Trial Attorney (Constitutional Torts Staff).

Offices-to-go; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 100,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Justice in Washington, DC seeks a Constitutional Torts Staff Trial Attorney to represent federal officials in civil litigation and to develop evidence through research and hearings. You will draft motions and briefs, conduct discovery, and collaborate with senior attorneys on strategy and policy matters.

The role requires a JD, bar admission, US citizenship, and the ability to work with federal agencies and high-profile clients in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
• Active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).
• U.S. citizenship or national status.

Responsibilities

• Represent in personal capacity federal officials who are defendants in civil litigation and other matters.
• Prepare motions, briefs, and other documents based on factual and legal research; conduct discovery; prepare for and conduct hearings, settlement negotiations, and trials.
• Review and analyze facts and assist in developing evidence during case preparation.
• Receive instruction from the Assistant Director, Deputy Director, and Director on policy and apply legal principles to facts; examine witnesses; consult with senior attorneys on trial strategy.
• Work with opposing counsel in settlements in consultation with senior attorneys.
• Discuss legal and policy questions related to statuses administered by the Section with senior attorneys.
• Prepare memoranda applying relevant statutory and regulatory authority and evaluating legal, factual, and policy considerations.
• Report on case status and related legal issues to the Assistant Director, Deputy Director, and Director as appropriate.
• Establish personal contacts and work closely with officials and employees of the Division on litigation and policy matters.
• May assist with responses to inquiries from the White House, Congress, federal departments and agencies, state/local authorities, and private individuals within assigned statutory responsibilities.
• Perform special legal and administrative projects requiring legal experience and sound judgment.

Skills

Legal research

Trial advocacy

Motions practice

Written communication

Education

J.D. Degree

Job description

Duties

As a Constitutional Torts Staff Trial Attorney, You Would

• Represent in their personal capacity federal officials who are defendants in civil litigation and other matters brought against them in their individual capacity.


• Prepare motions, briefs, and other documents on the basis of factual and legal research. Conduct discovery. Prepare for and conduct hearings, settlement negotiations, and trials.


• Review and analyze facts and assist in the development of evidence during the preparation of cases.


• Receive instruction from the Assistant Director, Deputy Director, and Director as to the policy of the Department in related litigation. Apply the applicable legal principles to a given statement of facts; examine witnesses; consult with more senior attorneys in planning trial strategy for their cases.


• Work with opposing counsel in the formulation of settlements in consultation with more senior attorneys in the office.


• Discuss legal and policy questions related to statuses administered by the Section with more senior attorneys.


• Prepare memoranda that apply relevant statutory and regulatory authority and evaluate legal, factual, and policy considerations.


• Report on the status of cases and matters related to legal issues within the assigned area of litigation with the Assistant Director, Deputy Director, and Director, as appropriate.


• Work to establish personal contacts; work closely with officials and employees of the Division on litigation and policy-related matters.


• May assist with responses 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, perform special legal and administrative projects requiring legal experience and sound judgement.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National


• Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing


• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable


• May require completion of a 2-year trial period. (Please refer to the trial period statement under Qualifications.)


• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access depending on organizational assignment / duty location.


• 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

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), be a U.S. citizen. The minimum years of post-law degree experience commensurate with the grade level of eligibility is shown below.

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

• GS-13 - minimum 1.5 years post-JD legal experience


• GS-14 - minimum 2.5 years post-JD legal experience


• GS-15 - minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience

Preferred qualifications: Applicants should be outstanding writers, have strong interpersonal skills, exhibit good judgment, and have an interest in litigation. Experience with federal court motions practice is preferred. The ideal candidate would be interested in developing expertise in all and have experience in at least one of the following areas: dealing with individual clients; asserting personal defenses by way of a dispositive motion; handling discovery; or preparing cases for trial. Applicants should enjoy working independently and as part of a team, feel comfortable in varied federal courtroom settings, and enjoy occasional travel. Applicants must exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with clients, staff, attorney supervisors, and Department officials.

Trial Period Statement

Required

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.

Additional information

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 is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at:

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.