Staff Attorney

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit•San Francisco, CA

29d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Staff Attorneys (OSA) seeks attorneys who are dedicated to supporting the federal Judiciary’s mission of ensuring equal justice under the law. We are excited to welcome team members who have excellent judgment and a high level of personal integrity, thrive on independent work and are open to feedback, adapt easily to new work assignments and legal developments, and embrace new challenges in response to court needs. OSA is the central legal staff for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and is a highly collegial environment. OSA has subject area teams of attorneys who focus on civil, immigration, criminal, or habeas matters. Staff attorneys report to a team supervisor and the Chief Staff Attorney. We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion in our workplace. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and seek a diverse pool of applicants in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, disability, religion, and socio-economic circumstance. Staff attorneys are responsible for the substantive, procedural, and administrative processing of motions and fully briefed cases. This position will foster your legal research, writing, and oral presentation skills. Applicants who are hired for this position will be placed in a subject area team within OSA, depending on staffing needs as well as applicant experience and interest. We have several openings across subject areas.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school.
At least two (2) years post-J.D. legal work experience consistent with the duties and responsibilities of this position.
Proof that you are licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and an active member of the bar in good standing.
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in the process of applying for citizenship.

Responsibilities

Processing motions and cases entails: Reviewing the parties’ filings and the record; Independently researching the legal issues; Identifying the strongest recommendation(s) for resolving the matter; Orally presenting recommendations to monthly panels of judges; Drafting orders and non-precedential decisions; Effectively managing a docket of cases; and Promptly and accurately performing administrative tasks.
Respond to public inquiries and requests for information.
Process emergency motions on an expedited basis outside of regular work hours.
Handle a higher volume of assignments with increased experience.
Conduct peer review of cases with increased experience.
Work on increasingly complex matters with increased experience.

Benefits

Employer subsidized health and life insurance plans.
Dental, vision, flexible spending account, long-term care plans available.
Employer sponsored pension plan and supplemental retirement contribution plans with employer match.
Telework opportunities
Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Mass transit subsidy
Reasonable work hours
Team environment
Creative people
Enhanced tenure-based vacation accrual