Senior Litigation Counsel in Washington

Lawyers Worldwide; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Holidays

Life insurance

Health benefits

Telework

Federal retirement system

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Justice, Energy and Natural Resources Division, Natural Resources Section, seeks a Senior Litigation Counsel in Washington, DC. The role focuses on complex federal litigation involving natural, environmental and cultural resources, guiding strategy, discovery, and expert coordination.

The ideal candidate has a J.D., active bar membership, U.S. citizenship, and 10+ years of post-J.D. litigation experience with strong writing and courtroom skills.

Qualifications

• Requires a J.D. degree, active bar membership, U.S. citizenship or nationality, and at least 10 years of post-J.D. litigation experience.
• Expertise in natural resource, environmental, and cultural resource law.
• Ability to write clearly for diverse audiences and oversee complex federal litigation.

Responsibilities

• Advise on trial strategy and trial advocacy for federal cases handled by the Natural Resources Section.
• Coordinate discovery, handle emergency motions, and interpret statutes and regulations.
• Identify and coordinate expert witnesses and reports; mentor trial attorneys and train lawyers.
• Provide leadership on case direction, coordination with ENRD management and agency partners.

Skills

Trial strategy

Litigation coordination

Legal writing

Mentoring

Education

J.D. degree

Active bar membership

Job description

Company - U.S. Department of Justice
150 M Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

The Senior Litigation Counsel role advises the U.S. Department of Justice on complex cases involving natural resource, environmental, and cultural resource law. The Energy and Natural Resources Division assigns the permanent position to its Natural Resources Section at 150 M Street NE in Washington, DC. Annual pay ranges from $150,160 to $225,700, and the application deadline is September 25, 2026.

The counsel develops trial strategy, coordinates discovery, handles emergency motion practice, analyzes regulations and statutes, and works on high-profile litigation. The position also identifies expert witnesses, coordinates expert reports, mentors trial attorneys, and trains lawyers on substantive and procedural practice. The appointment requires a J.D., active bar membership, U.S. citizenship or nationality, and at least 10 years of post-J.D. litigation experience. The role is classified as Attorney Permanent and permits travel of 25 percent or less.

• Role: Senior Litigation Counsel
• Employer: U.S. Department of Justice, Energy and Natural Resources Division
• Section: Natural Resources Section
• Location: 150 M Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
• Pay: $150,160 to $225,700 per year
• Employment type: Attorney Permanent

Trial Strategy And Natural Resource Litigation

The counsel advises on trial strategy and trial advocacy for cases handled by the Natural Resources Section. The work includes forming a trial roadmap, coordinating discovery, handling complex emergency motions, interpreting statutes and regulations, and analyzing constitutional issues. High-profile cases can require rapid legal analysis and clear direction to the litigation team.

Natural resource, environmental, and cultural resource law supply the required subject-matter base. The role calls for complex federal litigation experience, strong legal writing, persuasive communication, negotiation ability, and courtroom presentation skill.

Current legal openings cover multiple practice areas, while this position concentrates on federal litigation tied to public resources and environmental obligations.

Experts And Litigation Teams

Expert-witness work begins with identifying the needed expertise, locating qualified witnesses, and retaining the people whose opinions can address the disputed issues. The counsel coordinates expert opinions and reports so the litigation team can use technical material in discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation.

Senior counsel also reviews attorneys' work products and gives direction on complex cases and projects. Mentoring trial attorneys and providing substantive-law and procedural-best-practice training connect case strategy with the daily work of the lawyers assigned to the matter.

The Washington legal positions filter reflects the role's duty location. Its work remains tied to the Natural Resources Section rather than a general commercial practice.

Qualifications For The Senior Appointment

The appointment requires a J.D. degree, active bar membership in any jurisdiction, U.S. citizenship or nationality, and a minimum of 10 years of post-J.D. litigation experience. The DOJ attorney criteria separately identify the J.D. and active bar requirements used for experienced attorney opportunities.

The role requires expertise in natural resource, environmental, and cultural resource law, experience reviewing attorneys' work and directing complex litigation projects, and the ability to write clearly and persuasively for different audiences. Federal district court or Court of Federal Claims litigation is preferred.

• Ten or more years of post-J.D. litigation experience
• Natural resource, environmental, and cultural resource law experience
• Complex case-management and litigation direction experience
• Strong courtroom, presentation, negotiation, and writing skillsActive bar membership and U.S. citizenship or nationality

Federal Service And Review Conditions

The position includes paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, telework, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Travel is limited to 25 percent or less, and relocation expenses are not authorized.

The Washington openings filter identifies the local search area for this permanent federal appointment. The Department may fill positions subject to funding and hiring authorization.

The Department groups federal attorney positions by hiring component, geographic locale, and practice area through its DOJ vacancy filters . Selected applicants pass a pre-appointment illegal-drug test and a background investigation.

Veterans' preference is a positive factor in attorney hiring when the applicant identifies the preference and supplies the supporting documents. The application review also tests specialized knowledge and experience before the best-qualified candidates reach the Selecting Official.

The Natural Resources Section gives the role a defined federal practice setting within the Energy and Natural Resources Division. The counsel works with the ENRD Front Office, senior DOJ management, and federal agencies when litigation requires coordinated legal and policy analysis.

The application process asks for evidence of both technical depth and supervisory judgment. A candidate's record must connect long-term litigation experience with resource-law knowledge, review of other attorneys' work, and the ability to communicate a case strategy to lawyers, experts, and agency partners.