Staff Attorney I

Job Duties

The Office of Chief Staff Attorney (CSA), with attorney and support staff, assists in reviewing, processing, and presenting to the Court for disposition the petitions, appeals, and original jurisdiction cases filed with the Court of Appeals of Virginia.  

Please submit a cover letter, current resume, and a writing sample that is solely the applicant’s work product. Writing sample may be included with the resume in a single PDF.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Each Staff Attorney I position is responsible for handling a full caseload of civil and criminal appeals. All Staff Attorneys conduct independent legal research and legal analysis for each assigned case and recommend a disposition to the Court; review filings to ensure compliance with all procedural rules and statutory requirements; draft memoranda, perform specialized research and writing projects for the Judges or Chief Staff Attorney as necessary; and provide support services for Court-related activities serving Court operations and the administration of justice.

Minimum Qualifications

The most competitive candidates will possess:

The successful applicant will be an individual interested in a long-term professional opportunity, who is a member of the Virginia State Bar or currently eligible for admission, and who has professional experience in litigation, or experience serving as a judicial law clerk or staff attorney. Familiarity with appellate court rules and procedures, as well as trial and post-conviction procedural rules, is required. 

The successful candidate will possess outstanding analytical skills, the demonstrated ability to evaluate and synthesize a large volume of information, and excellent written and oral communication skills. Applicants also must demonstrate competence with computer-based case tracking, legal research, and word processing systems.  A minimum of one to three years of relevant experience in a litigation or judicial role, or a combination, is preferred for the Staff Attorney I position.

Please submit a cover letter, current resume, and a writing sample that is solely the applicant’s work product. Writing sample may be included with the resume in a single PDF.

Contact Information

Email: Humanresources@VACourts.gov