Trial Attorney (Camp Lejeune Justice Act Unit)

U.S. Department of Justice; Washington (District of Columbia); Sur place; USD 100 000 - 140 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Torts Branch, Camp Lejeune Unit, located in Washington, DC, seeks a Trial Attorney to defend the United States in Camp Lejeune litigation. The role emphasizes hearings, trials, discovery, and complex factual and expert work, with collaboration across federal agencies and the Navy.

The position requires a J.D. or equivalent and active bar admission, with grading based on post–J.D. experience.

Qualifications

• J.D. or equivalent degree and active bar membership nationwide or in the District of Columbia.
• Minimum post–J.D. legal experience requirements vary by grade level.
• This is not a remote position; in-person work is required five days per week.

Responsabilités

• Prepares for and conducts hearings, settlements, and trials of complex cases, and drafts pleadings, motions, briefs and related documents.
• Participates in pretrial and prehearing conferences and may present oral arguments in federal or state courts.
• Provides guidance to junior trial attorneys and handles appellate litigation as needed.
• Reviews facts, develops evidence, and analyzes complex legal issues to support case strategy.
• Engages with Chief and Unit leadership on policy, case status, and strategic directions.

Formation

J.D. or equivalent

Description du poste

Trial Attorney (Camp Lejeune Justice Act Unit)

Hiring Organization

Hiring Office

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Job ID

AT-13100101-27-JS

Location: Washington, DC 20005 - United States

Location: Washington, DC 20005 - United States Application Deadline: Friday, November 13, 2026

About the Office

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) Office seeks attorneys to defend the United States, Executive Office of the President, and agencies in cases challenging the legality of policies and actions brought in federal district courts. The branch's work touches on many areas of government.

Job Description

This is a Trial Attorney position located in the Department of Justice, Civil Division, Torts Branch, Camp Lejeune Unit.

The Camp Lejeune Unit consists of a team of dedicated employees who energetically provide the defense of what is reported to be the largest mass toxic tort litigation in United States history. This Unit defends the United States in litigation brought under the "Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022" (CLJA), Pub. L. No. 117-168, § 804, 136 Stat. 1802, 1802-04 (2022), which was signed into law on August 10, 2022. This statute aims to provide appropriate relief to service members and others who were injured as a result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, between 1953 and 1987. This litigation provides unique opportunities in many components of litigation, including fact and expert discovery, working with scientific and medical expert witnesses, interacting with various federal agencies, robust motion practice, oral advocacy, settlement negotiations, and trials. Other responsibilities include working with the Department of Justice Civil Appellate Section and representing the United States in certain appellate matters, including CLJA statutory construction matters. This Unit also works closely with the Department of the Navy on the administrative claims and related settlement matters. This Camp Lejeune team provides relevant litigation training sessions, and they attend educational programs provided for Federal employees.

CLJA litigation is a complex, high-stakes, and high-visibility toxic tort matter where multi-trillions of dollars in damages are sought from the United States. This litigation is of substantial public and Congressional interest. There are over 3,800 CLJA lawsuits pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and over 409,000 administrative claims pending with the Department of the Navy. The Camp Lejeune team provides the defense for all of these matters. Continuity of counsel competent to deal with the medical, scientific, and legal issues, is required to manage such massive and complex cases.

In performing the work of the position, the incumbent carries out the following functions:

• Prepares for and conducts hearings, settlement negotiations, and trials of complex cases. Prepares memoranda such as pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents on the basis of factual and legal research. Participates in pretrial and prehearing conferences. Conducts trials or presents oral arguments in federal courts, state courts, and administrative proceedings, as appropriate. Provides advice to junior trial attorneys. Handles appellate litigation, as necessary;
• Reviews and analyzes facts and develops evidence during the preparation of assigned cases. This involves difficult and complex cases in which legal principles are not clearly established or where they are novel;
• Confers with the Chief to identify the policy of the Department in related litigation. Applies the theory of the government's cases, determines applicable legal principles to a given statement of facts, selects and examines witnesses, and plans trial strategy and appropriate techniques;
• As assigned, represents the United States and individual clients in direct negotiations and discussions with attorneys for private litigants;
• Participates in discussions with opposing counsel and in the formulation of settlements often having far-reaching legal consequences;
• Makes recommendations with respect to proposed changes in legislation relating to provisions of law. Provides advice concerning legal and policy questions related to statutes administered by the office;
• Advises and consults with the Chief to report on the status of cases and matters related to legal issues within the assigned area of litigation;
• Maintains personal contacts and works closely with officials and employees of the Division, officials and employees of the Department and other government agencies, and the public on litigation and policy-related matters;
• Responds to inquiries from the White House, Congress, federal departments and agencies, state and local authorities, and private individuals on matters within the scope of assigned statutory responsibilities;
• As requested, performs special legal and administrative projects requiring broad experience and sound judgement; and
• Performs other job-related duties, as assigned.
• Receives general instructions from the Assistant Director and the Unit Chief. Assignments are typically completed with a broad latitude of judgment in terms of leadership responsibilities, case preparation and theory development, case presentation, consultations, etc.
• Consults with the Assistant Director and Unit Chief, as appropriate, concerning issues or problems that have a significant impact on policy, procedure, or case action.

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-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.

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

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Preferred Qualifications

Highly qualified applicants would have experience in toxic tort litigation. This includes expertise as to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, eDiscovery, defensive litigation, and defense of important federal laws, regulations, and policies. The incumbent is expected to work under a variety of conditions as dictated by the particular circumstances involved in each case.

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.

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.