Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho is now accepting applications for a Trial Attorney position in Yakima, Washington. The primary practice areas will be before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington 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 trial attorney position, which means the attorney will be handling criminal cases from inception (be it pre-indictment, complaint, or indictment) to either trial or sentencing – or both, as well as handling appeals. The caseload is varied, but includes the following: 1) firearms offenses; 2) drug offenses; 3) immigration offenses; 4) child pornography and 5) white collar offenses. The Yakima office covers Yakima Indian Reservation where there are 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. A trial attorney may not engage in the private practice of law. Anticipated start date Summer 2021.
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 (a Washington 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. Regarding experience, applicants must possess at least three (3) years of professional experience as a trial attorney. Fluent in Spanish strongly preferred but not required.
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. Benefits are provided, and salary is payable by direct deposit.
TO APPLY: Send Resume with letter of interest to include bar license state and number, a recent writing sample (10-page limit) and 3 references by electronic submissions in PDF format only to:
Email: [email protected]
Subject Line: Trial Attorney-Yakima
No telephone calls: Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
The interview process will be discussed with selected applicants.