Noncapital Habeas Unit Attorney

Alaska Department of Law; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Thrift Savings Plan

Job summary

Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California seeks a full‑time attorney for its noncapital habeas unit in Los Angeles. The role focuses on defending indigent clients in federal habeas actions, including prisoners and immigrants, with duties spanning case research, briefing, hearings, and appellate advocacy.

Candidates must be law graduates admitted to the California Bar, with a preference for those with 3+ years in criminal law or federal clerkship.

Qualifications

• Graduated from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of the California Bar.
• Preference for applicants with at least three years of state and/or federal criminal law experience or federal judicial clerkship experience.

Responsibilities

• Represent indigent California state prisoners in federal habeas corpus actions challenging state judgments.
• Represent immigrants in federal habeas corpus actions challenging immigration detention.
• Represent petitioners in ancillary matters in state and possibly immigration court.
• Draft habeas petitions, motions, and briefs; conduct evidentiary hearings; deliver appellate arguments.
• Occasionally assigned to federal criminal trial cases and capital habeas corpus cases.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Legal research

Legal analysis

Teamwork

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is accepting applications for a full‑time attorney position in its noncapital habeas unit (NCHU), stationed in Los Angeles, California. The NCHU is committed to the pursuit of justice by aggressively advocating for the constitutional rights and inherent dignity of indigent persons unlawfully confined by the states or federal government.

Job Duties

NCHU attorneys primarily represent indigent California state prisoners in federal habeas corpus actions challenging their state judgments, immigrants in federal habeas corpus actions challenging their immigration detention, and petitioners in ancillary matters in state and possibly immigration court. Core job duties include communicating with clients, summarizing trial transcripts, conducting research, directing investigations, working with experts, drafting habeas petitions, motions, and briefs, conducting evidentiary hearings, and delivering appellate arguments. On occasion, NCHU attorneys are also assigned to federal criminal trial cases and capital habeas corpus cases.

Requirements

All applicants must have graduated from an accredited law school and be members in good standing of the California Bar. Preference will be given to applicants with at least three years of experience in state and/or federal criminal law or applicants with federal judicial clerkship experience.

Varying hours including nights, weekends, and holidays may be required. A background investigation is required as a condition of employment. In line with current federal appropriations law, applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents seeking citizenship as described here: https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/search-judiciary-jobs/citizenship-requirements-employment-judiciary

Selection Criteria

Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to indigent criminal defense, immigration and refugee advocacy, and/or public interest law; must have superior oral and written communication skills; possess excellent research skills; strong skills in complex fact and legal analysis and creative issue development; and work well in teams.

Salary & Benefits

This is a full‑time, at‑will position. This position is approved for one year and a day, with a possible extension based on need, budget, or the discretion of the Federal Public Defender. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and is subject to direct deposit. After successful completion of a probationary period, eligible employees may elect to telework up to two days per week, subject to certain conditions. Benefits include health and life insurance, retirement, and a Thrift Savings Plan. For more information on benefits, see http://www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.

How to Apply

Apply by submitting a letter of interest, résumé, two representative writing samples (limited to 15 pages), and three references through our website at https://fpdcdca.org/careers/current-openings/. We will accept applications until July 31, 2026; however, interviews will occur on a rolling basis and the open position may be filled before that date. The Federal Public Defender’s Office may fill current and future positions from this vacancy announcement. Please, no phone calls.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age, are encouraged to apply.