Representative Duties
A Staff Attorney performs duties and responsibilities such as the following:
• Provides substantive screening after filing of immigration habeas corpus petitions and related motions. May also provide assistance as to pro se filings in other matters. Drafts appropriate recommendations and orders for the Court’s consideration.
• Reviews complaints, petitions, and pleadings that have been filed to determine issues involved and basis for relief.
• Performs research, as required, to assist the Court in preparing opinions.
• Evaluates present procedures to determine new innovations for handling complaints, petitions, and pleadings. Reviews the dockets of assigned cases to ensure the proper progress of such cases and advises the Court of those cases where action by the Court is appropriate.
• Compiles statistics and prepares periodic reports, as required, that reflect the status and flow of cases. Identifies problem areas, makes recommendations, and offers solutions, as required by the Court, Administrative Office, and other officials.
• Keeps abreast of pertinent changes in the law.
• Provides information, guidance, and advice to judges, Clerk’s Office staff, and other personnel. Advises appropriate personnel on the status of particular cases.
• Rotates on emergency phone duty to screen and process after hours and holidays to the extent needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
At the time of appointment, the candidate must possess the following minimum requirements:
• Be a graduate of an ABA accredited law school with excellent academic and professional credentials
• Possess superior research and writing skills
• Exhibit strong analytical ability
• Be proficient in computer assisted research, CM/ECF, PACER, Adobe Acrobat, and Microsoft Word

Preferred Qualifications
• Three or more years of relevant legal experience received after graduation from law school
• Federal court experience
• A background in immigration law and constitutional law

Personal Characteristics
The successful candidate must demonstrate a positive work ethic, integrity, confidentiality, and a strong sense of ethical responsibility while handling sensitive information and upholding the judicial code of conduct. They will possess sharp analytical thinking, attention to detail, sound judgment, clear written and verbal communication, the ability to process time sensitive matters quickly, and the ability to prioritize work. Equally important are professionalism, discretion, adaptability, and the ability to remain composed and dependable under pressure while working collaboratively or independently.

Salary Qualifications
To qualify for level JSP Grade 11, an individual must be a law school graduate (or be certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting conferment of degree) from a law school of recognized standing, and have one or more of the following attributes:
• Standing within the upper third of the law school class from a law school on the approved list of either the American Bar Association or the Association of American Law Schools;
• Experience on the editorial board of a law review of such a school;
• Graduation from such a school with an LLM degree; or
• Demonstrated proficiency in legal studies, which in judges opinion, is the equivalent of one of the above.

Note: Some examples of criteria which are considered to be acceptable as equivalent include:
• Publication of a noteworthy article in a law school student publication or other scholarly publication;
• Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif;
• Winning of a moot court competition or membership on a moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools;
• Participation in the legal aid or other law school clinical program sanctioned by the law school;* or
• Summer experience as a law clerk to a state or local judge or law clerk experience on a continuing basis in a private firm while attending school (i.e., working one's way through college).*
* In order to receive credit, participation and experience could not have been for academic credit.

To qualify for level JSP Grade 12, an individual must have one year of legal work experience after graduation from law school and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or Federal Court of general jurisdiction.

To qualify for level JSP Grade 13, an individual must possess at least two years of legal work experience after graduation from law school and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or Federal Court of general jurisdiction.

Note: Legal work experience is defined as progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, in legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school. Major or substantial legal activities while on military duty may be credited, on a month-for-month basis whether before or after graduation, but not to exceed one year if before graduation from law school.

FBI Background Investigation
As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must successfully complete a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background investigation, defined as a technical fingerprint search of the criminal history records of the FBI national fingerprint database.

Hours
Work hours of the position will be determined by the Court.

Benefits
A generous benefits package is available and includes the following:
• Eleven (11) paid federal holidays
• Health benefits under the Federal Employees’ Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)
• Dental and Vision insurance options under the Federal Employees Vision and Dental Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
• Life insurance benefits under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)
• Flexible Benefits Program with Healthcare, Dependent Care, and Commuter/Parking Reimbursement Accounts
• Dental and Vision insurance options under the Federal Employees Vision and Dental Insurance Program (FEDVIP)

How To Apply:
Consideration will only be given to those that apply through the court’s online applicant tracking system. To view openings and to apply, visit our applicant tracking system at https://forms.mad.uscourts.gov/recruitment/
Applicants must submit the following:
1. A cover letter of interest indicating why you are interested in this position and what best qualifies you
2. A current resume
3. A law school transcript
4. A writing sample not to exceed 10 pages; and,
5. A completed AO-78, Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment (submitted via applicant system).

Information For Applicants:
The District of Massachusetts is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to a diversified workforce. Employees of the U.S. District Court are appointed in the excepted service, are considered “at-will” employees, and serve at the pleasure of the Court. All Court employees are required to adhere to a Code of Conduct, copies of which are available upon request. Applicants must be a United States Citizen or permanently eligible to work in the United States. The United States District Court is a part of the Judicial Branch of the United States government. Although comparable to the Executive Branch (civil service) in salary, leave accrual, health benefits, life insurance benefits, and retirement benefits, generally court employees are not subject to the many statutory and regulatory provisions that govern civil service employment.

The U. S. District Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement or to withdraw the job announcement or to fill the position earlier than the closing date, if a closing date is shown, any of which actions may occur without any prior written notice. This job announcement may involve filling more than one position described herein.

The Federal Financial Management Reform Act requires direct deposit of federal wages.
Due to the expected high volume of applicants for this position, the U.S. District Court will only contact those qualified applicants who will be invited to interview.