Assistant Federal Public Defender

Qualification

To qualify, the applicant must have the following:

• Be a law school graduate, a member in good standing of any state bar (i.e., licensed to practice law before the highest court of any state in the United States or the District of Columbia), and eligible for admission to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Must have the capacity, within several months of hiring, to develop sufficient skills to defend serious criminal cases in federal court, from arraignment through post-conviction motions and on appeal
• A commitment to working with diverse communities and with clients from a wide range of backgrounds
• The ability to work in a paper-lite environment
• Three or more years of state or federal criminal defense experience is preferred but not required

Specialized Experience

Applicants should be team-oriented and collaborate with other attorneys and staff. They must possess excellent written and oral communication skills and be able to do so thoughtfully with clients, colleagues, our adversaries, judges, and court personnel. The successful applicant must have an established capacity or clearly demonstrated aptitude for excellence in criminal defense practice, a commitment to the representation of indigent accused persons, and a reputation for integrity.

Benefits

The salary of the successful applicant commensurate with the person’s qualifications and experience. The position offers federal employment benefits, including paid vacation, paid sick time, paid holidays, health insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (401k). Telework days may be approved per office policy. The position is excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of the competitive Civil Service. Salary is payable only by Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit).

Miscellaneous

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Our office values diversity and is committed to equity and inclusion. We aspire to create a culture of mutual respect, collaboration, openness, and humility that honors the people we represent. We seek lawyers who share this belief and commitment. We encourage individuals who are members of the BIPOC community, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized and underrepresented groups to apply. Above all, we are interested in applicants’ talents, dedication, and desire to ensure that all individuals, irrespective of race, ethnicity, nation of origin, culture, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual identity, education, opinions, age, languages spoken, veteran status, disability, religion, and socioeconomic circumstance who are charged with a federal crime, receive effective assistance of counsel, as guaranteed by the Constitution.