Trial Attorney - Land Acquisition Section (Open Continuous)

U.S. Department of Justice; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 122,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Justice, Energy and Natural Resources Division, Land Acquisition Section in Washington, DC, seeks experienced trial attorneys for open continuous vacancies. The LAS handles federal condemnation and title matters, with opportunities for first-chair and co-counsel roles across diverse jurisdictions.

Requires post-JD experience and strong civil litigation skills. Positions are posted as open continuous until 2027, with annual salary ranges corresponding to GS-13/14/15 levels and

Qualifications

• J.D. degree with active bar membership in good standing (US jurisdiction).
• Post-JD litigation or judicial experience as specified for GS levels.
• Experience in civil litigation, including discovery, motions, and trial is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Litigate condemnation and title matters to acquire real property for federal use.
• Prepare and argue substantive motions, briefs, and depositions; handle negotiations.
• Collaborate with client agencies, appraisers, and paralegals to develop litigation positions.
• Support training and mentorship for less experienced attorneys within the LAS.

Skills

Post-JD experience

Civil litigation

Trial experience

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Trial Attorney - Land Acquisition Section (Open Continuous)

Hiring Organization

Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD)

Hiring Office

Land Acquisition Section

Attorney Appointment Type

Attorney Permanent

Job ID

ENRD-27-004-EXC (4247)

Location: 150 M Street, NE

Location: 150 M Street, NE
Washington, DC, DC 20002 - United States

Application Deadline:

Thursday, September 30, 2027

About the Office

The Energy and Natural Resources Division is seeking experienced civil litigators for the Land Acquisition Section. This Section is responsible for acquiring real property on behalf of the United States through litigation, title review, and collaboration with agencies for purposes ranging from establishing national parks, expanding military installations, rebuilding energy and transportation systems, and facilitating border security.

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 Land Acquisition Section (LAS) represents virtually every federal agency, in federal district court across the United States and its territories, tackling novel and complex civil litigation arising under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. LAS litigates condemnation cases to acquire real property for the United States for public uses including taking land into trust for tribes, expanding military installations, rebuilding federal courthouses, establishing national monuments, constructing border and immigration security infrastructure and land ports of entry, and maintaining the air traffic safety network throughout the United States. Our work safeguards the protection of the Fifth Amendment so that the amount of compensation for condemned property is fair to both property owners and taxpayers.
LAS also is responsible for ensuring the sufficiency of title for all real property that federal agencies acquire by direct purchase. For both litigation and title matters, the legal and factual issues are often complex and intellectually challenging and may include: the power of the United States to acquire land; ascertainment of the market value of property; and the physical, legal or financial feasibility of the potential uses of property. LAS also provides agencies with training and consultation during the planning process for major federal land acquisition projects.
Section attorneys are actively involved in every facet of our title work and cases from pre-filing consultation with client-agencies to discovery, motion practice, negotiations, and trial. On a day-to-day basis, our attorneys address case management issues, engage in case development, negotiate with opposing counsel, draft substantive motions and briefs, take depositions, present oral arguments, and conduct trials before juries, judges, and land commissions. Our attorneys work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment, and consult closely with our client counsel as well as expert witnesses. LAS attorneys work in teams alongside our in-house consulting appraisers and paralegals to develop successful and fair litigation positions.
The ideal candidates will bring a strong interest in federal litigation and trial work, and at least 2 years of post-JD experience. LAS seeks to hire and cultivate talented trial attorneys and provides its lawyers with frequent and meaningful court experience in a variety of jurisdictions. Because of the nature of our docket, the ideal candidate should be comfortable in "first-chair" and supporting roles in multiple complex cases, and have demonstrated and substantial experience in civil litigation, including pre-trial discovery, motion practice, oral argument, and examination of fact and expert witnesses. The cases handled by the Section require attorneys to achieve intellectual command of complicated facts, real estate and appraisal principles, and legal issues. Successful candidates will be hard-working, intellectually curious, enjoy having primary responsibilities in sophisticated litigation, and proficiency in working with a wide range of experts. Creative thinking and talent in problem-solving-whether in a litigation or settlement context-are critical. Collegiality is fundamental to our Section. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working collaboratively with other attorneys and providing support and mentorship to less experienced attorneys.
In staffing our cases, we strive to create opportunities for our attorneys to constantly learn and grow. New attorneys will soon handle their own cases but will also be teamed with experienced co-counsel on more complex matters, and will have access to substantive, on-going training in every aspect of civil litigation and real estate law. In short order, attorneys author substantive motions and pleadings, argue in federal district court, take depositions, and conduct negotiations. The opportunity to participate in a trial typically occurs within the first two years of employment.
LAS is composed of exceptionally talented attorneys who enjoy a team-oriented, collaborative work environment. The appraisers and paralegals we have are valuable resources, offering reliable help with a can-do attitude. The Section cultivates an atmosphere of respect among colleagues who work together to advocate for the United States.

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 1.5 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.

Experience in litigation, administrative law, and/or environmental law is highly desirable.

Application Process

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Resumes will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Candidates may be contacted for interviews based on the organization's interest and vacancy availability.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Resumes will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Candidates may be contacted for interviews based on the organization's interest and vacancy availability.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veteran preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran preference must include that information in their 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 Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes the following:

• Resume

Veteran Status: Applicants wishing to claim veteran's preference must indicate their status in their cover letter and attach a DD-214 (Member 4 copy) to the submission email.

Your resume MUST include full employment information such as periods of employment with month/year started and ended, title of position(s), FT or PT hours worked, and description of duties. If you have Federal employment, you must include the grade of the positions(s).

Do not include the following types of information in your profile or resume:

• Classified or government sensitive information
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Personal information, such as age, religious affiliation, etc.
• Encrypted and digitally signed documents

In case your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate content, you may not be considered for this vacancy.

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.

Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range for Washington D.C.:

• GS-13 ($121,785 - $158,322)
• GS-14 ($143,913 - $187,093)
• GS-15 ($169,279 - $197,200)

Travel

25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

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.