Trial Attorney (Special Litigation Counsel)

DutiesA Special Litigation Counsel (SLC) in the Employment Litigation Section will, under the supervision of the Chief, be assigned to lead complex and significant cases and matters within the Section's jurisdiction. One Special Litigation Counsel position will primarily focus on leading matters on the Section's defensive docket and handling other complex constitutional issues, along with affirmative civil rights enforcement as workload permits. If selected as a Special Litigation Counsel in the Employment Litigation Section, your duties may include:Leading the Section's complex and significant cases and matters, to include the overall management of their assigned cases and matters;Developing and executing investigation and litigation plans and personally handling investigation and litigation tasks, including preparation of internal memoranda necessary for authorization of matters, preparing all forms of pre-trial and trial documents, conducting settlement negotiations, and representing the United States at hearings, oral arguments and trials;Assigning and supervising the work of other assigned team members when applicable;Assisting the Section's management team and supporting all aspects of the Section's enforcement;Handling or advising on issues involving complex constitutional issues and claims, including as part of the Section's litigation defending federal agencies in lawsuits that challenge the constitutionality of the federal government's disadvantaged business enterprise programs;Providing advice and assistance to the Section's managers and attorneys, including, but not limited to, Deputy Chiefs and Trial Attorneys, and working directly, as needed, with attorneys to provide appropriate guidance and review of all facets of their work;Reviewing relevant Section work product, including, but not limited to, legal memoranda, complaints, briefs, Statements of Interest, regulatory documents, guidance documents, and other Section materials, to ensure compliance with the relevant legal requirements, Division, and Department standards, and to ensure that the Section takes consistent and well-supported legal positions in all aspects of its work;Monitoring developments in the areas of employment law and other relevant federal law and procedural issues related to the work of the Section and keeping the Section Chief informed of significant issues and developments;Engaging in outreach to relevant stakeholders (including representing the Section in meetings with other federal agencies and at employment related conferences and convenings.); andHandling other special assignments to be made by the Chief to assist in the operation of the Section.Requirements Conditions of EmploymentMust be a U.S. Citizen or NationalAll male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the selective service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.You may be required to complete a one- or two-year probationary period.You may be required to complete a pre-employment security screening to initiate your background investigation, which includes a drug screening. Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion and adjudication of your investigation.You must have a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.DOJ uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, by visiting www.e-verify.gov/.You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. QualificationsRequired Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction), and possess a minimum of six (6) years of post-professional law degree experience. Applicants also must have strong, demonstrated qualifications in the following areas: academic achievement; substantive knowledge and expertise in the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the work of the section or substantially similar laws, rules, and regulations; written and oral communication skills; the ability to analyze complex issues; skill and experience working collaboratively and productively with others; organizational skills; professional judgment; initiative; and the ability to excel in a fast-paced, demanding environment. In addition, applicants must have the ability to motivate and engage employees; the skill to build relationships that create trust, open dialogue, and full transparency; the assertiveness to drive outcomes and overcome adversity; the capacity to create a culture of clear accountability; and the integrity to make decisions based solely on merit applicants must have outstanding professional references; a demonstrated ability to effectively supervise all aspects of difficult cases and materials; the ability to delegate responsibility to staff; a demonstrated ability to handle several difficult or complex cases or matters at the same time; a demonstrated ability to manage a significant docket and ensure that applicable deadlines are met; demonstrated mentoring skills; and outstanding negotiation skills.Preferred Qualifications: Given the nature and volume of this work, the Section generally seeks; candidates with significant experience in complex litigation, particularly involving the laws enforced by the Section. The following qualifications are preferred but not required: (1) extensive federal civil litigation experience, including discovery, litigation strategy, motions practice, trial preparation, and trials; (2) experience with complex investigations and negotiations, including interviewing witnesses, reviewing documents, working with experts, and reviewing and applying appropriate case law to assess the merits of a matter; (3) substantive expertise in the federal laws enforced by the Section; and (4) experience presenting to a variety of audiences and stakeholders. Judicial clerkships (especially in federal court), moot court, clinical experience, and skill and experience working cooperatively and productively with a range of people, including individuals from disadvantaged or disenfranchised groups, opposing counsel, judicial or administrative officials, advocacy groups, law enforcement personnel, and the staff of other federal or state governmental agencies, are also preferred. Education You must possess a J.D. 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 informationEqual Employment Opportunity: The DOJ is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department 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 of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department's Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.Suitability and Citizenship: 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. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, ). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis. The Division's telework policy requires employees to be in the office at least four (4) days per pay period, or as required by the Division's policy. Help 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefitsEligibility 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.How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.Applicants will be evaluated based on interview performance, the qualifications set forth above, and other job-related skills, experience and qualifications consistent with merit system principles applicable to hiring for career positions with the Department of Justice.Evaluation Method: Once your complete application package is received, it will be reviewed by a Human Resources Specialist to ensure you meet all job requirements. A hiring committee will review all qualified applicants and make recommendations for invitation to interview. You will be notified if selected for an interview.Veterans: 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 Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, 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 their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).