Assistant to the Solicitor General (Trial Attorney)

U.S. Department of Justice; Washington (District of Columbia); Sur place; USD 169 000 - 197 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), seeks an Assistant to the Solicitor General (Trial Attorney) in Washington, DC. The role involves handling merits briefs, certiorari petitions, and Supreme Court motions, and presenting arguments before the Court.

Qualifications include a J.D. with active bar status, strong academic credentials, and experience in federal governmental practice. Clerkship experience is highly encouraged and advocacy skills are essential.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and active bar membership in any U.S. jurisdiction.
• At least one year of post-J.D. (or equivalent) experience.
• Exceptional academic background.
• Federal appellate or Supreme Court clerkship strongly encouraged.
• Broad experience in areas of law germane to federal governmental practice.
• Exceptional writing skills and ability to guide junior attorneys.

Responsabilités

• Work on merits briefs, petitions for writs of certiorari, and related Supreme Court motions.
• Make recommendations on when to seek Supreme Court review or appeals at intermediate appellate courts.
• Prepare memoranda for the Solicitor General on legal problems and recommendations.
• Argue cases before the Supreme Court.

Connaissances

Exceptional writing skills

Team coordination

Formation

J.D. degree

Active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction)

Post-J.D. experience (1 year+)

Exceptional academic background

Federal appellate clerkship or Supreme Court clerkship encouraged

Broad experience in federal governmental practice

Description du poste

Assistant to the Solicitor General (Trial Attorney)

Hiring Organization

Office of the Solicitor General (OSG)

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Location: 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Location: 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20530 - United States

About the Office

The Office of the Solicitor General is responsible for conducting and supervising the federal government's litigation in the Supreme Court of the United States. The Office determines the cases in which Supreme Court review will be sought by the government and the positions the government will take before the Court. The Office also reviews all cases decided adversely to the government in the lower courts to determine whether they should be appealed and, if so, what position should be taken.

Job Description

The duties and responsibilities for an Assistant to the Solicitor General generally include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Working on merits briefs, petitions for writs of certiorari, jurisdictional statements, briefs in opposition, motions to affirm, papers relating to stays and other emergency relief, and other forms of motion practice before the Supreme Court.
• Making recommendations as to whether the government should seek Supreme Court review in cases it has lost, whether the United States should appeal to intermediate appellate courts cases it has lost in the trial courts, and whether the United States should pursue rehearing en banc when cases are lost at the appellate level.
• Preparing memoranda to the Solicitor General containing such recommendations and also memoranda discussing other legal problems as assigned.
• Arguing cases before the Supreme Court.

Qualifications

Qualifications for this position include:

• J.D. degree, active bar membership (any U.S. jurisdiction).
• At least one year of post-J.D. (or equivalent) experience.
• Exceptional academic background.
• Federal appellate clerkship or Supreme Court clerkship strongly encouraged.
• Broad experience in areas of law germane to federal governmental practice.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with less experienced attorneys, providing guidance and assistance.

This announcement will close at11:59PM on October 21, 2026.

THIS POSITION IS SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AT THE TIME A HIRING DECISION IS MADE.

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.

GS-15: $169,279 - $197,200 per year (includes locality pay)

Number of Positions

1+

Travel

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

Relocation Expenses

No

The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and treating employees with fairness, dignity and compassion. We must ensure that no applicant for employment or employee of our Department is denied equal opportunity because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex – including pregnancy – or because of age, physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor and that all have the freedom to compete on a fair and level playing field. To learn more, please view the Department’s full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement .

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs .

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 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.

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. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation.Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non‑citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/non-citizens ). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non‑U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non‑U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case‑based basis.

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 Veteran 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.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

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.