Staff Attorney / Pro Se Law Clerk

Job Details for Staff Attorney / Pro Se Law Clerk

Court Name / Organization Indiana Southern District Court

Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is accepting applications for one full-time and one half-time Staff Attorney positions. Staff Attorneys work within the Staff Attorney Office, which assists the Court in managing its prisoner civil rights and habeas corpus docket. The Staff Attorney is appointed by the Chief Judge, but performs duties and responsibilities for all District Judges, including legal research, substantial drafting of proposed entries; screening of prisoner civil rights complaints and habeas petitions; reviewing motions to determine issues involved and bases for relief; assisting judicial officers in conducting hearings, conferences, and trials; providing information regarding court proceedings to the public, the bar, and pro se litigants; providing case management of prisoner litigation; preparing periodic reports reflecting the status and flow of cases; and providing information to other court personnel regarding prisoner cases. The staff attorney may also have an opportunity to work on death penalty habeas cases. This position is dependent on available funding, dependent upon annual court filings. Although the Court prefers that the Staff Attorney be based in Indianapolis, the position is eligible for telework if the applicant has highly relevant professional experience.

Candidates must have the following minimum qualifications : (1) law school graduation in the top quarter of the graduating class (top 10% preferred); (2) law review / journal experience; (3) good character and maturity; (4) excellent skills in research, case management, writing, proofreading, communication, and source and cite checking (including use of proper Bluebook form); (5) proficiency in computer-assisted legal research, Windows, and MS Word; (6) minimum of one year's experience (five preferred) in the practice of law, in a judicial clerkship, or other comparable position demanding high quality legal writing and management of a heavy volume of cases; and (7) ability and willingness to work collegially with others.

Employee Benefits

Employees of the U.S. District Court are Excepted Appointments and considered At-Will judicial employees. Federal Government Civil Service classifications or regulations do not apply. Part-time employees' benefits may be pro-rated based on coverage and / or cost-sharing of premium.

Some of the available benefits are :

• Participation in the federal health, dental and vision programs of the employee's choice
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), including the Thrift Savings Plan – similar to a 401(k)
• Participation in a group life insurance program
• Participation in a group long-term disability insurance program
• Participation in a long-term care insurance program
• Participation in a flexible spending account for medical and / or dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis
• Credit for prior government service
• Paid annual and sick leave and applicable paid holidays per year pro-rated for part time employment

Application Info

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé, writing sample (no more than 10 pages), a law school transcript, three references, and a completed AO 78 Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment (application form is on the court website www.insd.uscourts.gov ) in a single PDF to : StaffAttorneyApp@insd.uscourts.gov and ensure that your name and the words "Staff Attorney" appear in the subject line of your email.

Applications must be emailed before 4 p.m. ET, Friday Oct. 24, 2025. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position may be filled before the Application Deadline.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

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