Assistant Appellate Defense Attorney

ASSISTANT APPELLATE DEFENSE ATTORNEY

The Utah Indigent Appellate Defense Division (IADD) within the Utah Office of Indigent Defense Services are seeking an Assistant Appellate Defense Attorney for a unique opportunity to play a critical role in shaping Utah's criminal law and ensuring that people’s constitutional right to appeal is protected. As an Assistant Appellate Defense Attorney, you will manage a caseload of approximately 15-18 appeals per year, reporting to the Criminal Appeals Division Head.

In this fast-paced and dynamic office, you will be on the front lines of challenging complex legal landscape shifts—from fighting unconstitutional sentences, improper propensity evidence, and unlawful seizures to ensuring every client receives the effective assistance of counsel, impartial juries, and accurate jury instructions.

POSITION DETAILS & COMMITMENT
-Salary – $46.00 - $52.00/hr
-FT/PT Status – Full-Time
-Work Format – Hybrid (At least two days in person – 370 E South Temple, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84111; attendance at both virtual and in-person meetings; state-wide travel required)
-Schedule Code – AC - Employees in Offices of Elected Officials
-Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
-Application Deadline – 6:00 PM (MDT) on July 2, 2026

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Zealously and compassionately advocate on behalf of clients at every stage of the appellate proceeding.
  
• Prepare adult criminal appeals by conducting legal research, reviewing case files and court records, and meeting with clients (you may also be asked to assist in juvenile delinquency, child welfare, and postconviction appeals).
  
• Litigate Rule 4(f) (Manning) motions in the district court to reinstate deprived appellate rights, and draft Rule 23B motions to develop factual records for ineffective assistance of counsel claims.
  
• Ensure clients are consistently heard, respected, and represented without judgment.
  
• Draft appellate briefs and petitions for writ of certiorari, and argue cases before the Utah Court of Appeals and the Utah Supreme Court.
  
• Collaborate with your peers by editing and reviewing appellate briefs filed by other attorneys in the office.
  
• Assist the Division in drafting amicus briefs.
  
• Help develop and implement continuing legal education (CLE) training for trial and appellate attorneys around the state regarding criminal law, criminal procedure, and appellate strategy.
  

THE IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum Requirements: J.D. from an accredited law school. Must be an active member in good standing of the Utah Bar (or active in another state bar and eligible for admission by motion into the Utah Bar). Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills and a deep interest in indigent defense.
  
• Experience Level: Experienced appellate attorneys are strongly preferred, but we enthusiastically welcome and encourage passionate new attorneys to apply. We are looking for advocates who are eager to learn and dedicated to client-centered defense. The rate of pay will depend on the years of experience practicing appellate law deemed applicable to the position.
  
• Ideal Candidate Traits: An understanding of the requirements for appellate representation in the adult criminal legal system in Utah, including a proven ability to navigate complex preservation hurdles by skillfully arguing plain error, structural error, and the exceptional circumstances doctrine. Law Review experience, an appellate clerkship, and fluency in Spanish are all considered major pluses.
  

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR TEAM
Working with IADD gives you direct, hands-on appellate experience alongside a hard-working, passionate team with diverse expertise. Whether you are fighting a non-merit procedural dismissal, litigating a structural error, or helping trial attorneys avoid preservation traps, this is a position with immense capacity to grow your professional skills, capabilities, and commitment to justice. The State of Utah offer