THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER for the District of Arizona is accepting applications for the position of a full-time paralegal to be stationed in the Tucson Trial Unit. The Federal Public Defender operates under authority of Title 18, United States Code, Section 3006A(g)(2)(A), to provide federal criminal defense services to individuals unable to afford counsel.
Requirements: To qualify, a person must be a high school graduate or equivalent, have a minimum of three years of general experience, and three years of specialized experience. Some higher education may be substituted for specialized experience. A bachelor's degree is preferred. Applicants must possess proficient computer and document creation/editing skills and have experience working in a law office. Previous experience in indigent criminal defense is preferred. Experience with Microsoft office applications, CaseMap, Westlaw and Lexis are required. Experience in preparation of sentencing videos and use of video editing software is preferred. Proficiency with PowerPoint, Trial Director, and Summation is preferred. Applicants should have strong organizational skills, should be self-motivated, detail-orientated and a team player. Spanish language fluency is required for this position.Applicants selected for interview will be tested for Spanish-speaking fluency. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen. Employment is dependent upon a satisfactory background investigation.
Duties: Paralegals are expected to provide a full range of paralegal services to staff attorneys. Duties include, but are not limited to, document creation/editing support, litigation support (both in and out of court), case preparation, preparation of sentencing videos, maintenance of files, organizing and indexing discovery, evidence and exhibits, as well as locating and retrieving documents, information and records from outside sources, client communication, to included traveling to meet with clients, assisting lawyers during trial and assisting in-field investigators.
Salary and Benefits: The starting salary will be fixed commensurate with experience and qualifications of the applicant. For the paralegal position the range is from JSP-11, Step 1, to JSP-13, Step 1, currently yielding $76,095 to $108,455 per annum. The position is in the excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of the competitive Civil Service. The position does include regular Government employee benefits including health and life insurance, retirement, and the Thrift Savings Plan. Salary is payable only by Electronic Funds Transfer (direct deposit). All positions are at will and are subject to the availability of funds.
How to Apply: Qualified persons should apply via the online application system at https://azfd.acquiretm.com/home.aspx. To be considered for the position, applicants need to register at the above web address and create an online profile, or login if you already have a profile. Please follow the prompts to upload a letter of interest and resume. References will be required from candidates selected for an interview. Announced July 24, 2026; Closes: August 14, 2026.
The Federal Public Defender is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age, are encouraged to apply.
Equal Opportunity Employer. The Federal Public Defender for the District of Arizona is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals from groups underrepresented in national projects within the defender community are encouraged to apply.