Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho is now accepting applications for a Fellowship Attorney position(s) in Spokane, Washington. This is a position for Fiscal Year 2020, with the possibility of an extension for Fiscal Year 2021. The primary practice areas will be before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, and United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This organization litigates cases in four locations: Richland, Yakima, and Spokane, WA (all in the Eastern District of Washington); and Coeur d’Alene, ID (District of Idaho).
Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho is the Community Defender Organization (see 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(g)(2)(B)) for the Eastern District of Washington and the Northern District of Idaho. The organization is a non-profit corporation funded by a grant from the federal government. Employees of Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho are considered “at will” and are not government employees. The organization provides defense services in federal criminal cases and related matters appointed by the court. The organization's main office is in Spokane, Washington, with a branch office in Yakima, Washington.
JOB DESCRIPTION: This is a fellowship attorney position, which means the attorney has less legal experience and will be learning to handle criminal cases from inception (be it pre-indictment, complaint, or indictment) to either trial or sentencing or both. Initial case assignments will be simple (e.g., supervised release violations and petty offenses), with case assignments becoming more complex as the fellowship attorney is trained. The caseload is varied but includes offenses involving: 1) firearms; 2) drugs; 3) immigration; 4) child pornography; and 5) fraud crimes. And because the Spokane office is surrounded by several Indian Reservations, there are also many cases involving serious assaults (physical and sexual) and murders occurring in Indian Country.
Regular day trips and some overnight travel is required for case investigations, court appearances, and visiting clients housed in various correctional facilities throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho. A fellowship attorney may not engage in the private practice of law. Anticipated start date Fall 2019.
SALARY/BENEFITS: This is a full-time position. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salary is on a scale equivalent to that of Assistant U.S. Attorneys if admitted to practice or as a Legal Intern pending admission. Benefits are provided, and salary is payable by direct deposit.
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must possess the following license qualifications: 1) be a graduate of an accredited law school; 2) be admitted to practice before the highest court in a state or who are pending admission to a bar but must be licensed by November 1, 2019 (a Washington State Bar license is not required); 3) be eligible for admission to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington; and 4) be eligible for admission to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. No legal experience necessary, and no more than four (4) years of professional attorney experience.
This office believes true excellence is achieved through collaboration between people of diverse perspectives and shared respect. We therefore ask any who share these beliefs apply for this position.
TO APPLY: Send resume with letter of interest to include bar license state and number (or pending admission’s date), a recent writing sample (10-page limit) and 3 references by electronic submissions in PDF format only to:
Email: [email protected]
Subject Line: Fellowship Attorney - Spokane
No telephone calls: Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 1, 2019
Applications received after this date may be considered if the position is not filled.
More than one position may be filled from this announcement and is subject to the availability of funding.
Interviews will be scheduled in Spokane, Washington (travel to interview is at your own expense).
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