Job Details for Temporary Staff Attorney

Court Name/Organization

Indiana Southern District Court

Location

Indianapolis, IN

Opening and Closing Dates

09/03/2026 - 10/02/2026

Appointment Type

Temporary

Classification Level/Grade

JSP 12 - 14

Salary

$90,341 - $126,947

Announcement Number

26-22

Position Description

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is accepting applications for a temporary Staff Attorney to assist the court for a 15-week period beginning on Dec. 21, 2026. Staff Attorneys work within the Staff Attorney Office, which assists the court in managing its prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus docket. For this position, the Temporary Staff Attorney will be managing a prisoner civil rights caseload. The Temporary Staff Attorney is appointed by the Chief Judge, but performs duties and responsibilities for all District Judges, including legal research, substantial drafting of proposed entries; screening of prisoner civil rights complaints; reviewing motions to determine issues involved and bases for relief; assisting judicial officers in conducting hearings, conferences, and trials; providing case management of prisoner litigation; and providing information to other court personnel regarding prisoner cases. Given the limited duration of this position, the Court will give priority to candidates with working knowledge of prisoner and constitutional law or federal clerkship experience. Remote applicants with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

Candidates must have the following minimum qualifications: (1) law school graduation in the top quarter of the graduating class (top 25% preferred); (2) law review/journal experience; (3) good character and maturity; (4) excellent skills in research, case management, writing, proofreading, communication, and source and cite checking (including use of proper Bluebook form); (5) proficiency in computer-assisted legal research, Windows, and MS Word; (6) minimum of one year's experience (five preferred) in the practice of law, in a judicial clerkship, or other comparable position demanding high quality legal writing and management of a heavy volume of cases; and (7) ability and willingness to work collegially with others.

Application Info

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé, writing sample (no more than 10 pages), three references, and a completed AO 78 Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment in a single PDF to: [email protected] and ensure that your name and the words “Temporary Staff Attorney” appear in the subject line of your email. Applications must be emailed before 4 p.m. ET, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position may be filled before the application deadline.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.