Trial Attorney (ITFO-NY)

Justice Management Division; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The International Trade Field Office (ITFO) represents the United States in affirmative and defensive litigation in the United States Court of International Trade. The Trial Attorney will handle first-chair trial and appellate litigation, manage own cases, conduct fact investigations, work with experts, conduct discovery, take depositions, draft briefs, and present oral argument.

Matters include tariff classifications, presidential proclamations, licenses, and duties enforcement.

Qualifications

• Requires a J.D. from an accredited school and active U.S. bar membership.
• U.S. citizenship is required and candidates must pass a background investigation including drug testing.
• May require a Top Secret/SCI access depending on assignment; selective service rules apply.

Responsibilities

• Represent the United States in all aspects of first-chair trial and appellate litigation.
• Manage own caseload, conduct fact investigations, depose witnesses, and brief and argue before the US Court of International Trade and the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Skills

Trial litigation

Appellate litigation

Legal research

Education

J.D. Degree

Job description

Summary

The International Trade Field Office (ITFO) represents the United States, its departments and agencies, and federal officials in both affirmative and defensive litigation in the United States Court of International Trade.

Duties

The Trial Attorney will be responsible for representing the United States in all aspects of \"first chair\" trial and appellate litigation. At the trial stage, attorneys personally manage their own cases, conduct fact investigation, work with expert witnesses, serve and respond to written discovery, take and defend depositions, write all substantive and procedural briefs, conduct all aspects of any trial, and present oral argument in the United States Court of International Trade. Attorneys also personally handle all aspects of appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition, attorneys engage in settlement negotiations, and recommend settlements of litigation when appropriate. In handling cases, attorneys work closely with counsel from Federal client agencies.

Matters within ITFO's area of responsibility include, among others: importer challenges to U.S. Customs and Border Protection decisions concerning the classification and valuation of imported merchandise, and other issues under the tariff laws; lawsuits relating to the interpretation and application of trade-related presidential proclamations, executive orders, international treaties and free trade agreements; disputes over the government's refusal to grant or the revocation of various licenses under the customs laws; and actions for the collection of duties and penalties under the customs laws.

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

Requirements

• 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-Level Requirements

• 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.

Preferred qualifications

Applicants should have excellent writing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills; exhibit good judgment and have experience in trial work. Judicial clerkship experience is desirable.

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.

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 are 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.

Eligibility and Benefits

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.

Required Documents

• Cover Letter


• Resume showing relevant experience (not to exceed 2 pages)


• Writing Sample (not more than 10 pages in length, and written in the past 3 years)


• DD-214 and/or veteran documentation

Next steps

Once the application package is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. All qualified applications will be sent to the hiring official for review. You will be contacted directly if an interview is desired.