Senior Criminal Appellate Counsel - Lead Post-Conviction

GRAND CANYON LAW GROUP LLC; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

GRAND CANYON LAW GROUP LLC seeks a Senior Appellate Attorney to lead its post-conviction practice, handling direct appeals, Rule 32/33 post-conviction relief, and federal habeas, while guiding the trial team’s appellate strategy and preserving the record for appellate success.

You will own every matter from sentence to mandate, argue before appellate panels, and mentor junior staff, with a focus on building the firm’s appellate work as core to its practice.

Qualifications

• JD from ABA-accredited law school required.
• Active member in good standing of the State Bar of Arizona; admitted or eligible for admission to US District Court for the District of Arizona and the Ninth Circuit.
• 7+ years of appellate brief-writing experience.
• 5+ years of criminal-defense appellate or post-conviction practice.
• Lead or primary author of a substantial portfolio of criminal appellate briefs.
• Oral argument experience before an appellate court or federal circuit court.

Responsibilities

• Handle direct appeals of felony and misdemeanor convictions and sentences.
• Litigate post-conviction relief under Rule 32 and Rule 33; include ineffective assistance claims.
• Pursue special actions for interlocutory relief on issues like suppression and discovery.
• Handle limited-jurisdiction appeals to superior court.
• Manage federal habeas corpus cases and AEDPA issues.
• Draft and argue post-trial motions and present oral argument before appellate panels.

Skills

Appellate brief-writing

Legal research

Oral argument

Case-management

Litigation strategy

Education

Juris Doctor (ABA-accredited)

Arizona bar admission in good standing / admission to U.S. District Court & Ninth Circuit

Tools

Clio

Job description

GRAND CANYON LAW GROUP LLC seeks a Senior Appellate Attorney to lead its post-conviction practice, handling direct appeals, Rule 32/33 post-conviction relief, and federal habeas, while guiding the trial team’s appellate strategy and preserving the record for appellate success.

You will own every matter from sentence to mandate, argue before appellate panels, and mentor junior staff, with a focus on building the firm’s appellate work as core to its practice.