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Trial Attorney-National Courts Section

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Jun 30, 2019
Duties

Summary

The National Courts Section is among the Department of Justice's busiest litigating components, conducting many trials and hundreds of trial and appellate arguments each year. It 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.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The National Courts Section seeks eight attorneys 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 investigation, work with expert witnesses, serve and respond to written discovery, take and defend depositions, write all substantive and procedural briefs, conduct all aspects of any 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. 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.

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 and international arbitration fora. Attorneys practice in a diverse range of often complex subject-matter, including government contracts, procurement challenges, and other commercial and administrative disputes. Other Section cases involve defense of takings under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution, and military and civilian pay actions. Section attorneys also prosecute civil actions to recover money secured fraudulently from the United States. Attorneys in the international trade practice defend the imposition of various trade remedies, including special duties imposed on dumped or subsidized imports, prosecute customs fraud, and enforce other international trade laws at both the trial and appellate stages. The Section has primary responsibility for the majority of appeals to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, including appeals from the Court of Federal Claims, the Court of International Trade, the boards of contract appeals, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Travel Required

25% or less - This position may require frequent travel.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

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 one year probationary period
  • 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.


Qualifications

Applicants must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), have at least two years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; have at least three years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-14 level; and four years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-15 level. You must also be a U.S. citizen.

Applicants should have a strong interest in trial and appellate work, excellent writing and oral advocacy skills, and an exceptional academic background. Applicants should anticipate working on fast-paced, complex litigation, and feel comfortable in a courtroom setting. Judicial clerkship experience is highly desirable.

The Section offers a fast-paced, collegial work environment that requires attorneys to exercise sound judgment at all times. Attorneys must have excellent time-management skills and be willing to assume substantial responsibility. Because Section attorneys appear in courts with nationwide jurisdiction, occasional travel, sometimes international travel, is required.

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 https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

Veteran Preference: 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. , Member 4 Copy of 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, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).

DOJ EEO Statement/Policy: http://www.justice.gov/jmd/eeos/08-eeo-policy.pdf

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 resume@benderconsult.com, and reference "Federal Career Opportunities" in the subject line. Additional information is found at: www.benderconsult.com .

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: www.sss.gov .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You 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. Your application will be evaluated by a reviewing panel.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

  • Cover Letter
  • Resume showing relevant experience.
  • Writing Sample (no more than 10-20 pages in length)
  • DD-214 and/or veteran documentation, (if applicable).


If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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