Trial Attorney

US Offices, Boards and Divisions; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

US Offices, Boards and Divisions seeks Trial Attorneys to lead affirmative litigation ensuring nationwide compliance with federal law. The role emphasizes strong advocacy, legal writing, and investigative experience to support enforcement initiatives.

Applicants should be admitted to practice and prepared to handle complex motions and discovery. Strong candidates will have courtroom experience, excellent academic credentials, and a record of engaging in investigations, depositions, and trial

Qualifications

• Must hold a J.D. and be licensed or authorized to practice law.
• Active member in good standing of the bar in any U.S. state, territory, or D.C.
• Experience handling investigations, motions, discovery, depositions, and trials is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct high-impact affirmative litigation to protect public health and safety.
• Draft and argue motions, manage discovery, and take/defend depositions.
• Try cases and engage in appellate-level advocacy when required.

Skills

Advocacy

Legal writing

Legal research

Motions

Depositions

Discovery

Trial experience

Judicial clerkship

Education

J.D. or equivalent

Job description

The Enforcement and Afflative Litigation Branch seeks Trial Attorneys to bring high-impact affirmative litigation that protects public health and safety and ensures nationwide compliance with federal law. The Branch offers a frontline role in the Department's major enforcement initiatives. Strong applicants from any location are encouraged to apply. Please list your preferred duty location in your cover letter. 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.

• 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 of 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.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Preferred qualifications: Strongly preferred applicants will have excellent academic credentials and outstanding advocacy and legal writing skills. Experience conducting investigations, drafting and arguing motions, handling discovery, taking and defending depositions, and trying cases are highly desirable. Preferred applicants will be highly motivated and exhibit sound judgment and creativity. Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with constitutional challenges and the enforcement of federal laws is strongly preferred.

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.