Appellate Paralegal - Internal Applicants Only

The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is accepting internal applications for a full-time paralegal position in its appellate unit, stationed in Los Angeles, California. The appellate unit represents indigent federal defendants in direct criminal appeals and other postconviction proceedings. The appellate unit is committed to advancing the pursuit of justice by aggressively advocating in federal court for the constitutional rights and inherent dignity of individuals who are convicted of crimes and cannot afford their own lawyer.

Job Duties:  The appellate paralegal will provide administrative legal assistance directly to the Chief of Appeals and will assist, on a case-by-case and as-needed basis, other attorneys in the appellate unit. The appellate paralegal will also work on special projects.

Paralegal Duties: The appellate paralegal will provide paralegal assistance to the Chief of Appeals and attorneys within the appellate unit. General areas of responsibility may include organizing electronic and paper case files, organizing archives of briefs and other materials relevant to appellate practice, assisting the appellate chief or other attorneys in managing special projects (including maintaining spreadsheets of relevant case information and correspondence with clients), periodically checking the Ninth Circuit’s website for updates about rule changes, assisting attorneys in requesting records from the Bureau of Prisons and other agencies, maintaining databases of information regarding cases within the unit, and assisting appellate attorneys in communicating with relevant personnel within the Bureau of Prisons when needed in particular cases. The appellate paralegal must be available to work during regular business hours, and when necessary, during evenings and weekends.

Admin. Legal Assistant Duties:  The appellate paralegal will provide a full range of executive-level secretarial and clerical support services to the Chief of Appeals. General areas of responsibility include filing court documents electronically and manually, maintaining attorney calendars, keeping track of oral arguments within the unit, preparing materials for oral argument, accurately maintaining up-to-date case files and facility clearances, composing and keeping track of correspondence, and screening public and client telephone calls. 

Requirements:  This position is open to internal applicants only. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree. A paralegal certificate from an ABA approved program is preferred but not required. Applicants must also be proficient in Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive), and Adobe Acrobat. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in online research databases (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis) and legal document management databases used to manage and review electronically stored information (ESI).

Selection Criteria:  Candidates must possess a commitment to indigent criminal defense, have strong organizational skills, be able to work independently, be flexible, and take initiative, and work well in teams.

Salary/Benefits:  This is a full-time, at-will position. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and is subject to direct deposit. Benefits include health and life insurance, retirement, and a Thrift Savings Plan. Possibility of telework may be considered.  For more information on benefits, see http://www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.

How to Apply: Internal FPDO applicants should apply by submitting a letter of interest, résumé, one writing sample, and three references by February 25, 2026.