Pro Se Staff Attorney

United States Courts; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Courts in the Richmond Division of the Eastern District of Virginia seeks a full-time Pro Se Staff Attorney to manage Social Security appeals, perform legal research, and draft reports, recommendations, and orders. The role involves reviewing ALJ findings, examining the administrative record, and addressing immigration, habeas, and § 1983 matters with the judges and chambers staff.

Telework may be considered.

Qualifications

• Strong working knowledge of Social Security regulations and controlling federal statutes.
• Experience drafting reports, recommendations, or memorandum opinions.
• Familiarity with administrative records and procedural requirements applicable to federal cases.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and prepare draft reports, recommendations, or memorandum opinions and orders.
• Review ALJ findings, examine the administrative record, and identify potential issues.
• Analyze relevant legal questions and draft proposed reports and recommendations.
• Ensure adherence to procedural requirements and court rules.
• Collaborate with judges and chambers staff on immigration, habeas, and § 1983 matters, including post-conviction cases.
• Perform initial case screening and prepare draft orders; monitor compliance with timelines.
• Position is on-site in Richmond; telework may be considered.

Skills

Legal Research

Draft Opinion Writing

Administrative Law

Federal Law

Immigration Law

§ 1983 Litigation

Job description

Overview of the Position The Richmond Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is currently accepting applications for a full-time Pro Se Staff Attorney. The Pro Se Staff Attorney carries primary responsibility for managing Social Security appeals by conducting legal research and preparing draft reports andrecommendations, or memorandum opinions and orders, including cases involving self-represented claimants. Core responsibilities include reviewing the administrative law judge’s findings, examining the administrative record and identifying potential issues, analyzing relevant legal questions, drafting proposed reports and recommendations or memorandum opinions, and ensuring adherence to applicable procedural requirements. The position requires a strong working knowledge of Social Security regulations, pertinent federal statutes, and controlling Circuit precedent. The Pro Se Staff Attorney alsoworks closely with the judges and chambers staff to resolve immigration litigation, § 1983 litigation, and post-conviction habeas litigation filed by filed by pro se prisoners. This includes post-conviction death penalty cases. This position involves performing initial case screening, preparing draft orders, and overseeing procedural compliance. This role is particularly critical given the urgent liberty interests at stake, the complexity of the underlying administrative records, and the frequency of self-represented detainees. This requires knowledge of federal immigration, habeas, and § 1983 jurisprudence and governinglaw. This position is on-site in our Richmond division. Some telework may be considered. Preference given to candidates able to start as soon as possible.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.