions to the Court, including motionsfor in forma pauperis status, certificates of appealability, transcripts at government expense, and withdrawal/substitution ofcounsel. Finally, our special appellate matters unit handles special projects from the Court and tracks legal issues as theydevelop in the U.S. Supreme Court and the Eleventh Circuit.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications
Applicants must possess a Juris Doctor from a law school of recognized standing and have excellent academic credentials.Applicants also must have superior analytical, research, writing, and editing skills, with law review or equivalent legalresearch and writing experience. At least two years of relevant post-Juris Doctor experience and bar admission are required.

Preferred Qualifications
Staff Attorney or judicial law clerk experience with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is preferred.

Employee Benefits

Developmental Starting Salary Range: $90,036 - $111,618 (CL 29/1 - CL 29/24)

Full Performance Starting Salary Range: $112,556- $146,336 (CL 29/25 - CL 29/61)

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.