Job Details for Clerical Assistant
| Court Name/Organization | Washington Western Federal Public Defender |
| Overview of the Position | The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Washington (FPD) is accepting applications for a full-time clerical assistant. This is a temporary position with a not-to-exceed date of Sept. 30, 2026. The clerical assistant will be stationed in either the Seattle or Tacoma office. The FPD represents people charged with federal crimes who cannot afford to hire an attorney or are entitled to one. The Court appoints our attorneys to represent accused persons before charges are filed, upon arrest, for the appeals process, and through federal habeas corpus review. The FPD also represents non-citizen individuals detained or re-detained for removal in immigration detention by seeking their release through writs of habeas corpus. Clerical assistant candidates should demonstrate a background in clerical support services and be dedicated to defending those accused of committing crimes even when the evidence against them appears strong. The candidate should be self-motivated, resourceful, creative, and client-centered, and should demonstrate a commitment to social justice, the promotion of equity, and anti-oppressive practices. This position is supervised by the Chief Paralegal. |
| Location | Seattle, Tacoma, WA |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 03/03/2026 - Open Until Filled |
| Appointment Type | Temporary |
| Classification Level/Grade | Grade 4, Step 1 - Grade 7, Step 1 |
| Salary | $40,922 - $56,715 |
| Announcement Number | 26-06 |
| Link to Job Announcement | |
Position Description
The clerical assistant will assist the immigration habeas practice with maintaining communication with non-citizen individuals detained at the Northwest Immigration Processing Center. The clerical assistant will take incoming phone calls, complete intake questionnaires, search for additional case information, maintain spreadsheets, and, if the office seeks appointment, send letters/forms and process incoming mail.
Qualifications
Selection Criteria: The selected candidate will have a commitment to quality representation and have a demonstrated interest in working with people of different cultures and nationalities. The ability to treat the individuals we serve with respect, no matter the allegation or circumstance, is essential. Candidates must have experience working with the full Microsoft Office Suite. Proficiency in languages other than English is highly desirable.
Requirements: The successful candidate must be a high school graduate or the equivalent and have a minimum of two years of specialized experience in the primary duties of this position. The duty station is either the Seattle or Tacoma office.
Applicants must meet the employment eligibility requirements of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. As a condition of employment, candidates must be fingerprinted and complete a background check. A prior criminal conviction is not necessarily disqualifying.
Employee Benefits
Salary & Benefits: This position has a starting salary range of $40,922 to $56,715 (Grade 4, Step 1 to Grade 7, Step 1) based on the Judicial Salary Plan effective Jan. 12, 2026. Salary will be based on professional experience. Benefits include health insurance plus 11 paid federal holidays, 13 days of paid sick leave, and 13 days of paid vacation leave annually. Salary is paid biweekly and only by direct deposit. Partial telework is available for this position.
Miscellaneous
The clerical assistant will assist the immigration habeas practice with maintaining communication with non-citizen individuals detained at the Northwest Immigration Processing Center. The clerical assistant will take incoming phone calls, complete intake questionnaires, search for additional case information, maintain spreadsheets, and, if the office seeks appointment, send letters/forms and process incoming mail.
Application Info
Qualified persons may apply by emailing a letter of interest, résumé, and two professional references (including names, email addresses, and telephone numbers) as a single PDF document to wawpersonnel@fd.org. Please include the position title “Clerical Assistant” in the email subject line.
Preference will be given to applications received by March 16, 2026. Only applicants granted interviews will be contacted. Initial interviews may be conducted in person or via video conference. No telephone inquiries please.
This position is subject to available funds.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.