Senior Staff Counsel (Staff Attorney) [Staff Counsel Developmental Underfill Opportunity]

Initial Posting Date:

07/28/2026

Application Deadline:

08/10/2026

Agency:

Judicial Department

Salary Range:

$11,470 - $17,792

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Senior Staff Counsel (Staff Attorney) [Staff Counsel Developmental Underfill Opportunity]

Job Description:

Limited Duration: This is a full-time, limited-duration position, currently funded through June 30, 2027. Continuation beyond that date is subject to available funding.

If you are a current OJD regular status employee, acceptance of a limited-duration status position does not change your status to limited duration (although probationary status may still apply). See Judicial Department Personnel Rule 6 for more information or contact your assigned HR Manager.

Developmental Underfill Opportunity: This position may be filled as a developmental underfill at the Staff Counsel job profile level. See the Minimum Qualifications section for details. The hourly wage for the Staff Counsel position is $57.16 - $88.68 [OR The annual salary for this position is $118,892 - $184,451].

Interviews: Generally, interviews will be scheduled within two weeks after the application deadline. May take longer, depending on the number of applications.

Who we are

Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) serves the public, and the people we serve may be facing challenging life circumstances, high levels of stress, or confusion about their next steps. The work you will do in this role affects members of our community who come to the court to have their cases resolved. We need people who want to serve their communities, value OJD’s efforts to remove barriers to access justice services, and welcome interacting with the public.

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We consider relevant work experience, education, and any transferable skills and abilities that may meet our qualifications or the skills and attributes we need for this position. We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work and mission.

Benefits to you

• We pay 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums for full-time employees [OR up to 99% of medical insurance premiums for part-time employees], including mental health coverage.
• The hourly equivalent for this position is $66.17 - $102.65.  [OR The annual salary for this position is $137,637 - $213,503.]
• 10 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, 3 personal business days, separate sick and vacation paid leaves (prorated for part-time employees), and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
• OJD will pay you a 5% allowance for bilingual skills (includes ASL) if you can pass a skills test and are assigned to use those skills on the job!
• Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate’s education and experience.

Location Highlights

The Oregon Court of Appeals (COA) is Oregon's intermediate appellate court, serving the entire state.  The court was created by statute in 1969, and its jurisdiction was established by Oregon's legislative assembly.  The Court of Appeals receives every appeal or judicial review taken from Oregon's trial courts and administrative agencies, with the exception of a limited number of appeals that go directly to the Oregon Supreme Court.  The court has a high caseload compared to its number of judges and staff, which means that the court's workload is very demanding.

Position Highlights

The Oregon Court of Appeals is hiring a Staff Attorney (Senior Staff Counsel).

In this role…

You will advise COA judges and colleagues, including the court's law clerks, on substantive and procedural areas of the law for the purpose of facilitating the court's decision making.  The workload of the senior staff counsel is heavy in daily reading and writing; most of the work performed by these positions is via computer.

Most of your time will be divided between legal research and writing, and reviewing and editing others' work.  You will review records, conduct legal research, and analyze how the law applies to the facts of a particular case to resolve the issue on appeal.  You will present your analysis by drafting a broad range of appellate work products, including opinions for publication, memorandum dispositions, and research memoranda. You will prepare summaries of appellate court opinions for release to the media.  You may also draft letters or orders for the court advising parties of actions taken or directed by the court.

You will also perform quality-control functions with regard to the work of others at the court, including reviewing and editing draft opinions and communicating your views to judges or legal staff.  You will review, edit, critique, and advise law clerks in their preparation of opinion work product.  You will also confer weekly with other staff counsel on matters before the court.

You may have other legal research, policy analysis, and legislative support tasks at the direction of COA’s Chief Judge and COA Legal Counsel.

Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs. 

Application Process

• Workday times out after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity and all progress will be lost.
• REQUIRED: a cover letter that demonstrates how you meet the Minimum Qualifications, Special Qualifications, and Requested Skills and Attributes, listed below. Using a generic cover letter is likely not going to get you an interview, so please take the time needed to personalize your cover letter. Prepare your cover letter before starting your Workday application.
• REQUIRED: a completed work history, either by completing the Job History (internal candidate) or Work Experience (external candidate) portion of your Workday profile OR by attaching an updated resume.

