Trial Attorney (Constitutional Torts Staff)

About the role

The Constitutional Torts Staff seeks attorneys to defend federal officials who face individual-capacity litigation for actions they took on behalf of the United States. Trial Attorneys in the office personally represent both line-level and high-level officials facing potential personal exposure for carrying out law enforcement and other activities on behalf of the United States.

Given the scope of individual-capacity litigation, the office's work touches on many areas of government.

What you will do

• Represent in their personal capacity federal officials who are defendants in civil litigation and other matters brought against them in their individual capacity.
• Prepare motions, briefs, and other documents on the basis of factual and legal research.
• Prepare for and conduct hearings, settlement negotiations, and trials.
• Review and analyze facts and assist in the development of evidence during the preparation of cases.
• Receive instruction from the Assistant Director, Deputy Director, and Director as to the policy of the Department in related litigation.
• Apply the applicable legal principles to a given statement of facts; examine witnesses; consult with more senior attorneys in planning trial strategy for their cases.
• Work with opposing counsel in the formulation of settlements in consultation with more senior attorneys in the office.
• Discuss legal and policy questions related to statuses administered by the Section with more senior attorneys.
• Prepare memoranda that apply relevant statutory and regulatory authority and evaluate legal, factual, and policy considerations.
• Report on the status of cases and matters related to legal issues within the assigned area of litigation with the Assistant Director, Deputy Director, and Director, as appropriate.
• Work to establish personal contacts; work closely with officials and employees of the Division on litigation and policy-related matters.
• May assist with responses to inquiries from the White House, Congress, federal departments and agencies, state and local authorities, and private individuals on matters within the scope of assigned statutory responsibilities.
• As requested, perform special legal and administrative projects requiring legal experience and sound judgement.

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 ***

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications. Your application will be evaluated by a reviewing panel. Please Note: The Selecting Official may select additional candidates if more positions become available within 120 days after the closing date of the vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• 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, (if applicable)

What to expect next

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.

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, *** for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).

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 ***, 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 law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf 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.