Staff Attorney – Prisoner Rights & Habeas

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

Job summary

The U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, is seeking a staff attorney to perform substantive review, research, and writing in prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus cases.

The attorney will prepare memoranda and proposed orders for district judges to review and sign. The position requires strong legal research and writing skills, bar membership, and relevant academic credentials, with placement at JSP-12 to JSP-14 depending on qualifications.

Qualifications

• Standing within the upper third of the law school class from ABA- or AALS-approved schools.
• Experience on the editorial board of a law review.
• Graduation from such a school with an LLM degree, or demonstrated equivalent proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Provides substantive screening after filing of all prisoner, inmate, and detainee petitions and motions, including state habeas petitions, motions to vacate sentence, and civil rights complaints; drafts recommendations and orders for the Court’s signature.
• Reviews all complaints, petitions, and pleadings to determine issues involved and basis for relief.
• Performs research as required to assist the Court in preparing opinions.
• Evaluates procedures and recommends innovations for handling pleadings; reviews docket to ensure proper progress and advises the Court where action is appropriate.
• Compiles statistics and prepares reports reflecting case status and flow; identifies problems and offers solutions as required by the Court and officials.
• Keeps abreast of changes in the law to aid the Court in adapting to new legislation in the pro se area.
• Provides information, guidance, and advice to judges, staff, and other personnel working on prisoner litigation; advises on case statuses.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Analytical thinking

Education

Top third law school class

Law review editorial board

LLM degree

Equivalent qualifications as listed

Job description

The U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, is seeking a staff attorney to perform substantive review, research, and writing in prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus cases.

The attorney will prepare memoranda and proposed orders for district judges to review and sign. The position requires strong legal research and writing skills, bar membership, and relevant academic credentials, with placement at JSP-12 to JSP-14 depending on qualifications.