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The Legal Division of the Office of the Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, has an opening for a highly qualified attorney to serve as a Deputy Director of the Legal Division. 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.
05/05/2025 to 08/05/2025
$134,075 - $195,200 per year
CL-31 (Comparable to GS-15). Salary is dependent on qualifications.
CL 31
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
None
Yes
No
USCA-25-09
836470100
United States Citizens or persons eligible to work in the United States may apply to this posting. This announcement is open until filled. Please note that a Security Clearance is not required when submitting applications.
A Deputy Director supervises, develops, and mentors staff attorneys and support staff; responds to inquiries from chambers, the Clerk's Office, the public, and members of the bar; develops and implements personnel policies and conducts performance evaluations; performs special projects as required by the Director of the Legal Division and Clerk of Court; and provides after-hours supervisory duty for emergency matters. Some work may be done remotely.
Responsibilities
Provides guidance, advice, and assistance to staff attorneys regarding substantive and procedural legal issues. Reviews the legal work of staff attorneys, including draft memoranda and proposed orders, ensuring that the quality of the work comports with court standards. Attends formal conferences at which staff attorneys present their recommendations to three-judge panels. Conducts research on general legal questions posed by judges and the Clerk and prepares memoranda on the results of the research. Provides guidance to court staff on local and federal rules and procedures. Assists the Director of the Legal Division with matters concerning the management of the office, including the evaluation of short- and long-term institutional goals and strategies. Provides back-up to the Director in the Director's absence. Screens cases for jurisdictional issues and assesses the difficulty of the appeal and the necessity for oral argument. Oversees cases dealing with national security, which require special handling of classified materials and other sensitive information. Ensures a stable operation of the Legal Division and participates in hiring decisions. Prepares orders disposing of procedural motions. Provides advice to the Clerk's Office Operations Unit regarding the processing of motions, preparation of votesheets, and drafting of orders.
TERMS: The first year of employment is considered a probationary period.
REQUIREMENTS: Because the D.C. Circuit entertains a large number of high-profile and sealed cases, employees are subject to strict confidentiality requirements.
Your continued employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background records check. A full background investigation for a security clearance will also be required.
At a minimum, applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be a member of the bar of a state or the District of Columbia, and have at least four years of specialized experience gained after graduation from law school, including at least one year equivalent to work at the CL-30 level.
Specialized Experience
Progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, in legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience, gained after graduation from law school.
Educational Substitutions
The following may be credited as one year of specialized experience:
The successful applicant must be a United States citizen or eligible to work in the United States. This position is an excepted appointment and is "At-Will." The United States Court of Appeals is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The successful applicant will be subject to mandatory electronic transfer of funds for payment of net pay. The United States Courthouse is a smoke-free building.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants will also be evaluated based on their application and an interview.
Please read the "How to Apply" section.
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.
Email a cover letter (addressed to Felicia Powell, Human Resources Specialist), resume, law school transcript, and self-edited writing sample as a single PDF attachment to VacancyDeputyDirector-USCA-25-09@cadc.uscourts.gov
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.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/836470100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.