Trial Attorney

About the role

The Torts Branch is seeking Trial Attorneys for its Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Section. The FTCA Section handles a wide variety of complex, and often high-profile, suits filed against the United States under the FTCA.

These suits arise from, among other conduct, the provision of medical care at federal facilities or community health centers, federal regulatory activities, law enforcement and immigration enforcement, and management of federal lands.

What you will do

• Trial attorneys in the FTCA Section handle personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage suits arising from activities of federal employees acting within the scope of their federal employment.
• FTCA Section attorneys frequently handle large or complex cases of national significance.
• They also provide guidance on complex legal issues in suits handled by United States Attorneys' Offices (USAOs) and for administrative claims pending with federal agencies, make recommendations on whether settlements proposed by federal agencies and USAOs should be authorized, and prepare appeal recommendations on adverse judgments in FTCA cases.
• Examples of law enforcement matters handled by the FTCA Section include cases involving alleged federal law enforcement misconduct, suits brought by individuals detained in immigration custody, and cases arising from federal responses to protests and riots.
• The Section also defends the United States in complex litigation stemming from catastrophic natural disasters.
• Further, the FTCA Section handles complex medical malpractice suits with medical causation issues in which high damages awards are sought.
• The Section provides guidance to USAOs and federal agencies on a variety of legal issues and advises on the development of strategy.
• The FTCA Section provides appeal recommendations on adverse FTCA judgments, including for cases handled by USAOs.
• The Section also reviews draft legislation that may have an impact on the public fisc.
• The Section is responsible for the adjustment and settlement of administrative claims arising out of the conduct of employees of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and for approving administrative settlements of claims arising out of the activities of all other federal agencies which are in excess of the settlement authority delegated to those agencies.
• Finally, the FTCA Section provides recommendations to the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division concerning requests for authority to consummate all settlements of tort claims that require the approval of the Assistant Attorney General or the Associate Attorney General.
• This is not a remote location position.
• You will be required to work in person five days a week.

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

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: U.S. Department of Justice Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Issued December 31, 2025. 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.