The Staff Attorney’s Office generally hires between 6 and 10 term staff attorneys each fall for term positions starting the following fall; interviews typically begin in late August or September. We participate in on-campus interview programs at NYU, Columbia, Cornell, Brooklyn, Fordham, Cardozo, New York Law School, Penn Carey, Seton Hall, George Washington, American, Howard, Chicago, and Northwestern, as well as the Northeast Black Law Students career fair; applicants from other schools, or who are not in law school, can submit applications through OSCAR or by email to sao_applications@ca2.uscourts.gov.

Staff attorneys must be able to convey the results of legal research in a clear, concise, and objective manner to the judges of the Second Circuit; draft, proofread, and edit legal documents with accuracy and speed; manage their time effectively to meet tight deadlines; and confidently recommend dispositions. Successful applicants will generally have outstanding academic credentials and strong skills in legal analysis, research, writing, and editing. Applicants should have a strong interest in criminal law and procedure, administrative law, employment law, immigration law, and civil rights issues, as well as federal and appellate jurisdiction. A J.D. from an ABA-approved law school is required. Prior federal court experience, including judicial internships, is preferred, as is law review or other legal publication experience.

A complete application package contains a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, two writing samples (unedited or lightly edited by another person), and contact information for three references, at least one of whom can comment on your writing.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents seeking citizenship under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B). Offers are contingent on successful completion of a background check. The federal judiciary is an equal opportunity employer.

Last modified at 9/22/2025