Staff Attorney II

State of North Carolina; Wake Forest (NC); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Staff Counsel at the North Carolina Court of Appeals seeks a Staff Attorney I (NS) to join the team in Raleigh. The role requires handling prerogative writ petitions, conducting legal research, drafting orders and opinions, and advising judges on dispositions.

Applicants should have a Juris Doctor and NC bar license; entry-level to two years’ experience is acceptable, with clerkship a plus. Some remote work is possible at the Chief Judge’s discretion.

Qualifications

• Entry level attorney or attorney with up to two years of experience; clerkship experience is a plus.
• Juris Doctor degree and license to practice law in North Carolina.
• Equivalent education/experience may apply per guidance.

Responsibilities

• 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 the Court as needed.
• Consult with judges on petitions and draft opinions.
• Prepare memoranda for the Office of Staff Counsel and the Court.
• Assist the Office and the Court with special projects.

Skills

Appellate practice

Legal research

Draft opinions

Written communication

Independent work

Education

Juris Doctor

NC license to practice law

Job description

Agency

Court of Appeals

Division

Job Classification Title

Staff Attorney I (NS)

Position Number

Grade

JB23

About Us

DO YOUR CAREER JUSTICE! Each and every day, North Carolina’s courts help provide safety for our communities, prosperity for our economy, and protection for the rights, liberties, and freedoms that sit at the foundation of our state and federal constitutions. Consider an exciting and rewarding career with us and join the more than 7,000 elected officials and employees who make up our workforce and help us ensure that justice is administrated without favor, denial, or delay.

Description of Work

Salary Range: $82,000.00 - $85,000.00

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

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

The position reports to the Chief Judge. 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. The Office allows some remote work, which is at the discretion of the Chief Judge.

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 the Court as needed.
• 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, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

Knowledge of : appellate practice; N.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals case law; N.C. Rules of Appellate and Civil Procedure; N.C. General Statutes; some federal statutes and case law; and information systems and court technology.

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.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Juris Doctor degree and a license to practice law in North Carolina. Seeking an entry level attorney or an attorney with up to two years of experience. Some clerkship experience with an appellate court is a plus but not required.

EEO Statement

All NC Judicial Branch agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

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.