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Trial Attorney

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Nov 2, 2020
Duties

Summary

Are you interested in a rewarding and challenging opportunity? Join the U.S. Department of Justice!

The Immigrant and Employee Rights (IER) is seeking an experienced attorney for the position of Trial Attorney. The attorney selected for this position will be dedicated to the Section's work enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

IER Trial Attorneys handle an active docket of investigations and litigation focused on enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Enforcement responsibilities include:
  • Developing and conducting investigations involving potential violations of this law, including reviewing incoming charges and referrals from agencies, identifying and interviewing witnesses, and collecting documentary evidence;
  • Conducting legal and factual research and analysis;
  • Preparing written memoranda recommending further investigation and/or enforcement;
  • Litigating cases, including preparing and responding to discovery requests, conducting document review, reviewing and analyzing data, working with expert witnesses, preparing witnesses for and conducting depositions, and drafting court filings;
  • Representing the Justice Department at argument and trial before an administrative law judge; and
  • Preparing for and participating in settlement negotiations and mediation on behalf of the Department, including drafting settlement proposals.
  • In addition, Trial Attorneys may conduct policy work, including working with other federal agencies on areas of overlapping interest; drafting legislation, regulations, and agency guidance; and reviewing and preparing comments on draft legislation, regulations, and agency guidance. Trial attorneys will also conduct outreach, including participating in outreach presentations and providing technical assistance in response to inquiries from public and private stakeholders.

    The complexity of the matters assigned and the level of supervision required vary depending upon a Trial Attorney's years of specialized experience.

    Travel Required

    25% or less - The position may require extended hours and significant travel.

    Supervisory status
    No

    Promotion Potential
    15

    Requirements

    Conditions of Employment

    • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
    • All 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 will need to successfully complete a pre-employment background security process pending completion and adjudication of the background investigation before you can be appointed into an attorney position.
    • You must have a Juris Doctorate 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.


    Qualifications

    Required 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 the minimum years of post-professional law degree experience commensurate to the grade level of eligibility, as shown below. 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 outstanding professional references.

    Preferred Qualifications :

    The following demonstrated qualifications are preferred but not required: substantive knowledge and expertise in immigration and/or employment law including (1) experience investigating allegations of employment discrimination, including interviewing witnesses, reviewing documents and reviewing applicable case law to assess the merits of a case; (2) experience litigating employment discrimination cases, including handling discovery, litigation strategy, motions practice and trial preparation; (3) experience negotiating settlements in employment discrimination cases; (4) experience serving as the lead attorney in federal court employment discrimination cases; (5) experience litigating pattern or practice and/or testing cases; (6) experience with immigration law and/or immigration policy; (7) experience developing and/or commenting on drafts of legislation, regulations, and agency guidance; and (8) experience giving presentations to a variety of audiences. Judicial clerkships (especially in federal court), law review, moot court, clinical experience, and skill and experience working cooperatively and productively with a range of people, such as charging parties, witnesses, respondents, 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.

    Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.
    • GS-14 - minimum 2.5 years post-JD legal experience
    • GS-15 - minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience


    Education

    You must possess a J.D. degree.

    Additional information

    The Civil Rights Division 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. The Division also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes directly to Sandra Brown by email to Sandra.Brown@usdoj.gov .

    The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a parent, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, on the basis of personal favoritism, or any non merit 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. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

    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.

    The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.

    E-Verify - The Division uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

    Division offices are near metro transportation systems or other public transportation, and are conveniently accessible to restaurants, museums and other D.C. area attractions. Most jobs in the Division offer alternative work schedules and other family friendly opportunities are available.

    Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement to fill vacancies that occur subsequent to this announcement.

    How You Will Be Evaluated

    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.

    Applicants who are selected for an interview will be asked to complete a short writing exercise, the results of
    which will be used when evaluating candidates for the position(s).

    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, 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). 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).

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Not Required

    Drug test required
    Yes

    Position sensitivity and risk
    High Risk (HR)

    Trust determination process
    Suitability/Fitness , National security

    Required Documents

    The following documents are required for your application to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
  • Cover Letter (highlighting relevant experience).
  • Resume - Applicants are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position and the technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position.
  • Law School Transcripts
  • Writing Sample - A brief or comparable analytic legal exposition that is your work product. (No more than 10 pages)
  • Assessment Questionnaire (you will be prompted to complete this when you apply online).
  • Schedule A Documentation (if applicable) - Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u). The date of your certification letter must be within three (3) years of the vacancy closing date and must be submitted with your application.
  • Current or Former Political Appointees (if applicable) - please note on your resume and attach an SF-50. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office.
  • Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable):
    • If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives at www.archives.gov/veterans.
    • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
    • If you are a disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ or call 1-800-827-1000.

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