Pro Se Staff Attorney

📍 Richmond, Virginia · 🏛 U.S. Courts · 💰 $78,009–$170,806 per year · 🎓 JS 11–14 · 🧭 Attorney (0905) · ⏳ Closes Sep 16, 2027 · 309 days left · 🗓 Posted Sep 17, 2026
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About this job

The Richmond Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is currently accepting applications for a full-time Pro Se Staff Attorney. The Pro Se Staff Attorney carries primary responsibility for managing Social Security appeals by conducting legal research and preparing draft reports and recommendations, or memorandum opinions and orders, including cases involving self-represented claimants. Preference given to candidates able to start as soon as possible.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include: taking primary responsibility for the Court's social security docket; taking primary responsibility for a portion of the Court's immigration and pro se prisoner docket; providing substantive legal analysis of pleadings and making recommendations directly to the judges regarding the disposition of motions; drafting appropriate reports and recommendations, orders, and opinions for review by judges; efficiently managing the flow of the Court's social security, immigration, and pro se prisoner litigation; providing information to judges and Court staff on legal issues unique to social security, immigration, and pro se prisoner litigation; evaluating existing procedures and developing and implementing improved processes for the adjudication of the Court's social security, immigration and pro se prisoner litigation; preparing periodic reports for judges on trends in the respective dockets; conducting legal research and keeping abreast of developments in the law including but not limited to social security appeals, prisoner immigration cases, § 1983 cases, and capital habeas cases in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court; reviewing voluminous administrative and state court records and trial transcripts; collaborating with other staff attorneys and chambers law clerks; and performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

JSP Grade 11 ($78,009 - $101,417): Law school graduate (top quarter or law review required) with less than 1 year of legal work experience after the JD. JSP Grade 12 ($93,499 - $121,551): At least 1 year of legal work experience after the JD. Must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction. JSP Grade 13 ($111,183 - $144,540): At least 2 years of legal work experience after the JD. Must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction. JSP Grade 14 ($131,385- $170,806): At least 3 years of legal work experience after the JD. Must be a member of the bar of a state, territorial, or federal court of general jurisdiction.

Education

Law school graduate (top quarter or law review required).

Requirements

Employees must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States. Employees will be hired provisionally pending the results of a background investigation. Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Employees are required to use Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit. Positions with the United States District Court Clerk's Office are Excepted Service appointments.

Evaluations

All applications will be reviewed to identify the best qualified candidates. Only applicants selected for an interview will be notified. Applicants not selected for an interview will not receive notice concerning the status of their application.

How to apply

The application package should be sent to: The Honorable Mark R. Colombell, United States Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 701 E Broad Street, Suite 5212, Richmond, VA 23219. Alternatively, you may email your application materials in one PDF document to: Mara_Shingleton@vaed.uscourts.gov.

Applications are handled only on the official announcement. This page is a readable copy of the public announcement data — the official version controls if anything differs.

Apply on USAJobs (official) ↗

Required documents

A cover letter; detailed resume including educational background, past employment, and references; a law school transcript; and a writing sample. See 'How to Apply' for instructions.

What to expect next

Only applicants selected for an interview will be notified. Applicants not selected for an interview will not receive notice concerning the status of their application.

Other information

Excepted service appointments are at will and can be terminated with or without cause by the Court. To view the full job announcement please visit our website at www.vaed.uscourts.gov/jobs. The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this Pro Se Staff Attorney job pay?

The announcement lists a salary of $78,009–$170,806 per year (JS 11–14).

When is the last day to apply?

Applications close on Sep 16, 2027 — 309 days from today.

Where is this job located?

This position is located in Richmond, Virginia with the U.S. Courts.

How do I apply?

Applications are submitted through the official announcement on USAJobs. Use the Apply button on this page to go to the official posting — this site never takes applications itself.

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Data: USAJobs (U.S. Office of Personnel Management), retrieved 2026-11-11 · Announcement FY26-35R · Official announcement. FederalJobs is unofficial and is not affiliated with OPM or the agency.
Pro Se Staff Attorney
Sep 16, 2027 deadlineApply