Instructions for REQUIRED Cover Letter and Work History/Resume

Cover Letter (REQUIRED)

• Attach your cover letter (not to exceed two pages) in the Resume / CV / Cover Letter section of the application. The attached cover letter file should include your name.
• In the body of your cover letter, please include responses to each of the Requested Skills and Attributes listed below.
• Address the cover letter “To the Hiring Manager.”

Work History/Resume (REQUIRED)

• Attach your updated resume to the Resume / CV / Cover Letter section of the application. The attached resume file should include your name.

OR 

• Complete the Job History/Work Experience portion of your Workday profile if you are not using an updated resume.

Failure to follow these instructions may result in rejection of your application.

All application materials will be evaluated for consistency of information, and your letter will be evaluated for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language use in addition to demonstrated experience.

Filling this Position

• This position will be filled one of two ways: by appointment of an applicant who meets the minimum qualifications (as identified below) for a Senior Staff Counsel,
  OR
• By developmental underfill of an applicant who meets the minimum qualifications (as identified below) for a Staff Counsel

Senior Staff Counsel Minimum Qualifications

(These must be evident in your resume or work history.)

The qualified candidate must have a Juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school

AND

At least five (5) years of experience that typically supports the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed for the position

AND

Have a current membership in good standing in the Oregon State Bar.

Staff Counsel Minimum Qualifications

(These must be evident in your resume or work history.)

The qualified candidate must have a Juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school

AND

At least one (1) year of experience that typically supports the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed for the position

AND

Have a current membership in good standing in the Oregon State Bar.

Special Qualifications

(These must be verifiable.)

None.

Requested Skills and Attributes

(These must be addressed in your cover letter.)

• Experience providing legal advice on a variety of case laws.
• Skill and demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Experience performing complex legal research and analysis.
• Experience interpreting statutory, regulatory, and constitutional law as well as case law.
• Experience communicating orally and in writing complex concepts, alternative solutions, and potential outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines for written legal work products.
• Experience proofreading and editing the work of others.
• Experience working for an appellate court, including clerkships, is desirable but not required. 

Working Conditions

• This is a full-time position, and the work schedule currently is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is ineligible for overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of 40 per work week.
• Occasional after-hours work may be required.
• This position can be performed in Salem, remotely (within Oregon), or a hybrid of the two.  In-person presence in Salem may be required for orientation and is required on occasion for training and other court functions.
• Frequent long periods of time reading on a computer or in hard copy.
• Frequent long periods of writing/typing on computer to draft appellate work products, letters, and other court-related documents.
• Frequent use of standard office equipment, including an employer-provided computer.
• Frequent use of computer to video conference and meet with colleagues over Teams and other similar platforms.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Criminal Background Check
You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Reference Checks

By submitting your application to OJD, you consent to reference checks about your qualifications, your workplace performance, and your work product.

United States Employment Eligibility
OJD does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. OJD will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

Future Vacancies
Apply now if you are interested in this or future vacancies. This job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this class of work.

Age-Based Discrimination

OJD does not request or require your age, date of birth, or attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

Veterans’ or Oregon National Guard Preference
Eligible veterans and current or former servicemembers with the Oregon National Guard who meet the qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process. To receive preference, veterans and current or former servicemembers with the Oregon National Guard must attach the appropriate documentation after they receive an email in their Workday inbox requesting the information to verify eligibility. The action item, asking for documentation, will arrive after they have submitted their initial application materials. Visit the Oregon job opportunities Veterans, Disabled Veterans & State Servicemembers web page for additional details, information, and resources.

Conduct Expectations
Because of OJD's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of OJD employment.

Pay Equity
As an employer, OJD complies with Oregon’s pay equity law. Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate’s education and experience. For more information on pay equity, click here.

Employee Benefits
Click here to access information specific to OJD employee benefits.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

OJD is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. To learn more about this program, and how to qualify, please click here.

Questions and Support

• If you require an alternate format to complete the application process, call 503-986-5930, or TTY: Oregon Relay Service 711 for the hearing impaired. Be prepared to describe the alternate format needed.
• Workday related information and resources are available here.
• For questions about a specific OJD job posting, call 503-986-5930 or email [email protected].

The Oregon Judicial Department embraces equal opportunity and affirmative action. We are committed to building a diverse team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.