General Attorney (RECA)

Civil Division; Washington (District of Columbia); Presencial; USD 120 000 - 180 000; Tempo integral

Resumo da oferta

The Civil Division's Constitutional and Specialized Tort Litigation (CSTL) Section seeks a General Attorney to support the RECA Program. You will research statutes and regulations, review RECA claims, and develop evidence to support entitlement and amount of compensation. You will draft pleadings and related documents and collaborate with DOJ trial attorneys and other agencies.

This is not a remote position; you will work in person five days a week. Applicants must be U.S.

Qualificações

• J.D. degree and bar admission to practice in any state.
• Active membership in good standing as an attorney.

Responsabilidades

• Conducts research and analysis concerning statutes, rules, and regulations in RECA and CSTL matters.
• Reviews administrative records in RECA claims with complex questions.
• Develops additional evidence supporting entitlement and amount of compensation.
• Collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies to gather evidence.
• Evaluates fraud and litigative risk and provides entitlement recommendations.
• Drafts correspondence, memoranda, and litigation documents.
• Works with DOJ trial attorneys in RECA matters before the courts.
• Drafts pleadings and related documents for decisions under the Act.
• Participates in meetings with opposing counsel and collaborating agencies.

Conhecimentos

Legal research

Case analysis

Drafting pleadings

Evidence collection

Litigation support

Formação académica

J.D. degree

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Summary

The Constitutional and Specialized Tort Litigation (CSTL) Section is the largest section of the Torts Branch in the Civil Division, Department of Justice. CSTL includes three groups: Civil Division, Torts Branch, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Program.

Duties

The RECA Program administers claims under a statute providing compensation to individuals who developed illnesses from radiation exposure while mining, milling, or transporting uranium ore for defense purposes, or from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing during the Cold War. In July 2025, the Act was expanded to cover additional geographic areas, more workers, and injuries connected to the Manhattan Project.

Staff in the RECA Program represent the Attorney General's interests throughout the claims process, including investigation, adjudication, and appeal. The program handles complex legal and factual issues involving substantial monetary claims and serves as a key component of the Department's efforts to provide restitution to affected individuals.

As a General Attorney, The Incumbent

• Conducts research and analysis concerning the interpretation and application of statutes, rules, and regulations regarding complex issues that arise in connection with the RECA Program and matters within purview of T-CSTL;
• Reviews the administrative record in claims under RECA with complex factual and legal questions;
• Works to develop additional evidence in support of determinations of entitlement to compensation and the amount of such compensation;
• Works closely with federal, state, and local agencies to collect evidence relevant to the Department's position;
• Evaluates claims for fraud and litigative risk and provides recommendations of entitlement.
• Drafts associated correspondence, memoranda, and documents relating to claims;
• Works closely with DOJ trial attorneys representing the United States in RECA Program matters that end up before the courts.
• Drafts legal pleadings and other documents that may be needed in defense of decisions made under the Act; and
• Participates in meetings and discussions with opposing counsel, collaborating agencies, state and local stakeholders regarding all aspects of claims and other matters related to the RECA Program.

This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing
• All male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the selective service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
• May require completion of a 2-year trial period. (Please refer to the trial period statement under Qualifications.)
• 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

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.Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.

• To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, applicants must have up to one (1) year of legal experience.
• To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, applicants must have minimum (1) or more years post-J.D. legal experience
• To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, applicants must possess at least one and one-half (1.5) years of post-J.D. legal experience.
• To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, applicants must possess at least two and one-half (2.5) years post-J.D. legal experience.
• To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must possess at least four (4) years of post-J.D. legal experience.

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.

Trial Period Statement

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;
• 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

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

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,

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 [e-mail], 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

Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by 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.

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.

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

• Cover Letter
• Resume showing relevant experience (not to exceed 2 pages)
• Writing Sample (not more than 10 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.

Agency contact information

Jenna Solorzano

Phone Email

Next steps

Once the application package is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. All qualified applications will be sent to the hiring official for review. You will be contacted directly if an interview is desired.