About This Position
The Pro Se Staff Attorney carries primary responsibility for managing Social Security appeals by conducting legal research and preparing draft reports and recommendations, or memorandum opinions and orders, including cases involving self-represented claimants.
Qualifications
Law school graduate (top quarter or law review required), with at least three years of professional legal experience. Strong preference for attorneys with experience working on social security and prisoner immigration, § 1983, and habeas corpus matters. Computer proficiency in Windows applications, word processing ability in Microsoft Word, and experience with computer-assisted legal research are required.
Applicant must have the ability to analyze complex legal issues and understand a wide range of legal concepts, principles, and practices as they relate to social security appeals and prisoner litigation; perform legal research and write accurately and expeditiously; communicate complex issues in simple terms with a professional demeanor; set priorities; and manage work with limited supervision.
Applicant must be detail-oriented and possess excellent organizational skills.
Major Duties
taking primary responsibility for the Court's social security docket; taking primary responsibility for a portion of the Court's immigration and pro se prisoner docket; providing substantive legal analysis of pleadings and making recommendations directly to the judges regarding the dispositions of motions; drafting appropriate reports and recommendations, orders, and opinions for review by judges; efficiently managing the flow of the Court's social security, immigration, and pro se prisoner litigation; providing information to judges and Court staff on legal issues unique to social security, immigration, and pro se prisoner litigation; evaluating existing procedures and developing and implementing improved processes for the adjudication of the Court's social security, immigration and pro se prisoner litigation; preparing periodic reports for judges on trends in the respective dockets; conducting legal research and keeping abreast of developments in the law including but not limited to social security appeals, prisoner immigration cases, § 1983 cases, and capital habeas cases in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court; reviewing voluminous administrative and state court records and trial transcripts; collaborating with other staff attorneys and chambers law clerks; and performing other duties as assigned.
Conditions of Employment
Employees must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States. Employees will be hired provisionally pending the results of a background investigation. Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Employees are required to use Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit. Positions with the United States District Court are Excepted Service appointments. Excepted service appointments are at will and can be terminated with or without cause by the Court.
Education
Law school graduate (top quarter or law review required).
How You Will Be Evaluated
All applications will be reviewed to identify the best qualified candidates. Only applicants selected for an interview will be notified. Applicants not selected for an interview will not receive notice concerning the status of their application. Preference will be given to candidates who are able to start as soon as possible.
Additional Information
To view the full job announcement please visit our website at www.vaed.uscourts.gov/jobs. The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
How to Apply
Priority consideration will be given to applications received by April 26, 2026. The application package should be sent to: The Honorable Mark R. Colombell, United States Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 701 E Broad Street, Suite 5212, Richmond, VA 23219. Alternatively, you may email your application materials in one PDF document to: [email protected].
Required Documents
A cover letter. Detailed resume including educational background, past employment, and references. A law school transcript. A writing sample.