Trial Attorney - Environmental Crimes Section

About the role

The Energy and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking experienced criminal litigators for its Environmental Crimes Section in Washington, D.C. One or more vacancies may be filled.

What you will do

• Attorneys in the Environmental Crimes Section prosecute complex criminal cases (including fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, money laundering, etc.) against individuals and corporations that violate laws designed to protect the environment, the United States' critical natural resources, animal welfare, and American workers.
• The Section is at the forefront of raising public awareness that environmental crimes are substantial crimes, which left unchecked threaten human health and the environment.
• The Section works with Assistant U.S. Attorneys in all 94 U.S. judicial districts and multiple federal law enforcement agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to enforce statutes including the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, the Lacey Act, the Animal Welfare Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
• Section attorneys handle all aspects of investigative and litigative work, from advising agencies on long-term undercover investigations to grand jury presentations, discovery, motions practice and trial.
• Attorneys from the Section are also engaged in capacity building to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes both domestically and internationally.
• Consistent with the Section's practice, individuals selected will be responsible for handling a range of matters, including some of the most complex cases the Section handles.
• This position will allow the individual to use his or her superior legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills in all aspects of investigation, negotiation, motions practice and trial.

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 ***

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

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, *** 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).

Documents you must provide

• Resume (not to exceed two pages) demonstrating relevant experience and month/year the experience was obtained Cover letter with brief statement of interest Writing sample Copy of J.D. degree transcripts Responses to the online questionnaire DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation, if applicable Your resume MUST include full employment information such as periods of employment with month/year started and ended, title of position(s), part-time hours worked, and description of duties.
• If you have Federal employment, you must include the grade of the position(s).

What to expect next

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 80 days of the closing date of this announcement.

You will be notified of the outcome.

Additional information

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veteran 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: ***

To verify your veteran preference entitlement, submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.

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.

Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys' Offices.

Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. Citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. Citizens are 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.

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

More information can be found here: *** DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: 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.

The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: *** Selective Service: If you were born male, on or 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.

Please Note: Additional candidates may be selected if more positions become available in the Division within 90 days after HR office issues the certificate of eligibles.