The Federal Defender for the Middle District of Florida is accepting applications for Assistant Federal Defender position in the Trial Unit in Ocala. The Trial Unit represents indigent persons charged with criminal offenses in the United States District Court and provides appellate representation in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to indigent defense, excellent oral advocacy, and solid legal research and writing skills. Applicants should expect to defend and litigate federal criminal offenses involving guns, drugs, violent crimes, sex offenses, and complex conspiracies and fraud. Applicants must be prepared to zealously advocate for our clients who are often facing minimum mandatory and life sentences. Preference is given to applicants with criminal trial experience, preferably more than five years.
Applicants must be effective and thoughtful communicators with clients, colleagues, and staff. Applicants should be team-oriented and collaborate with other attorneys, paralegals, investigators, staff, and experts.
Applicants must be members in good standing of a state bar. Florida Bar membership is preferred but not required. Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required.
Conditions of Employment: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in and for the United States. Appointment to this position is contingent upon successful completion of an FBI name and fingerprint check. Employees of the Federal Defender are members of the judicial branch of government. They are considered “at-will” and can be terminated with or without cause. Employees are considered at-will and are not covered by the Civil Service Reform Act.
Prior to employment, all applicants are required to be fully vaccinated or have received the first dose in a two-dose vaccine against COVID-19. Those applicants who have only received the first dose in a two-dose vaccine are required to receive the second dose and be fully vaccinated no later than five weeks after the start of employment.
Qualified persons may apply by submitting a letter of interest, resume, three professional references, and two recent writing samples (limited to 10 pages each) in a single Adobe PDF format. An email confirming receipt of the PDF will be sent to all applicants. Only those selected for interview will receive further communication. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 09, 2022. Submissions that are incomplete or fail to follow the instructions above will not be considered.
Please send your submission to attention:
Office of the Federal Defender, Middle District of Florida
Evelyn Langston, Personnel Administrator
[email protected]
Only those selected for interview will receive further communication.