Pro Se Staff Attorney

United States Courts; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Long-term care

Flexible spending accounts

Paid leave

Parental leave

Retirement plan (FERS/TSP)

Parking near courthouse

Student loan forgiveness

Job summary

The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland is seeking a Pro se Staff Attorney to assist judges with prisoner civil rights complaints and habeas petitions, including screening, research, and drafting opinions and orders.

The role reports to Supervising Staff Attorney and Chief Judge and is contingent on funding. Responsibilities include substantive screening, drafting opinions, case management, and advising judges on legal issues in prisoner cases, with emphasis on staying current on

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited law school.
• Strong academic background and demonstrated research and writing ability.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a variety of people in person and on the phone.
• Excellent organizational skills and experience handling multiple tasks and projects.
• Ability to work with strict deadlines and in a fast-paced environment.
• Maturity, good judgment, and high ethical standards.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player, with a positive work attitude.

Responsibilities

• Substantive screening of prisoner civil rights complaints and habeas petitions.
• Drafting appropriate proposed opinions and orders for review by District Judges, including rulings on motions to dismiss and for summary judgment, and drafts of final habeas opinions.
• Case management, including monitoring dockets to ensure the proper progress of cases.
• Providing information, guidance, and advice to judges and chambers law clerks on legal issues relating to prisoner cases.
• Keeping current on the law and legislation affecting prisoner litigation.
• Assisting staff with interpretation of pleadings filed by self-represented litigants.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Organizational skills

Deadline-driven

Independent work

Education

Law degree from an accredited law school

Job description

Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland is seeking to hire a Pro se Staff Attorney. The Pro Se Staff Attorney works directly under the supervision of the Supervising Staff Attorney and the Chief Judge. The Staff Attorney assists all judges in handling prisoner civil rights complaints and state and federal prisoner habeas corpus petitions including case screening, research, and drafting opinions and orders. Pro Se Staff Attorney positions are subject to available funding provided by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, dependent upon annual court filings.

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Substantive screening of prisoner civil rights complaints and habeas petitions.
• Drafting appropriate proposed opinions and orders for review by District Judges, including rulings on motions to dismiss and for summary judgment, and drafts of final habeas opinions.
• Case management, including monitoring dockets to ensure the proper progress of cases.
• Providing information, guidance, and advice to judges and chambers law clerks on legal issues relating to prisoner cases.
• Keeping current on the law and legislation affecting prisoner litigation.
• Assisting staff with interpretation of pleadings filed by self-represented litigants.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

• Graduate of an accredited law school.
• Strong academic background and demonstrated research and writing ability.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a variety of people in person and on the phone.
• Excellent organizational skills and experience handling multiple tasks and projects.
• Ability to work with strict deadlines and in a fast-paced environment.
• Maturity, good judgment, and high ethical standards.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player, with a positive work attitude.

Preferred:

• Working knowledge of prisoner and constitutional law.
• Experience assisting self-represented litigants.
• Legal work experience handling prisoner civil rights and/or habeas cases.

Employee Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance programs available.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care available.
• Vacation/annual leave (13-26 days increasing with years of service), sick leave (13 days per year) and paid holidays (11 days).
• Paid parental leave (12 weeks) for the birth or adoption of a child after one year of employment.
• Retirement (FERS - Federal Employees Retirement Program) with employer and employee contributions as well as matching contributions in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) 401K style plan.
• Parking is available near the courthouse at no cost as funding allows as well as the option to participate in the commuter benefit programs.
• The U.S. District Court is a qualifying employer for possible Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

All applications will be reviewed to identify the best qualified candidates.

• In the event a position becomes vacant in either division or in a similar classification within a reasonable time from the original announcement, the court may select an appointee from the candidates who responded to the initial announcement without posting the vacancy.
• Applicants must be a United States citizen or national or a permanent resident who is seeking citizenship in the United States. Successful candidate for this position is subject to a full fingerprint, and background records check and mandatory electronic direct deposit of salary payment.
• This is a sensitive position within the Federal Judiciary. The selected candidate will be hired provisionally, pending the successful completion of the required background investigation and favorable employment suitability determination.
• Selected applicant will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. Failure to successfully complete the probationary period may result in termination of employment. Positions in the U.S.Courts are excepted appointments, are not under the Civil Service System, and are \"at will\" employees.
• The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, withdraw the job announcement, and/or to commence interviews immediately, any of which actions may occur without prior written or other notice.
• For more information on the U.S. District Court, for the District of Maryland, please visit our website .

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.