Staff Attorney

About the role

The Office of Staff Attorneys (OSA) of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is seeking qualified attorneys to join a collegial team in San Francisco. This one‑year term position, renewable up to five years, involves substantive, procedural, and administrative processing of motions and fully briefed cases.

Key responsibilities

• Review parties’ filings and the record, conduct independent legal research, and identify the strongest recommendations for case resolution.
• Orally present recommendations to monthly panels of judges and draft orders and non‑precedential decisions.
• Manage a docket of cases, perform administrative tasks promptly and accurately, and respond to public inquiries.
• Process emergency motions on an expedited basis outside regular work hours as needed.

Required profile

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• At least two years of post‑J.D. legal experience consistent with the duties.
• Licensed to practice law in any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia and in good standing with the bar.

Required skills

• Legal research and writing.
• Oral advocacy and presentation to judges.
• Case docket management and procedural processing.

What we offer

• Salary $111,896 (CL 28) based on locality.
• 13 vacation days, 13 sick leave days, 11 paid holidays.
• Employer‑subsidized health, dental, vision, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
• Pension plan with employer match, telework opportunities, and eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Mass transit subsidy and reasonable work hours.