Summary

The Richmond Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is currently accepting applications for a full-time Pro Se Staff Attorney. The Pro Se Staff Attorney carries primary responsibility for managing Social Security appeals by conducting legal research and preparing draft reports and recommendations, or memorandum opinions and orders, including cases involving self-represented claimants. Preference given to candidates able to start as soon as possible.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include:

• taking primary responsibility for the Court's social security docket;
• taking primary responsibility for a portion of the Court's immigration and pro se prisoner docket;
• providing substantive legal analysis of pleadings and making recommendations directly to the judges regarding the disposition of motions;
• drafting appropriate reports and recommendations, orders, and opinions for review by judges;
• efficiently managing the flow of the Court's social security, immigration, and pro se prisoner litigation;
• providing information to judges and Court staff on legal issues unique to social security, immigration, and pro se prisoner litigation;
• evaluating existing procedures and developing and implementing improved processes for the adjudication of the Court's social security, immigration and pro se prisoner litigation;
• preparing periodic reports for judges on trends in the respective dockets;
• conducting legal research and keeping abreast of developments in the law including but not limited to social security appeals, prisoner immigration cases, § 1983 cases, and capital habeas cases in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court;
• reviewing voluminous administrative and state court records and trial transcripts;
• collaborating with other staff attorneys and chambers law clerks; and
• performing other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Employees must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States.
• Employees will be hired provisionally pending the results of a background investigation.
• Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.
• Employees are required to use Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit.
• Positions with the United States District Court Clerk's Office are Excepted Service appointments.

Qualifications

JSP Grade 11 ($78,009 - $101,417): Law school graduate (top quarter or law review required) with less than 1 year of legal work experience after the JD.

JSP Grade 12 ($93,499 - $121,551): At least 1 year of legal work experience after the JD. Must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction.

JSP Grade 13 ($111,183 - $144,540): At least 2 years of legal work experience after the JD. Must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction.

JSP Grade 14 ($131,385- $170,806): At least 3 years of legal work experience after the JD. Must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction.

Education

Law school graduate (top quarter or law review required).

Additional information

• Excepted service appointments are at will and can be terminated with or without cause by the Court.
• To view the full job announcement please visit our website at www.vaed.uscourts.gov/jobs.

The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

Review our benefits

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

All applications will be reviewed to identify the best qualified candidates. Only applicants selected for an interview will be notified. Applicants not selected for an interview will not receive notice concerning the status of their application.

Required Documents

A cover letter; detailed resume including educational background, past employment, and references; a law school transcript; and a writing sample.

See 'How to Apply' for instructions.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

The application package should be sent to: The Honorable Mark R. Colombell, United States Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 701 E Broad Street, Suite 5212, Richmond, VA 23219.

Alternatively, you may email your application materials in one PDF document to: Mara_[email protected].

Agency contact information

Human Resources

Email

Mara_[email protected]

Address

US District Court and US Probation Office - Eastern District of Virginia
701 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
US

Next steps

Only applicants selected for an interview will be notified. Applicants not selected for an interview will not receive notice concerning the status of their application.

Overview

Accepting applications

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Richmond, VA

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Remote job

No

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Salary

$78,009 - $170,806 per year

Pay scale & grade

JS 11 - 14

Promotion potential

14

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule

Full-time

Travel Required

Not required

Appointment type

Permanent

Occupations and job series

• 0905 Attorney

Supervisory status

No

Federal service type

This job is in the Excepted Service

Represented by a union

No

Drug test

No

Security clearance

Not Required

Financial disclosure required

No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number

FY26-35R

Control number

886220200