Staff Attorney - Court of Appeals - DII

Introduction

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals is seeking a qualified and dedicated attorney to fill the role of Staff Attorney. The Staff Attorney provides professional support as an in‑house counsel to the appellate judges. Work includes reviewing briefs and records, conducting legal research, and preparing draft opinions. The Staff Attorney also reviews, analyzes, and makes recommendations to Court of Appeals judges for petitions seeking leave to appeal, no‑merit appeals, and petitions for supervisory writs, and drafts orders for the disposition of motions filed in the appellate process.

This position is available starting in April 2026.

LOCATION:

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II in Waukesha (located at 2727 N. Grandview);
Central Staff Attorney Office (located at 2921 Landmark Place in Madison), or a combination of the two locations, to be determined by District II judges based upon candidate selected.

SALARY:
Starting salary for this full‑time position is $52.91 hourly, or $110,043 annually with a State of Wisconsin benefits package included and notable pay increases possible after 12–18 months and five years. Additional information on benefits can be found ourts.gov on the Employment page under Benefits Overview.

• Researches and writes per curiam and no‑merit opinions and summary disposition orders.
• Analyzes motions and petitions filed with the Court of Appeals and drafts necessary orders.
• Assists judges with legal questions.
• Develops expertise in appellate court procedures and jurisdiction.

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Significant legal experience and familiarity with Wisconsin court systems, which may include experience serving as a law clerk or staff attorney for an appellate court or trial‑level court, or comparable litigation experience.
• Licensed to practice law in Wisconsin.
• Ability to handle high volume, fast‑paced workload that often requires managing multiple different assignments at once.
• Must be skilled in writing, proofreading, and proper legal citations.

• Employment will require a criminal background check.
• Wisconsin Court System does not sponsor work visas. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, and to complete the required employment eligibility form upon hire.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample that is primarily your work, and three professional references in a single .pdf document indicating the position #26-2611 Staff Attorney – COA DII to human.resources
. All materials should address your relevant education, experience, and skills. Failure to follow these procedures may result in your disqualification.

In order to be assured consideration, applications must be received by 11:59 PM on March 18th, 2026. The Wisconsin Court System will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants when requested. For additional information on the court system visit our website ourts.gov.

Upon request, all prospective employees can obtain a copy of the Equal Employment Opportunity Utilization Report.