Senior Motions Attorney

The Office of the Staff Attorneys, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, seeks a Senior Motions Attorney to oversee the operations and work product of its Motions Unit. The Senior Motions Attorney is a key member of the Office's leadership team.

Office of the Staff Attorneys, Motions Unit

The Office of the Staff Attorneys is the court's central legal staff. It includes approximately 20 staff attorneys, four supervisory staff attorneys (including the Senior Motions Attorney), a Chief Deputy Staff Attorney, and a Chief Staff Attorney, as well as an administrative manager and support staff.

The Motions Unit is a specialized team of five staff attorneys, known as motions attorneys, who make recommendations to the court about the disposition of substantive motions, including emergency filings. The motions attorneys conduct legal research, prepare memoranda, and draft proposed orders.

Senior Motions Attorney

The Senior Motions Attorney heads the motions unit, managing its workflow and its personnel. He or she ensures that the unit consistently generates high-quality work product and timely submits recommendations to the court.

The Senior Motions Attorney reviews each matter upon its referral to the unit and either prepares a recommendation for the court or assigns another motions attorney to do so. When a movant is seeking emergency relief, the Senior Motions Attorney promptly determines whether the matter is truly emergent, refers it to a panel of judges, proposes a schedule, makes an initial recommendation, and implements the panel's instructions. Emergency motions regularly require work outside normal business hours.

Additional responsibilities include, among other things:

• overseeing the hiring, training, management, professional development, and performance review of all motions attorneys;
• monitoring and reporting on Motions Unit procedures and work;
• coordinating with the Clerk's Office on docketing and case processing matters; and
• fielding judges' questions about substantive and procedural issues.

Qualifications

Required: A Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school. Membership in good standing in the bar of a state, a U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. (Membership need not be active.) At least five years of experience in the practice of law, legal research and writing, or legal administration, as well as significant managerial or supervisory experience. Expertise in federal appellate, civil, and criminal procedure. Extensive knowledge of relevant federal substantive law. Superior ability to conceptualize complex legal problems and solutions and articulate them clearly, succinctly, and effectively, both orally and in writing. Outstanding interpersonal, collaborative, and leadership abilities. Ability to work under pressure, manage cases efficiently, and consistently meet deadlines. Exceptional ability to manage and lead a team of professional legal staff.

Strongly Preferred:  Three or more years of experience working for the judiciary (ideally, as a motions attorney or staff attorney) or comparable experience. Training in management and court leadership. 

Total Rewards & Work/Life Balance

Compensation * : $155,385–$197,200 (*Salary commensurate with qualifications)

Benefits : Employer subsidized health and life insurance plans. Dental and vision insurance plans. Flexible spending accounts for health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses. Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and mass transit subsidies. On-site fitness center. Federal retirement entails a pension plan (FERS-FRAE) and employer-matching Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K). Retirees may carry insurance plans into retirement while paying the same premiums as employees. Visit ( to learn more about the Judiciary's competitive benefits.

Work/Life : Annual time off: 13 vacation days, 13 sick leave days, and 11 paid holidays. Vacation days increase to 20 days after three years and to 26 days after fifteen years. Hybrid telework schedule may be available.

Conditions of Employment:   The selected candidate is provisionally hired pending results of background investigation and fingerprinting. This position is subject to updated background investigations every five years. Applicants selected for an interview must complete the Optional Background Information section on the Judiciary's application. The incumbent is required to complete an annual financial disclosure report. Travel for this position is required. Employees are required to adhere to the Judicial Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees ( For citizenship requirements, visit  ( Electronic Fund Transfer for payroll direct deposit is required. Positions with the U.S. Courts are at-will, excepted service appointments, and may be terminated with or without cause by the Court. The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this announcement, or to withdraw the announcement for any reason without notice.

How to Apply

Please submit a single PDF application packet, including (1) a cover letter addressing your qualifications and experience in relation to the job duties and how you learned of the position, and (2) a current resume, to the Director of Human Resources via the ‘Apply to Position' button on our online application system. Position is open until filled; preference given to applications received by October 2, 2026 .

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The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is an equal opportunity employer. For a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, contact Human Resources at Show phone number.