Trial Attorney - Santa Ana

Federal Public Defender, Central District of California•Santa Ana, CA

About The Position

The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is accepting applications for a full-time attorney position in its trial unit in Santa Ana, California. The Santa Ana Office represents individuals charged with federal crimes occurring in Orange County. The trial unit is committed to the pursuit of justice by zealously advocating in federal court for the constitutional rights and inherent dignity of individuals who are accused or convicted of crimes and cannot afford their own lawyer.

Requirements

All applicants must have graduated from an accredited law school and be members in good standing of the California Bar or must be willing to sit for the next California Bar exam.
Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents seeking citizenship as described here: https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/search-judiciary-jobs/citizenship-requirements-employment-judiciary.
Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to indigent criminal defense and/or public interest law
Must have superior oral and written communication skills
Possess excellent research skills
Work well in teams.

Nice To Haves

Preference will be given to applicants with at least three years of experience in state and/or federal criminal law or applicants with federal judicial clerkship experience, but neither is required.
Applicants with limited or no prior criminal experience should explain their interest in federal criminal practice in their cover letter.
Experience or a commitment to working with culturally diverse populations and marginalized communities is also desired.

Responsibilities

Aggressively litigating criminal cases in federal court from the client’s initial bail proceedings through jury trial and sentencing.
Researching and drafting creative, innovative motions
Collaborating with a team of investigators, paralegals, and support staff to prepare the client’s case for trial
Appearing at all court hearings, including as lead or second-chair in jury trials
Visiting the client, including at detention facilities, to review discovery and prepare a defense strategy
Developing persuasive mitigation for negotiations and sentencing.
On occasion, trial attorneys are also assigned appeals and post-conviction matters.
Trial attorneys must be available to work during regular business hours, and when necessary, during evenings and weekends.