The Office of the Staff Attorneys, Motions Unit

The Office of the Staff Attorneys is the court’s central legal staff. It includes Chief Staff Attorney, a Chief Deputy Staff Attorney, four supervisory staff attorneys, and approximately 20 staff attorneys, as well as an administrative manager and support staff.

The Motions Unit is a specialized team of five staff attorneys, known as motions attorneys, who make recommendations to the court about the disposition of substantive motions, including emergency matters. The motions attorneys work closely with judges, chambers staff, and case managers.

Motions Attorney

Motions attorneys provide the court with procedural and substantive legal advice regarding cases. The major responsibilities and duties of this position include:

• Assisting the judges in the decision-making process by providing timely, well-reasoned recommendations, docket-ready work product, case management, and logistical support.
• Conducting legal research and analysis on emerging and complex legal issues in federal civil, criminal, agency, bankruptcy, class action, multidistrict litigation, and immigration cases.
• Ensuring that the Unit’s work timely gets to the judges, including emergency matters that may require work outside normal business hours.
• Assessing cases, providing advice, and answering questions under time pressure.
• Staying current with developments in the law of the circuit and the district court, as well as with evolving legislation.
• Maintaining a commitment to personal growth and team success.

Qualifications

• Required: A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and bar passage. Superior legal research, analytical, writing, and editing skills; substantial legal research and writing experience. Ability to organize and synthesize information and to manage time effectively, adjust priorities, and meet tight deadlines. Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a team environment, and the ability and desire to interact with both chambers and court staff on a daily basis. Comfort with accepting edits from supervisors and judges.
• Preferred: At least two to three years of federal court legal staff experience and/or judicial law clerk experience. Alternatively, progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, involving substantial legal research and writing. Significant experience in relevant areas of law.

Total Rewards & Work/Life Balance

• Compensation*: $88,683 - $144,137 (CL 29) / $104,789 - $170,339 (CL 30) *Grade/Salary commensurate with qualifications.
• Benefits: Employer subsidized health and life insurance plans. Dental and vision insurance plans. Flexible spending accounts for health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses. Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and mass transit subsidies. On-site fitness center. Federal retirement entails a pension plan (FERS-FRAE) and employer-matching Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K). Retirees may carry insurance plans into retirement while paying the same premiums as employees. Visit www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits to learn more about the Judiciary’s competitive benefits.
• Work/Life: Paid time off: 13 vacation days, 13 sick leave days, and 11 holidays. Vacation days increase to 20 days after three years and to 26 days after fifteen years. Hybrid telework schedule may be available; two days of telework per week is typical after an initial probationary period.

Conditions of Employment

The selected candidate is provisionally hired pending results of background check and fingerprinting. Employees are required to adhere to the Judicial Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Electronic Fund Transfer for payroll direct deposit is required.

Positions with the U.S. Courts are at-will, excepted service appointments, and may be terminated with or without cause by the Court. For citizenship requirements and additional information about careers in the Judiciary, visit www.uscourts.gov/careers. The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this announcement, or to withdraw the announcement for any reason without notice.

How to Apply

Please submit a single PDF application packet, including (1) a cover letter addressing your qualifications and experience in relation to the job duties and how you learned of the position, (2) a sample of your self-edited legal writing, produced without AI assistance; and (3) a current resume, to the Director of Human Resources via the ‘Apply to Position’ button. Position is open until filled; preference given to applications received by November 30, 2026.

Interviews may be scheduled on a rolling basis and take place prior to the ‘received by’ date listed above. Virtual interviews may be available.

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The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is an equal opportunity employer. For a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, contact Human Resources at [email protected] or (513) 564-7250.