Pro Se Staff Attorney

U.S. District Court - District of Arizona; Phoenix, Tucson (AZ, AZ); On-site; USD 91,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. District Court - District of Arizona seeks a staff attorney (pro se) to perform substantive review, research, and writing in prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus cases.

The attorney will draft memoranda and proposed orders for district judges and supervisees. The role requires a law school graduate with one of the listed accomplishments or proficiencies, including upper third class, editorial board experience, or an LLM.

Qualifications

• Must be a law school graduate from a law school of recognized standing.
• Accomplishments or proficiencies listed in the qualifications include: upper third of class, law review experience, LLM, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provides substantive screening after filing of all prisoner petitions and motions, drafting recommendations and orders for signature.
• Reviews all complaints and pleadings to determine issues and basis for relief.
• Performs legal research to assist the Court in preparing opinions.
• Evaluates procedures and docket, advising the Court where action is appropriate.
• Compiles statistics and prepares periodic case-status reports.
• Keeps abreast of changes in the law affecting pro se litigants.
• Provides information and guidance to judges and Clerk’s Office staff on prisoner litigation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

Upper third of law school class

Law review editorial board experience

LLM degree

Equivalent proficiency in legal studies

Job description

• Position Type: Full Time, Regular
• Salary Range: $91,205 – $171,043
• Job Grade: JS 12 – 14
• Open Date: 09/11/2026
• Closing Date: Open until filled
• Preference given to applications received by 10/09/2026
• Location: Phoenix or Tucson, Arizona

POSITION OVERVIEW

The staff attorney selected for this position will be supervised by the Supervisory Staff Attorney and will perform substantive review, research, and writing in prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus cases. The staff attorney will be responsible for preparing memoranda and proposed orders for each of the district judges to whom the cases have been assigned.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

• Provides substantive screening after filing of all prisoner, inmate, and detainee petitions and motions, including state habeas corpus petitions, motions to vacate sentence, and civil rights complaints. Drafts appropriate recommendation and order for the Court’s signature.
• Reviews all complaints, petitions, and pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved and basis for relief.
• Performs research, as required, to assist the Court in preparing opinions.
• Evaluates present procedures to determine new innovations for handling complaints, petitions, and pleadings. Reviews the docket of pending prisoner, inmate, and detainee litigation to ensure the proper progress of such cases and advises the Court of those cases where action by the Court is appropriate.
• Compiles statistics and prepares periodic reports, as required, that reflect the status and flow of cases. Identifies problem areas, makes recommendations, and offers solutions, as required by the Court, Administrative Office, and other officials.
• Keeps abreast of changes in the law to aid the Court in adjusting to new legislation in the pro se area.
• Provides information, guidance, and advice to judges, magistrate judges, Clerk’s Office staff, and other personnel working on prisoner litigation. Advises appropriate personnel on the status of particular cases.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for the position of pro se staff attorney, an individual must be a law school graduate from a law school of recognized standing, and have demonstrated one of the following accomplishments or proficiencies:

• Standing within the upper third of the law school class from a law school on the approved list of either the American Bar Association or the Association of American Law Schools.
• Experience on the editorial board of a law review of such school.
• Graduation from such a school with an LLM degree; or
• Demonstrated proficiency in legal studies, equivalent to one of the above. Some examples of potentially acceptable equivalents include:
  • Publication of a noteworthy article in a law school student publication or other scholarly publication;
  • Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif;
  • Winning of a moot court competition or membership on a moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools;
  • Participation in the legal aid or other law school clinical program sanctioned by the law school;*