Trial Attorney (Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section)

U.S. Department of Justice; Meghalaya; On-site; INR 11,407,000 - 17,110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Justice, National Fraud Enforcement Division, invites qualified attorneys for permanent Trial Attorney positions in the Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section.

The role emphasizes investigations, prosecutions, and cross-agency coordination across the trade and customs landscape. As a Trial Attorney, you will handle complex litigation, advise on high-stakes legal questions, and collaborate with agencies to enforce laws against forced labor, trade fraud, and related

Qualifications

• J.D. degree required; active bar membership in good standing.
• 2.5 years post-J.D. legal experience for GS-14, including specialized experience.
• 4 years post-J.D. legal experience for GS-15, including specialized experience.
• Experience in civil or criminal litigation; drafting pleadings and court documents.

Responsibilities

• Foster investigations and prosecutions with section managers; set litigation priorities.
• Make charging and disposition decisions or recommendations.
• Collaborate with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and other agencies on complex trade and customs cases.
• Engage in all phases of investigation and litigation, including grand jury practice and trials.
• Advise policy and legal questions to internal partners on federal trade and customs laws.

Skills

Legal analysis

Litigation

Criminal prosecution

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Trial Attorney (Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section)

Hiring Organization

National Fraud Enforcement Division

Hiring Office

Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Job ID

FRD-GTCE-TA-2

Location: Multiple Locations

Location: Multiple Locations Application Deadline: Sunday, January 31, 2027

About the Office

The Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division") investigates and prosecutes those who commit fraud against the American people. We fulfill our mission by using advanced data-driven investigative techniques; coordinating with agencies responsible for administering taxpayer-funded programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification and investigation of fraud; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice. The Fraud Division works every day to protect the financial integrity of the United States of America, ensure the vibrancy of the American economy, and seek justice for victims of fraud. This posting is for Trial Attorney positions within the Fraud Division’s Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section. This announcement willbe open until positions are filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on or before October 16, 2026.

The Fraud Division’s Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section investigates and prosecutes criminal import, trade, and other fraud offenses that undermine American industries, evade external revenue collection, threaten consumers’ health and safety, finance foreign adversaries, promote forced labor through illegal trade practices, and violate United States laws and regulations governing domestic and foreign commerce. The experienced prosecutors assigned to the Section target criminal conduct across the entire supply chain, including bad actors operating as importers, trade brokers, manufacturers, down-chain distributors, warehousers, and resellers. In addition to directly investigating and prosecuting these matters and leading trial litigation in district court on behalf of the United States, prosecutors in the Section support the Fraud Division’s broader mission by providing expert attorney-advisor guidance and strategic support to internal and external partners and leading the cross-agency Trade Fraud Task Force.

Job Description

The National Fraud Enforcement Division, U.S. Department of Justice is seeking qualified, experienced attorneys for permanent Trial Attorney positions in the Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section.

Generally, as a Trial Attorney, the incumbent:

• In collaboration with section managers, carries out and fosters effective investigations and prosecutions, including advising on strategy and legal complexities, and developing litigation priorities.
• Makes charging and disposition decisions or recommendations with regard to assigned cases.
• Partners with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and attorneys in other federal law enforcement agencies to develop, manage, and prosecute complex trade, tariff, customs and related trade fraud cases, and illegal import schemes involving forced labor or goods imported in violation of statutory trade prohibitions against forced labor.
• Engages in all phases of investigation and litigation, including, but not limited to, grand jury practice, advising federal law enforcement agents, using international evidence collection tools, preparing appropriate pleadings, and litigating motions and trials before U.S. District Courts across the country.
• Advises and consults with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and agency partners on complicated questions of law and Departmental policy with respect to matters arising under federal trade, customs, external revenue, commerce laws, and forced labor import bans.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.

Grade Specific Qualifications:

• To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, applicants must have at least two and a half (2.5) years post-J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-13 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include performing legal analysis and formulating recommendations to senior managers; composing pleadings, briefs, and other court documents involving legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; and conducting civil or criminal litigation.
• To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have at least four (4) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conductingly highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff.

Preferred Qualifications: Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies:

• Experience as a criminal prosecutor in federal or state court.
• Experience as an attorney in private practice.
• Experience as a judicial law clerk.
• Experience litigating in U.S. District Court or state court.
• Experience supporting, litigating, and supervising federal criminal cases.
• Experience conducting investigations of organizations and entities, including corporations.
• Experience investigating or prosecuting violations involving forced labor import bans, supply chain transparency, human trafficking, or related customs and trade fraud.
• Experience coordinating with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), or international law enforcement entities on complex global supply chain investigations.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

One or more individuals may be selected from this announcement.

Travel

The amount of travel can be significant. Travel frequency and location vary and are based on the attorney’s litigation schedule.

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

This and othervacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships . The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.