A two-year term. limited term extensions may be available. job with U.S. Courts in Washington, District of Columbia. It pays $68,346–$187,117 per year at grade CL-27. Applications close on Dec 31, 2026 — 106 days left.
- Working pattern
- Telework eligible
- Who can apply
- Open to the public
- Clearance
- Not Required
Main duties
- The Legal Division's principal responsibility is to recommend to the court the disposition of substantive and procedural motions, appeals decided without oral argument, and emergency matters.
- Staff attorneys conduct legal research, prepare legal memoranda, draft proposed orders, respond to judges' inquiries, and make oral presentations.
- Staff attorneys meet with three-judge panels in formal conferences about twice a month.
- At conference, staff attorneys answer any questions about their cases, and the panel discusses and votes on staff attorney recommendations.
Full details
About the role
The Legal Division of the Office of the Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, has openings for highly qualified attorneys to serve as staff attorneys to the full court. The positions are full-time and for a two-year term. Limited term extensions may be available.
Some work may be done remotely.
What you will do
- The Legal Division's principal responsibility is to recommend to the court the disposition of substantive and procedural motions, appeals decided without oral argument, and emergency matters.
- Staff attorneys conduct legal research, prepare legal memoranda, draft proposed orders, respond to judges' inquiries, and make oral presentations.
- Staff attorneys meet with three-judge panels in formal conferences about twice a month.
- At conference, staff attorneys answer any questions about their cases, and the panel discusses and votes on staff attorney recommendations.
- Staff attorneys may also present their recommendations orally to the judges when handling time-sensitive emergency motions.
Requirements
- Because the D.C. Circuit entertains a large number of high-profile and sealed cases, staff attorneys are subject to strict confidentiality requirements.
- In addition, your continued employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.
- A full background investigation for a security clearance may be required.
- Applicants must be United States citizens or eligible to work for the United States government.
Education
At a minimum, applicants must possess a J.D. degree as of the position's start date. A judicial clerkship or internship, law review membership, or comparable legal research and writing experience is desirable. Litigation experience is advantageous.
Graduation in the top 25% of your law school class is preferred.
How you will be evaluated
Applicants will be evaluated based on their application and an interview.
Documents you must provide
- Cover letter Resume Law school transcript Self-edited writing sample See 'How to Apply' for instructions.
Benefits
Information about benefits is available at ***
What to expect next
Interviews will begin immediately. Due to the large volume of applications, the court will send a letter regarding the status of an application only to those candidates scheduled for interviews. When the position is filled, a notice will be placed on the court's internet site.
Additional information
More than one vacancy may be filled. All positions in the Clerk's Office are excepted appointments and are "at will." The selected candidate will serve a one-year probationary period. Selected applicants will be subject to mandatory electronic transfer of funds for payment of net pay.
The United States Courthouse is a smoke-free building. The United States Court of Appeals is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
How to apply
GovHealthJobs indexes this posting from a public or licensed source and links back to it. Every application is submitted on the official employer or agency website under that organization’s own process and privacy terms. We are an independent information service — not a government body, agency, or hospital system — and we do not collect résumés or forward applications.
Open a free account to apply →
Registering is free and takes a minute. It unlocks the apply link, the contact details a posting carries, and email alerts.
Details on this page reflect the source posting as of Sep 17, 2026. Closing dates and salary ranges can change without notice — the official listing is always authoritative. How our coverage works.
Similar jobs
Security Specialist
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The ideal candidate for this position will be an experienced information security professional skilled in foreign access management, classified information protection, risk assessm…
Assistant United States Attorney (Scam Center Strike Force)
Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia (USAO-DC) is unique in the size and the scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the na…
Supervisory Financial Economist (Market Regulation)
Securities and Exchange Commission
The Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) is seeking a Supervisory Financial Economist (Supervisory Regulatory Economist-Market Regulation). DERA is seeking individuals wit…
Equal Opportunity Specialist (P) (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
This position serves as an Equal Opportunity Specialist (EOS) within NHTSA's Office of Civil Rights (NCR). You will play a critical role in promoting a non-discriminatory environme…
Registration Specialist
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in is in the Office of th…
Get jobs like this by email
We will email you when similar public-sector jobs are posted. Free, and you can unsubscribe from any email.