The Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Florida is accepting applications for the position of Assistant Federal Public Defender in our Miami office. The Federal Public Defender, a branch of the United States Courts, an Equal Opportunity Employer, operates under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. §3006A, to provide defense services to indigent persons in federal criminal cases and related matters in the federal courts. This is a temporary (“Not to Exceed” 1 year and 1 day) position with an anticipated start date of October 2018.
Requirements: An Assistant Federal Public Defender must be a graduate of an accredited law school, and have admission and good standing in a state bar; or who is pending admission to a bar but must be licensed by October 15, 2018.
Duties: This is an Assistant Federal Public Defender position for an attorney with little to no legal experience. This position is designed to provide the qualified candidate with intensive training and mentoring. The candidate will be learning to handle criminal cases from inception to either trial or sentencing, or both. Initial case assignments will be simple (supervised release violations and petty offenses) with case assignments becoming increasingly more complex as the attorney is trained. An AFPD may not engage in the private practice of law.
Selection Criteria: The successful applicant must have a demonstrated capacity or aptitude for excellence in trial and appellate practice, and a commitment to the representation of indigent accused persons. This position also requires strong writing abilities, excellent research skills, proficiency in computer-assisted legal research; word processing capability and time management skills.
The selected candidate will be subject to a background check as a condition of employment.
Salary and Benefits: This is a full-time, temporary position not to exceed one year and one day, and federal salary and benefits apply. Salary commensurate with Assistant United States Attorneys for the Southern District of Florida. This position is subject to mandatory electronic transfer (direct deposit) of net pay.
How to Apply: No telephone calls please. Qualified persons may apply by submitting a letter of interest outlining experience; background in criminal law; and interest in the field of criminal defense; resume and one writing sample [send in PDF format as one attachment] to:
Raisa Gonzalez
Human Resources Specialist
Federal Public Defender’s Office
150 West Flagler Street, Suite 1500
Miami, Florida 33130
Or via e-mail to:
[email protected]
Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Hiring for this position is subject to the availability of funds in the final appropriation. Applications will be received until the position is filled. All responses will remain confidential.
The Federal Public Defender is an Equal-Opportunity Employer