Attorney III, Criminal Appellate-Post Convictio...

Closing Date: 30th May, 2024

Description:

Not sure you meet all listed requirements? Let our team take a look. Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.
The primary purpose of the Appellate and Post-Conviction Section of the Criminal Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice is to represent the State in criminal matters after a defendant's trial is completed.
Description of Responsibilities and Duties:
*Preparation of the State's briefs in first degree murder cases, including capital cases and other complex criminal cases in the Supreme Court of North Carolina and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. First degree murder cases often present the most difficult and complex issues in the fields of criminal and constitutional law. The attorney will be required to read and analyze transcripts often exceeding two thousand pages. Defendant's briefs typically are at least 35 pages, capital cases briefs exceeding 100 pages, requiring extensive research to prepare legal arguments showing that no prejudicial error occurred at trial. Research and preparation of the legal arguments in such brief usually require at least one month and often two months of work, on average. Including oral argument preparation as needed.
Some travel and overnight travel are required.
This position is not subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Note to Current State Employees:
The salary grade for this position is LG08. State employees are encouraged to apply for positions of interest even if the salary grade is the same as, or lower than, their current position. Please detail ALL work history including non-state service experience. If selected for this position, a new salary will be recalculated taking into consideration the quantity of relevant education and experience, funding availability, and internal equity. Based upon these factors, a pay increase MAY or MAY NOT result.
The Starting Salary for a New Hire to This Position is Limited to $84,878 to $100,179. Salary offers for the selected candidate are based on the candidate's education and experience related to the position, as well as our agency budget and equity.
The State of North Carolina offers employer-paid health insurance plus twelve paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at Employee Benefits.
Hybrid telework opportunities are available for this position.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies:
The Attorney must have thorough knowledge of general case, statutory and common law with particular emphasis on criminal law and procedure relating to capital litigation, evidence, constitutional law, and appellate procedure. Additionally, the attorney must have the following specific skills/abilities:

• Expertise in the conduct of criminal litigation in the appellate courts, and represent the State of North Carolina in capital litigation in the State and Federal Courts.
• Ability to independently to prepare and prosecute capital cases on direct appeal and in post conviction.
• Ability to organize and digest complicated factual situations.
• Ability to be sensitive to the feelings and needs of victims' families.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws and court decisions.
• Ability to analyze evidence and apply the relevant law to the applicable facts.
• Ability to express conclusions and arguments clearly and logically, in oral and written form.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with the public, the media, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors contacted in the course of handling capital cases.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:
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 oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.
Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar and three years of progressively responsible professional legal experience. NOTE: GS 114-2 and 114-6 make it the duty of the Attorney General of NC to represent the State of North Carolina in all litigation unless another statute specifically states otherwise.

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