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.
The caseload of the D.C. Circuit involves virtually every area of federal law and is unique in the number of cases filed against the executive branch. Because a Deputy Director must be able to advise the judges, Director, and Clerk on difficult, varied, and important legal issues, the court is highly selective in its hiring. The court is looking for an individual who has demonstrated the ability to analyze complex legal issues quickly and to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing. Prior experience working for a federal court, especially in a Clerk's Office, or a Staff Attorney Office, is preferred. A judicial clerkship, law review membership, or comparable legal research and writing experience is helpful. Other desirable qualifications include litigation experience and graduation in the top 25% of your law school class.
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.