Staff Attorney I

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About Us

DO YOUR CAREER JUSTICE! Each and every day North Carolinas courts help provide safety for our communities prosperity for our economy and protection for the rights liberties and freedoms that sit at the foundation of our state and federal constitutions. Consider an exciting and rewarding career with us and join the more than 7000 elected officials and employees who make up our workforce and help us ensure that justice is administrated without favor denial or delay.

Description of Work

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

The Office of Staff Counsel reviews summarizes and recommends dispositions of petitions and motions filed with the Court of Appeals. The Office also assists the Courts juvenile case panels by drafting opinions in abuse neglect dependency cases as well as termination of parental rights cases.

The position reports to the General Counsel. The Office is located in the Court of Appeals building in downtown Raleigh. The Office maintains a collegial environment where attorneys and staff collaborate to move the work of the Court and the Office forward. Attorneys are entrusted to work independently on assignments to meet the demands and deadlines of the Court. While the Office allows part-time telework and telework flexibility for illness family/household emergencies and other one-time events full-time remote work is not offered with this position. New attorneys are expected to come into the office every day and meet work product goals prior to beginning part-time telework. Telework is at the discretion of the General Counsel and can be altered at any time to fulfill the needs of the Office.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Summarize petitions for prerogative writs and motions for temporary stays.
• Conduct necessary legal research to recommend dispositions.
• Draft orders effectuating rulings on petitions and motions.
• Draft proposed opinions for abuse neglect dependency and termination of parental rights cases.
• Consult with and answer questions from judges on petitions and draft opinions.
• Prepare memoranda for the Office of Staff Counsel and the Court on various issues.
• Assist the Office and the Court with special projects as needed.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities / Competencies

Knowledge of: appellate practice; case law of the Supreme Court of North Carolina and the Court of Appeals; NC Rules of Appellate and Civil Procedure; federal statutes and case law; legal terminology and procedures; and information systems and court technology.

Skills in:interpersonal relations; problem solving; resource and time management; multitasking; attention to detail and organization; appellate procedures; effective oral and written communication.

Ability to: conduct legal research and analysis; draft appellate opinions; work independently; communicate orally and in writing; recognize and solve problems; and apply word processing skills.

Supplemental and Contact Information:

INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants must complete an on-line application by clicking the above APPLY link. Mailed or faxed applications willnotbe accepted.

Before applying please read theOnline Employment Application Guidefor instructions on creating your profile and applying for specific postings.

It is important your application includes all of your relevant education and work experience and that you answer all questions associated with the application to receive proper credit. Résumés are not accepted in lieu of fully completed applications.

*NOTE*Many job postings require certain documents be attached to an application. Verify your application is complete and uploaded documents are attached to your applicationbeforesubmitting it. Applications may not be altered after they have been submitted.

All NC Judicial Branch agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers.

The North Carolina Judicial Branch participates in E-Verify an internet-based system that compares information from an employees Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification to data from the US Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.

Travis Davis

NC Administrative Office of the Courts
Human Resources Division

Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience. If that language appears below then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school a license to practice law in North Carolina and at least one year of clerkship experience. Applicants who are in a current clerkship or have completed a clerkship and are sitting for the February 2026 North Carolina bar exam will be considered.

Management prefers the clerkship experience to be from the North Carolina Court of Appeals the North Carolina Supreme Court a North Carolina Business Court or a federal clerkship.

A cover letter is not required for this position but an applicant may submit one to further explain their qualifications or motivations to seek the position.

Applicants should attach a résumé 2-3 personal references and a writing sample.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination harassment or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs observances and practices.

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