Assistant Federal Defender

The Federal Defenders of Montana, Inc. , the community defender organization serving the State and District of Montana, is growing! We are accepting applications for two (2) permanent full-time Assistant Federal Defender positions at the Great Falls Headquarters Office. The Federal Defenders of Montana, Inc., is a nonprofit corporation, funded by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, which provides excellent legal representation and criminal defense services to individuals charged with federal crimes who are financially unable to retain counsel. The Federal Defenders of Montana, Inc., is not an agency of the federal government; staff members are not federal employees.

Positions: One position is for a trial lawyer, capable of handling all stages of a federal case, including trial, motions' work, revocation proceedings, and direct appeal. The other position, a non-capital habeas lawyer, requires intensive research and writing with a good working knowledge of 28 U.S.C. 2254 and 2255, but will also include trial and other duties as directed. All applicants should have demonstrated dedication to criminal defense work, as well as strong research, writing, and courtroom skills.

Travel and Outside Practice of Law: Considerable travel throughout the district in connection with the responsibilities of the position should be anticipated. Federal defender attorneys may not engage in the private practice of law.

Salary & Benefits: Competitive salary (Judicial Pay Scale (JSP) $76,748 -$197,100), health coverage, generous leave policy, and retirement plan.

Bar Admission: Qualified applicants must be admitted to and in good standing with the bar of the highest court of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands of the United States. Admission to the bar of Montana and the bar of the United States District Court for the District of Montana, or a commitment to admission within a year of acceptance of a position, is mandatory.

Application Process: To apply, email your cover letter, resume, brief writing sample, and references to View email address on click.appcast.io in a single Adobe PDF file using the subject line "MTX-GREATFALLS-AFD". Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. No telephone inquiries, please. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Employment is contingent on a satisfactory background investigation. The Federal Defenders of Montana, Inc., maintains a drug-free workplace.

FDOM is an equal opportunity employer committed to teamwork and inclusive hiring. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify our Administrative Officer, Heidi Heavrin, at View email address on click.appcast.io.