8th Circuit Court of Appeals (St. Louis) seeks Staff Attorney from Class of 2023
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT OFFICE OF STAFF ATTORNEYS
Position: Staff Attorney
This is a full-time, two-year term position located in Saint Louis, Missouri. Anticipated term start date is August of 2023.
Multiple positions may be filled from this job posting.
Salary: Minimum salary is $67,439 (U.S. Court Personnel System, Classification Level 27, Step 25, with promotion potential) The successful candidate(s) may be placed at a higher salary level, depending on qualifications and experience.
Opening date: May 16, 2022 Closing date: While applications will be entertained until the position is filled, only those applications received by September 16, 2022 are assured consideration.
Additional information: This position is located in St. Louis, Missouri. Candidates are being sought on a nationwide basis. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is an equal opportunity employer.
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF STAFF ATTORNEYS: The Eighth Circuit Office of Staff Attorneys is based in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, the seat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Staff attorneys support the Court as a whole rather than individual judges, assisting the Court in its review of decisions appealed from the district courts in the seven states that make up the Eighth Circuit, and from federal government agencies. The staff attorneys’ principal task is the preparation of written legal memoranda to advise the Court in its review of matters that will be decided on written submissions only (without oral argument), including all pro se appeals and certain counseled cases. The types of matters on which staff attorneys work include: direct criminal appeals of convictions and sentences imposed under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines; collateral attacks on criminal convictions, by state and federal prisoners; civil rights actions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; and cases involving a variety of other areas of law, such as employment discrimination, tax, bankruptcy, immigration, and Social Security benefits.
At present, the office is comprised of eighteen staff attorneys (eleven of whom are in career positions and seven of whom are in two-year term positions), five supervisors, three administrative support staff, and the Senior Staff Attorney. Staff attorneys play an important role in supporting the United States Judiciary’s mission of ensuring equal justice under the law. The Eighth Circuit Office of Staff Attorneys does so by maintaining high standards for the research and written work performed for the Court. While the nature of the work is important and the workload is substantial, the office provides a collegial, collaborative environment, with opportunities for flexible work schedules and teleworking.
POSITION OVERVIEW, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The primary focus of the Staff Attorney position is to provide procedural and substantive legal analysis and advice regarding the disposition of appeals pending before the Court. Duties include reviewing district court and agency records and appellate filings, and extracting relevant information; discerning legal issues presented and conducting in-depth legal research; and, in each case, preparing for a three-judge panel a written memorandum that accurately and concisely presents the facts and a legal analysis, and recommends a disposition of the appeal. When appropriate, staff attorneys also prepare proposed opinions and orders for consideration by three-judge panels. Staff attorneys report to Supervisory Staff Attorneys, who oversee and edit staff attorney work.
MINIMUM POSITION QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school that has been accredited by a recognized accrediting authority, and one year of specialized experience, which may be satisfied by superior academic performance in law school.
PREFERRED SKILLS: We are looking for smart, hardworking third-year law students (class of 2023) and law school graduates, who excel in legal research and analysis. Candidates should be superior writers who wish to become better writers. We are seeking individuals who possess an ability to work both independently and collaboratively; a willingness to learn and grow as an attorney, including being open to and accepting supervisory direction and editing of written work; an ability to self-manage an assigned workload and to work under pressure to meet deadlines; and a strong commitment to justice and public service.
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Initial interviews of selected candidates will be conducted by video conference. A follow up in-person interview may be conducted if feasible. Candidates offered employment will be subject to a background check and subsequent favorable suitability determination as a condition of employment. All employees of the Judiciary are “at will” employees in the excepted service. The U.S. Courts require employees to adhere to a Code of Ethics and Conduct which is available to applicants for review upon request. Employees are required to use the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit. Available employee benefits include paid vacation days based on federal years of service, paid holidays, sick leave, health insurance plans, and a Flexible Benefits Program.
HOW TO APPLY: Applications should be submitted through OSCAR: https://oscar.uscourts.gov. Writing sample should be self-edited and between five to seven pages in length. Candidates will be asked to complete a timed writing assignment as part of the interview process.
