Trial Attorney

The National Courts Section is one of the largest, oldest, and most active litigating sections in the Department of Justice. It is one of five sections of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch. The Civil Division is regularly voted one of the top places to work in the annual Best Places to Work in the Federal Government survey.

Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

  11/04/2024 to 11/22/2024

• Salary

  $117,962 – $191,900 per year

  
  
• Pay scale & grade
  

  GS 13 – 15

• Location

  3 vacancies in the following location:

  
  
• Remote job
  

  No

• Telework eligible

  Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

  
  
• Travel Required

  25% or less – You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed
  

  No

• Appointment type
  

  Permanent

• Work schedule
  

  Full-time

• Service
  

  Excepted

• Promotion potential
  

  15

• Job family (Series)
• Supervisory status
  

  No

• Security clearance
• Drug test
  

  Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk
• Trust determination process
• Financial disclosure
  

  Yes

• Bargaining unit status
• Announcement number

  DE-12599753-25-TLM

  
  
• Control number
  

  817485600

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Duties

The National Courts Section seeks three experienced litigators to represent the United States in all aspects of “first chair” trial and appellate litigation. At the trial stage, attorneys personally manage their own cases, conduct fact investigations, work with expert witnesses, serve and respond to written discovery, take and defend depositions, write all substantive and procedural briefs, conduct all aspects of any trial, and present oral argument in the United States Court of Federal Claims and the United States Court of International Trade. Attorneys also personally handle all aspects of appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, both appeals from the aforementioned trial courts as well as appeals from other fora that may have been handled outside National Courts at the trial stage. As noted, attorneys also occasionally handle matters within the Section’s various areas of expertise in other Federal district and circuit courts, as well as in administrative tribunals. In addition, attorneys first-chair alternative dispute resolution proceedings and settlement negotiations, and recommend settlements of litigation when appropriate. For larger cases, attorneys work collaboratively as members of trial teams. Whether handling trial cases and appeals as counsel of record or as part of a trial team, all attorneys work closely with counsel from Federal client agencies.

This is not a remote location position.

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable
• May require completion of a fourteen month trial period
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access depending on organizational assignment / duty location.

Qualifications

Applicants must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association, possess a J.D. degree, be an active member in good standing of the bar of any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and be a U.S. citizen.

Applicants should have a strong interest in trial and appellate work, excellent writing and oral advocacy skills, and an exceptional academic background. Applicants should anticipate working on fast-paced, complex litigation, and feel comfortable in a courtroom setting. Judicial clerkship experience is highly desirable.

To qualify, applicants must have at least two years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; have at least three years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS- 14 level; and four years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-15 level.

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov.

OR

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at .

All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. .

Additional information

Veteran Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veterans’ preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at: .

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans’ preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans’ preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation ( e.g. , the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the “point” system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).

DOJ EEO Statement/Policy:

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department. DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes to resume@benderconsult.com, and reference “Federal Career Opportunities” in the subject line. Additional information is found at: .

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: .

Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by , the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.

• Benefits
  

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

  
  
  

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications. Your application will be evaluated by a reviewing panel.

Please Note: The Selecting Official may select additional candidates if more positions become available within 120 days after the closing date of the vacancy.

• Benefits
  

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

  
  
  
• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have – whether you’re a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you’re eligible under their policies.

  • Cover Letter
  • Resume showing relevant experience.
  • Writing Sample (not more than 15 pages in length, and written in the past 3 years)
  • DD-214 and/or veteran documentation, (if applicable).
  
  

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  
  
  

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from .

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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