Staff Attorney (Supreme Court of the VI)

The Staff Attorney provides substantive legal analysis, advice and assistance on cases pending before the Court and on other court-related legal issues, and serves under the direction of the Clerk of the Supreme Court.    

Essential Functions(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all the duties which may be performed.)

• Screens appeals for jurisdictional defects, the difficulty of the appeal and the necessity for oral argument.
• Reviews and summarizes appellate briefs and trial court records.
• Conducts legal research on issues that form the basis for the disposition of the case or motion, prepares memoranda, and presents recommended dispositions, orally and in writing, for the judges’ consideration.
• Drafts opinions and orders for the justices’ consideration and signature.
• Submits cases with proposed dispositions within timeframes established by the Court.
• Drafts reference manuals on jurisdiction and substantive law for distribution and use by all justices and other court personnel.
• Conducts research on specific legal questions from the justices and prepares memoranda on the results of the research.
• Attends meetings and training as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

Thorough knowledge of the laws of the Virgin Islands, Supreme Court Rules and Supreme Court Internal Operating Procedures.

Ability to comprehend a wide range of legal concepts, principles, and practices.    

Ability to analyze complex legal issues and problems thoroughly and efficiently.

Ability to conduct research using all available sources and provide proposed solutions based on that research.

Ability to apply existing and new principles in difficult, challenging or doubtful situations.

Skilled in writing legal memoranda, opinions, orders, and other documents.

Skilled in the presentation of complicated legal matters to judges.  

Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing. 

Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion.

Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school with a juris doctorate degree; supplemented with a minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, legal research, or legal administration. 

Virgin Islands Bar membership in good standing.

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in an office setting, although travel between judicial locations is required.

Physical Demands

Work is essentially sedentary with occasional walking, standing, bending.   May need to transfer objects weighing under 25 pounds such as papers and files.