Trial Attorney (National Courts).

Offices-to-go; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Justice seeks one or more litigators to represent the United States in first-chair trial and appellate litigation. Attorneys manage their own cases, conduct investigations, work with experts, respond to discovery, take depositions, draft briefs, and argue before the Court of Federal Claims and the Court of International Trade. Travel is expected.

Applicants should have a J.D. degree, be a U.S. citizen, and maintain active bar status.

Qualifications

• J.D. required and admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction.
• Excellent writing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills expected.
• Trial work and experience with appeals are valued.

Responsibilities

• Manage own cases at trial and appellate level in federal courts.
• Represent the United States in the Court of Federal Claims and the Court of International Trade.
• Handle all aspects of appeals in the Federal Circuit; may join trial teams.

Skills

Oral advocacy

Legal writing

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Trial work

Education

J.D. degree

Active bar in good standing (U.S. jurisdiction)

Job description

Duties

The National Courts Section handles complex trial and appellate litigation involving government contracts, constitutional claims, procurement challenges, government pay and personnel suits, veterans' and other benefits appeals, international trade and tariff matters, and customs fraud enforcement. It is among the Department of Justice's busiest litigating components, conducting many trials and hundreds of trial and appellate court arguments each year. Attorneys primarily represent the United States in three forums, the Court of Federal Claims, the Court of International Trade, and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, although depending upon subject-matter, attorneys may also appear in district courts and regional circuit courts, as well as the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals. As an office with a national practice, travel should be expected.

The National Courts Section is seeking one or more litigators to represent 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 investigations, work with expert witnesses, serve and respond to written discovery, take and defend depositions, write all substantive and procedural briefs, conduct all aspects of trial, and present oral argument in the United States Court of Federal Claims and 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, both appeals from the aforementioned trial courts as well as appeals from other fora that may have been handled outside National Courts at the trial stage. As noted, attorneys also occasionally handle matters within the Section's various areas of expertise in other Federal district and circuit courts, as well as in administrative tribunals. In addition, attorneys first-chair alternative dispute resolution proceedings and settlement negotiations, and recommend settlements of litigation when appropriate. For larger cases, attorneys work collaboratively as members of trial teams. Whether handling trial cases and appeals as counsel of record or as part of a trial team, all attorneys work closely with counsel from Federal client agencies.

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 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; 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.

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 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.

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.