Staff Attorney I

State of North Carolina; North Carolina; On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Staff Counsel at the North Carolina Court of Appeals is looking for a Staff Attorney I to manage legal research and drafting responsibilities for important court cases. This role requires strong appellate practice knowledge, effective communication skills, and a Juris Doctor degree. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively within a collegial environment, handling multiple legal tasks with attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree and a license to practice law in North Carolina.
• At least one year of clerkship experience.
• Applicants sitting for the July 2025 bar exam are considered.

Responsibilities

• Summarize petitions and conduct legal research.
• Draft orders and consult with judges.
• Prepare memoranda and assist with special projects.

Skills

Interpersonal relations

Problem solving

Resource and time management

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Organization

Effective oral communication

Effective written communication

Education

Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school

Job description

SALARY GRADE:Flat Rated

The Office of Staff Counsel at the North Carolina Court of Appeals is seeking qualified candidates for a Staff Attorney I position.

The Office of Staff Counsel reviews, summarizes, and recommends dispositions of petitions and motions filed with the Court of Appeals. The Office also assists the Court's juvenile case panels by drafting opinions in abuse, neglect, dependency cases, as well as termination of parental rights cases.

The position reports to the General Counsel. The Office is located in the Court of Appeals building in downtown Raleigh. The Office maintains a collegial environment where attorneys and staff collaborate to move the work of the Court and the Office forward. Attorneys are entrusted to work independently on assignments to meet the demands and deadlines of the Court. While the Office allows part-time telework and telework flexibility for illness, family/household emergencies and other one-time events, full-time remote work is not offered with this position. New attorneys are expected to come into the office everyday and meet work product goals prior to beginning part-time telework. Telework is at the discretion of the General Counsel and can be altered at any time to fulfill the needs of the Office.

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

• Summarize petitions for prerogative writs and motions for temporary stays.
• Conduct necessary legal research to recommend dispositions.
• Draft orders effectuating rulings on petitions and motions.
• Draft proposed opinions for abuse, neglect, dependency and termination of parental rights cases.
• Consult with and answer questions from judges on petitions and draft opinions.
• Prepare memoranda for the Office of Staff Counsel and the Court on various issues.
• Assist the Office and the Court with special projects as needed.

Knowledge of: appellate practice; case law of the Supreme Court of North Carolina and the Court of Appeals; NC Rules of Appellate and Civil Procedure; federal statutes and case law; legal terminology and procedures; and information systems and court technology.

Skills in:interpersonal relations; problem solving; resource and time management; multitasking; attention to detail and organization; appellate procedures; effective oral and written communication.

Ability to: conduct legal research and analysis; draft appellate opinions; work independently; communicate orally and in writing; recognize and solve problems; and apply word processing skills.Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school, a license to practice law in North Carolina and at least one year of clerkship experience. Applicants who are sitting for the July 2025 North Carolina bar exam will be considered.

Management prefers the clerkship experience to be from the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, a North Carolina Business Court, or a federal clerkship.

A cover letter is not required for this position, but an applicant may submit one to further explain their qualifications or motivations to seek the position.
Applicants should attach a résumé, 2-3 personal references, and a writing sample.
INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants must complete an on-line application by clicking the above APPLY link. Mailed or faxed applications willnot be accepted.

Before applying, please read theOnline Employment Application Guide for instructions on creating your profile and applying for specific postings.

It is important your application includes all of your relevant education and work experience and that you answer all questions associated with the application to receive proper credit. Résumés are not accepted in lieu of fully completed applications.

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All NC Judicial Branch agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.

The North Carolina Judicial Branch participates in E-Verify, an internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from the US Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more, click on these links:

E-VerifyParticipation
E-VerifyParticipation (Spanish)

Right toWork
Rightto Work (Spanish)


Travis Davis
NC Administrative Office of the Courts
Human Resources Division
https://www.nccourts.gov/about/about-judicial-branch/careers