Trial Attorney (National Courts Section)

Summary 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. Duties Are you interested in a rewarding and challenging career? Join the U.S. Department of Justice! Join us in serving the United States with honor and integrity! The Civil Division, with more than 1,000 Attorneys and 14 litigating components, represents the United States, its departments and agencies, Members of Congress, Cabinet and other Federal employees. The National Courts Section handles complex trial and appellate litigation involving government contracts, constitutional claims, procurement challenges, government pay and personnel suits, veterans' and other benefits appeals, international trade and tariff matters, and customs fraud enforcement. It is among the Department of Justice's busiest litigating components, conducting many trials and hundreds of trial and appellate court arguments each year. Attorneys primarily represent the United States in three forums, the Court of Federal Claims, the Court of International Trade, and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, although depending upon subject-matter, attorneys may also appear in district courts and regional circuit courts, as well as the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals. As an office with a national practice, travel should be expected. The National Courts Section of the Department of Justice Civil Division seeks multiple litigators to represent the United States in all aspects of "first chair" trial an 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. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening. Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable May require completion of a 2-year trial period. (Please refer to the trial period statement under Qualifications.) 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. It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Financial Disclosure: If selected, you will be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines. Qualifications Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), be a U.S. citizen, and possess at least 1 year post J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience. The minimum years of post-law degree experience commensurate with the grade level of eligibility is shown below. Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level. GS-13 - minimum 1.5 years post-JD legal experience GS-14 - minimum 2.5 years post-JD legal experience GS-15 - minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience Examples of the experience described above include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Preferred qualifications: Applicants with proven advocacy and legal writing skills preferred. Experience drafting and arguing motions, handling discovery, taking, and defending depositions, developing expert witness testimony, and trying cases are highly desirable. You must also be a U.S. citizen. Trial Period Statement As a condition of employment for accepting this position in accordance with section 11.5 of Executive Order 14284, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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 https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications 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: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/. 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, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdffor a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). DOJ EEO Statement/Policy: http://www.justice.gov/jmd/eeos/08-eeo-policy.pdf 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 [email protected], and reference "Federal Career Opportunities" in the subject line. Additional information is found at: www.benderconsult.com. 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: www.sss.gov. Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalffrom 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. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits 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.