Trial Attorney

United States Department of Justice; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Justice, White Collar and Corporate Enforcement Section, seeks Trial Attorneys for permanent positions in Washington, DC.

The roles involve leading investigations and prosecutions across units such as FCPA, SMP, HSU, CEC, and FSP, with opportunities to shape policy and enforcement strategies. Successful applicants will be admitted to practice in a US jurisdiction, bring strong litigation and collaboration skills, and handle responsibilities from grand jury work to

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and active bar admission in any State or DC.
• Experience in criminal or complex civil litigation preferred.
• Ability to collaborate with federal prosecutors and agencies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations and prosecutions with strategic priorities.
• Recommend charging decisions and dispositions for cases.
• Lead complex white-collar and corporate investigations.
• Manage phases of trial, including hearings and motions.
• Advise on corporate resolutions and compliance programs.

Skills

Legal analysis

Oral advocacy

Collaboration

Policy development

Education

J.D. degree

Bar admission (US)

Job description

White Collar and Corporate Enforcement Section

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Job ID

27-CRM-WCCES-003

Location: Washington, DC - United States

Location: Washington, DC - United States Application Deadline: Friday, November 20, 2026

About the Office

The White Collar and Corporate Enforcement (formerly Fraud) Section plays a unique and essential role in the Department's fight against sophisticated economic crime, foreign bribery, and other forms of complex misconduct that endanger public health and safety. The Section investigates and prosecutes cases across the country and leads the Department's corporate enforcement efforts. The Section is seeking qualified, experienced attorneys for Trial Attorney positions in each of its five units.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Unit prosecutes individuals and companies involved in foreign bribery and extortion in violation of the FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) and related offenses such as money laundering.
The Securities, Market and Private Fraud (SMP) Unit prosecutes consumer fraud, securities fraud, market manipulation, and other complex schemes that defraud, harm, and otherwise exploit Americans, U.S. markets, investors, companies, banks and other financial institutions.
The Health and Safety Unit (HSU) prosecutes violations of federal law designed to protect public health and safety, including the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).
The Corporate Enforcement and Compliance (CEC) Unit manages the Section's corporate enforcement practice, including working with and advising teams on the structural, monetary, and compliance components of corporate resolutions, evaluating corporate compliance programs, and overseeing post-resolution matters. CEC also provides guidance on corporate enforcement and compliance policies.
The Filter and Special Projects (FSP) Unit focuses on matters involving attorney-client privilege and other protections and works with the FCPA, HSU, and SMP units to establish uniform practices for handling evidence collection and review that implicate claims of attorney-client or other privileges. FSP also litigates filter and privilege-related matters when necessary.

Job Description

Generally, as a Trial Attorney in the Section, the incumbent (depending on the unit):

• In collaboration with managers, carries out and fosters effective investigations and prosecutions, including advising on strategy and legal complexities, and developing litigation priorities, policy, and legislative recommendations.
• Recommends charging decisions and proposes dispositions with regard to assigned cases.
• Partners with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and attorneys in other federal law enforcement agencies in the development, management, and trial of complex, white-collar and corporate investigations and prosecutions.
• Engages in all phases of investigation and litigation, including, but not limited to, using the grand jury, using federal investigative tools and handling electronic evidence, advising federal law enforcement agents, preparing appropriate pleadings, appearing for hearings at all phases of criminal proceedings, and litigating motions and trials before U.S. District Courts across the country.
• Evaluates reports of potential violations of financial fraud laws, the FDCA, the CPSA, FCPA, FEPA and other statutes related to economic crimes (relevant laws) from both internal and outside sources to determine whether investigation is warranted.
• Advises and instructs Assistant U.S. Attorneys on complicated questions of law and Departmental policy with respect to relevant laws.
• Represents the U.S. in direct negotiations and discussions with corporate counsel and high-level officials. Participates in discussions with opposing counsel for defendants and in the formulation of resolutions often having far-reaching legal consequences.
• Devise structural, monetary, and compliance components of corporate resolutions, evaluate corporate compliance programs, and oversee post-resolution matters.
• Advises and consults with Division and Section leadership, reporting on the status of all cases and matters related to criminal remedies.

Additional for FSP:

• Supervises review of potentially protected and privileged materials to ensure that attorneys comply with their ethical obligations regarding legal privilege.
• Supervises and manages team of attorneys engaged in the review of potentially privileged materials.
• Works directly with agents/prosecutors to ensure they are not exposed to potentially privileged materials.
• Engages in all phases of litigation of privilege matters.
• Helps ensure that all attorneys comply with their ethical obligations related to legal privilege.

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 and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a criminal prosecutor.
• Experience with complex white- collar and corporate investigations and prosecutions.
• Experience in supporting, litigating, and supervising federal or state criminal cases.
• Experience in U.S. District Court or state court.
• Experience conducting investigations of, charging, and resolving charges with individuals as well as organizations and entities, including corporations.
• Experience with the federal judiciary.
• Experience working with law enforcement agencies and other prosecuting authorities,foreign or domestic.

Additional for FSP:

• Expertise in the law of legal privilege, including the Attorney-Client Privilege, Work Product Doctrine, Spousal Privilege, and all exceptions to such privileges, including waiver and the crime-fraud exception.
• Experience supervising attorneys and support staff engaged in the review of potentially privileged materials.
• Experience overseeing large-scale document reviews, including familiarity with document review platforms.
• Experience litigating privilege matters in federal court.

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.

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.