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Habeas Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Yeshiva University

$80K/yr

The person in this position will help support all aspects of the work of the National Immigration Habeas Institute (NIHI), a project of the Center for Immigration Innovation at Cardozo. NIHI is a new ...

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Habeas information

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$43K

$146.3K

$211K

How much do habeas jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for habeas in the United States is $146,280.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,500.00 and $190,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Habeas Corpus Attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Habeas Corpus Attorney, you need a strong foundation in constitutional law, criminal procedure, legal research, and an accredited law degree with bar admission. Familiarity with legal research databases (like Westlaw or LexisNexis), case management systems, and appellate filing procedures is essential. Exceptional critical thinking, persuasive writing, and strong advocacy skills make someone stand out in this role. These competencies are crucial for effectively challenging unlawful detentions and ensuring clients' constitutional rights are protected.

What are some common challenges faced by attorneys handling habeas corpus cases?

Attorneys working on habeas corpus cases often encounter challenges such as navigating complex procedural rules and strict filing deadlines, as well as gathering and presenting new evidence that was not available during the original trial. They may also need to conduct in-depth legal research and develop persuasive arguments to demonstrate a violation of constitutional rights. Collaboration with investigators, experts, and sometimes family members of the petitioner is common, making strong communication and organizational skills essential. Additionally, these cases can be emotionally demanding due to the high stakes involved for clients.

What are Habeas jobs?

Habeas jobs typically refer to legal positions or roles related to habeas corpus, which is a legal procedure to determine if a person's imprisonment or detention is lawful. Professionals in this field, such as lawyers or paralegals, work on cases that challenge the legality of a person's detention, often in criminal or immigration contexts. These jobs require strong research, writing, and advocacy skills, as they involve preparing petitions, representing clients in court, and analyzing complex legal issues. Habeas practitioners play a crucial role in protecting individuals' rights to fair treatment under the law.

What is the difference between Habeas vs Paralegal?

AspectHabeasParalegal
Required CredentialsLegal education, often a law degree or specialized trainingAssociate's degree or paralegal certification
Work EnvironmentCourts, legal offices, or detention facilitiesLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageLegal system, criminal justice, civil rightsLegal support roles across various law sectors

Habeas and paralegals both work within the legal field, but Habeas focuses on legal petitions related to unlawful detention, requiring specialized legal knowledge. Paralegals assist lawyers with case preparation and legal research. While Habeas practitioners often have legal credentials and work directly in courts, paralegals support legal teams across multiple practice areas. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the legal industry.

More about Habeas jobs
What cities are hiring for Habeas jobs? Cities with the most Habeas job openings:
What states have the most Habeas jobs? States with the most job openings for Habeas jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Habeas jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Habeas jobs are:
Habeas jobs near you
Infographic showing various Habeas job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 96% Full Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $146,280 per year, or $70.3 per hour.

Noncapital Habeas Unit Attorney

Federal Public Defender, Central District of California

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is accepting applications for a full-time attorney position in its noncapital habeas unit (NCHU), stationed in Los Angeles, California. The NCHU is committed to the pursuit of justice by aggressively advocating for the constitutional rights and inherent dignity of indigent persons unlawfully confined by the states or federal government.
Job Duties:  NCHU attorneys primarily represent indigent California state prisoners in federal habeas corpus actions challenging their state judgments, immigrants in federal habeas corpus actions challenging their immigration detention, and petitioners in ancillary matters in state and possibly immigration court. Core job duties include communicating with clients; summarizing trial transcripts; conducting research; directing investigations; working with experts; drafting habeas petitions, motions, and briefs; conducting evidentiary hearings; and delivering appellate arguments. On occasion, NCHU attorneys are also assigned to federal criminal trial cases and capital habeas corpus cases.
Requirements:  All applicants must have graduated from an ABA accredited law school and be members in good standing of the California Bar.  Preference will be given to applicants with at least three years of experience in state and/or federal criminal law or applicants with federal judicial clerkship experience.
Varying hours including nights, weekends, and holidays may be required.  A background investigation is required as a condition of employment.  In line with current federal appropriations law, applicants must be Unted States citizens or permanent residents seeking citizenship as described here: https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/search-judiciary-jobs/citizenship-requirements-employment-judiciary
Selection Criteria: Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to indigent criminal defense, immigration and refugee advocacy, and/or public interest law; must have superior oral and written communication skills; possess excellent research skills; strong skills in complex fact and legal analysis and creative issue development; and work well in teams.
Salary/Benefits: This is a full-time, at-will position.  This position is approved for one year and a day, with a possible extension based on need, budget, or the discretion of the Federal Public Defender.  Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and is subject to direct deposit.  After successful completion of a probationary period, eligible employees may elect to telework up to two days per week, subject to certain conditions.  Benefits include health and life insurance, retirement, and a Thrift Savings Plan.  For more information on benefits, see http://www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.
How to Apply: Apply by submitting a letter of interest, résumé, two representative writing samples (limited to 15 pages), and three references. We will accept applications until July 31, 2026; however, interviews will occur on a rolling basis and the open position may be filled before that date.  The Federal Public Defender’s Office may fill current and future positions from this vacancy announcement.  Please, no phone calls.
The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California 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.
 

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