Role Description

The Office of the Staff Attorneys is soliciting applications from experienced, public-minded attorneys with interest in serving the judiciary as a member of the Sixth Circuit's central legal staff.

The office functions as the court's central legal staff, serving the court at large rather than individual judges. The office's mission is to assist the court in the disposition of appeals that are not orally argued, as well as substantive motions in both argued and non-argued cases.

• Review case records and filings
• Conduct extensive legal research and analysis
• Prepare case-specific legal memoranda and proposed orders
• Handle appeals involving a wide range of subject matter areas, including:
  • Civil rights
  • Employment discrimination
  • Federal criminal law and sentencing
  • Habeas corpus
  • Immigration
• Manage a significant portion of the office's caseload consisting of motions and appeals brought by pro se litigants, many of them prisoners

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
• At least three years of post-J.D. legal experience
• Superior analytical, research, and writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage a significant workload under strict time constraints
• Ability to accept and learn from constructive feedback
• Commitment to public service

• Strong preference for applicants who:
  • Excelled academically during law school
  • Have at least five years of post-J.D. legal experience
  • Have worked for the federal judiciary as a law clerk, staff attorney, or counsel to the clerk
  • Have significant experience with immigration law or other relevant areas of federal law

Requirements

• Provisional hiring pending results of background check and fingerprinting
• Adherence to the Judicial Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees
• Electronic Fund Transfer for payroll direct deposit is required
• Positions with the U.S. Courts are at-will, excepted service appointments, and may be terminated with or without cause by the Court

Benefits

• Starting salary of $102,547 to $122,880 (CL 29) commensurate with qualifications
• Employer subsidized health and life insurance plans
• Dental and vision insurance plans
• Flexible spending accounts for health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and mass transit subsidies
• On-site fitness center
• Federal retirement entails a pension plan (FERS-FRAE) and employer-matching Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K)
• Retirees may carry insurance plans into retirement while paying the same premiums as employees
• Annual time off - 13 vacation days, 13 sick leave days, and 11 paid holidays
• Vacation days increase to 20 days after three years and to 26 days after fifteen years
• Opportunities for flexible work hours, a twice-weekly telework option (after three months with the court), and alternative work schedules are available under current office policies

How to Apply

Please submit applications via OSCAR by visiting https://oscar.uscourts.gov . Application packages must include the following:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• A self-edited writing sample
• Law school transcript
• Two letters of recommendation

This posting will close on OSCAR on March 27, 2026. Initial interviews will be conducted on a virtual platform.

The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw the announcement, or to fill the position sooner than the closing date; any of these actions may occur without prior notice.