Trial Attorney - Environmental Defense Section (Open Continuous)

Justice Management Division; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 100,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Justice Management Division in Washington, DC, seeks attorneys to represent the United States in complex environmental litigation arising under major environmental statutes. Positions may be located in Washington, DC or Denver, CO, with no remote work.

Attorneys handle all phases from pre-trial to trial and interact with EPA, Army Corps, and other federal agencies. The role emphasizes strong research, analytical and writing abilities, clerkship desirability, and a commitment to Federal

Qualifications

• Must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member in good standing of the bar.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Post-J.D. litigation or judicial experience relevant to grade level.

Responsibilities

• Represent the United States in complex civil environmental litigation.
• Handle pre-trial tasks up through trial, including dispositive motions and briefs.
• Draft merits briefs, manage discovery, and defend depositions and witness access.
• Present oral argument, negotiate settlements, and coordinate with U.S. Attorney's offices and other DOJ components.

Skills

Legal research

Written advocacy

Oral advocacy

Case management

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Summary

The Environmental Defense Section (EDS) is seeking attorneys to represent the United States in complex and diverse civil litigation arising under a broad range of environmental statutes, including the Clean Air Act; Clean Water Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; Toxic Substances Control Act; Safe Drinking Water Act; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

Duties

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT that will remain open until September 30, 2027. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, and positions will be filled when the need arises or as vacancies occur to meet immediate and future hiring needs. It will also allow the organization to maintain a standing pool of qualified applicants for Fiscal Year 2027.

Management may terminate this vacancy announcement early and without notice once a sufficient talent pool is established or authorized positions have been successfully filled.

The duty location is Washington, DC, or Denver, CO. This is not a remote position.

The Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) is consistently ranked among the federal government as a good place to work, and the Environmental Defense Section (EDS) offers one of ENRD's and the Department's most interesting dockets. It is one of the only DOJ components whose attorneys routinely handle cases in the federal district courts and courts of appeals. EDS handles complex claims of liability against federal agencies under pollution control laws, such as for costs of response actions at Superfund sites, federally owned facilities, and private sites. EDS routinely represents EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, other branches of the Department of War, the Department of Energy, and other federal agencies. EDS also defends petitions for review brought in the courts of appeals pursuant to special statutory judicial review provisions of the environmental statutes, as well as claims for judicial review brought in district courts pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. The substance of these cases ranges, for example, from high-profile, multi-party challenges to national EPA rules (such as major Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act rules) to more targeted challenges to site‑specific agency decisions.

Section attorneys are responsible for all aspects of complex litigation. This includes pre‑trial tasks up to and through trial, such as preparation and filing of dispositive motions, drafting merits briefs, written and document discovery, selecting and working with experts, taking and defending expert and fact witness depositions, presenting oral argument in court, handling witnesses at trial and other evidentiary hearings, and negotiating settlements. Cases range from simpler matters typically handled by a single attorney to more complicated matters typically handled by a small litigation team. EDS cases present attorneys with the opportunity to regularly appear and argue cases in district courts and courts of appeals, and to periodically try cases or handle other evidentiary proceedings. EDS attorneys also frequently provide counsel to our client agencies and other DOJ components on litigation, draft regulations, and other environmental and administrative law issues related to our work. In addition, Section attorneys routinely coordinate with their colleagues in the United States Attorney's offices, the Office of the Solicitor General, and State Attorney Generals offices.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen or national.


• You must complete a background investigation to include pre‑employment drug testing.


• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.


• You must maintain a bank account for direct deposit of salary.


• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may 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), and be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants must have the years of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal experience for the specific grade level requirements listed below:

• At least 1 year of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level.


• At least 1.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-13 grade level.


• At least 2.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level.


• At least 4 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level.

Applicants should have a strong interest in federal litigation, trial work, and an exceptional academic background. Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with defensive civil litigation is highly desirable. Applicants must demonstrate superior research, analytical, and writing abilities.

Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level.

The Possible Salary Range For Denver, CO

• GS-12 ($ 99,800 - $129,742)


• GS-13 ($118,675 - $154,280)


• GS-14 ($140,239 - $182,316)


• GS-15 ($164,956 - $197,200)

The Possible Salary Range For Washington D.C.

• GS-12 ($102,415 - $133,142)


• GS-13 ($121,785 - $158,322)


• GS-14 ($143,913 - $187,093)


• GS-15 ($169,279 - $197,200)

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre