Job Details for Trial Attorney
| Court Name/Organization | Washington Eastern Federal Defenders |
| Overview of the Position | We are a Community Defender Organization , making us a non-profit corporation funded by a grant from the federal government. We are not government employees, and our employment status is considered “at will.” The organization’s main office is in Spokane, Washington, with a branch office in Yakima, Washington. We provide legal representation to individuals accused of committing federal crimes who cannot afford to hire an attorney. We begin helping as early as pre-indictment investigations, and continue helping them through trial and appeal, including discretionary review at the U.S. Supreme Court. We also help with habeas review. |
| Location | Spokane, WA |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 10/21/2026 - Open Until Filled |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Salary | Not specified |
Position Description
We believe effective, holistic representation occurs when members of the defense team have diverse backgrounds and experiences. This means that, in recruiting individuals to join our team, we value (and embrace) the unique contributions you as the applicant can bring, including your culture, ethnicity, education, opinions, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, religion, disability, and economic status. We welcome those who seek such an environment to apply and are an equal opportunity employer.
You are a trusted, reliable, skilled and efficient attorney who is eager to collaborate with other members of our team in an effort to provide effective, holistic representation. You are organized, capable of multi-tasking, and harness creativity, dedication, and persistence to overcome the myriad challenges our clients (and you) will face. You are a team player and want to help those around you
The caseload is varied, but you’ll be assigned cases involving firearms, drugs, immigration, fraud, sex offenses and supervised release. And since both our offices are surrounded by Native American lands, you may be assigned cases coming from those lands, including assaults, murders, and robberies
Qualifications
You will need to meet the following qualifications:
- Be a graduate of an accredited law school.
- Be admitted to practice before the highest court in a state.
- Be eligible for admission to the courts where we practice (i.e., the Eastern District of Washington; the District of Idaho; and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals).
- Be tech-savvy, as we are a paper-light office.
- Minimum 5 years of felony trial experience.
General Experience
You will be required to work at the Spokane office unless out of the office for investigation, jail visits or other work-related business. You will be required to travel. You’ll make regular day trips (and some overnight travel) to investigate cases, appear in court, and meet with your clients. These trips will be throughout Eastern Washington and North/Central Idaho but may also take you to other places as well.
Employee Benefits
Salary is commensurate with years of experience.
You will be eligible for benefits, including the following: 1) health; 2) vision; 3) dental; 4) life insurance/AD&D & long-term disability; 5) flexible savings account; 6) 403(b) Retirement Plan; 7) eleven paid federal holidays; 8) thirteen days of paid annual sick leave; and 9) thirteen days of paid annual vacation (the rate of paid vacation leave increases based on years of service). Salary is paid semi-monthly (mid-month and end-of-month) via direct deposit.
Application Info
To apply. If you’re interested in applying to join our team, please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample (10-page limit), as well as a list of three professional references, to wae_employment@fd.org with the subject line "Trial Attorney - Spokane." This position will remain open until filled. With respect to your resume, please include details about your bar license (state, number and admittance date); and with respect to your writing sample, please indicate whether the sample was edited by others. No telephone calls. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. The interview process will be discussed with selected applicants. This position is subject to the availability of federal funding.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.