Duties

Summary

Regardless of the stage of their careers, EES attorneys enjoy a diverse caseload that allows for continuing development and new challenges. Our attorneys handle all aspects of affirmative civil litigation, including case development, electronic discovery, motions practice, complex settlement negotiations, and trials. Our practice includes cases of national scope that typically involve significant factual and expert discovery and pre-trial motions.

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Responsibilities

The affirmative nature of EES cases requires attorneys to advance cases through negotiations and all stages of litigation, beginning with the internal deliberations of the government, especially with other federal agencies, and continuing through extensive discovery and litigation to judgment. EES attorneys frequently negotiate settlements involving complex and technical injunctive relief and payment of civil penalties, while simultaneously preparing a case for trial. These responsibilities require outstanding communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to collaborate with DOJ and agency colleagues to achieve the best outcome for the United States.

For more information about the Environment and Natural Resources Division and the Environmental Enforcement Section, visit the Justice Department's web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen or national.
• You must complete a background investigation to include pre-employment drug testing.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
• You must maintain a bank account for direct deposit of salary.

Qualifications

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, possess a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, be an active member of the bar in good standing, and have at least three years of post-J.D. experience.

Applicants also must have strong, demonstrated qualifications in the following areas: skill and experience working collaboratively and productively with others; excellent written and oral communication skills; the ability to analyze a variety of legal issues; initiative; professional judgment; organizational skills; and the ability to manage multiple demands simultaneously and to excel in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications : The Section will consider any of the following qualifications, which are desirable, but not required:

• Federal or state court litigation and trial experience, including experience with electronic discovery and document management;
• Experience with multi-party negotiations and mediations;
• Knowledge of the laws enforced by EES;
• Experience supervising the work of, and delegating responsibility to, professional staff; and
• Demonstrated ability to manage a significant docket, handle several difficult or complex cases and matters at the same time, and meet applicable deadlines.

While the following are also desirable, no candidate will be excluded from consideration in the absence of these experiences: 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, including co-counsel and professional staff, the staff of other federal agencies, fact and expert witnesses, opposing counsel, and judicial officials.

Applicants should have a strong interest in federal litigation and/or trial work and a strong academic background. Judicial clerkship experience is valued and counts toward the post-JD legal experience. The ideal candidates will also possess a demonstrated interest in public service and/or environmental protection and enforcement.

Specific grade level requirements:

• At least 3 years of post J.D. civil/environmental litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-13 grade level.
• At least 4 years of post J.D. civil/environmental litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level.
• At least 5 years of post J.D. civil/environmental litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level.

Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range is:

• GS-13 ($103,690 - $134,798)
• GS-14 ($122,530- $159,286)
• GS-15 ($144,128- $172,500)

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

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

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: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/ . To verify your veteran preference entitlement, submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214; official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.

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: http://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

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.

Benefits: DOJ offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Please review the link below for an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees.

Please Note : Additional candidates may be selected if more positions become available in the Division within 90 days after the announcement closes.

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 based on your qualification for this position as evidenced by your application materials, including a possible interview. Paid or unpaid experience will be considered.

You must submit your application so that it will be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.

Note: The Selecting Official may select additional candidates if more positions become available within 90 days after the announcement closes.
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
Other

Drug test required
Yes

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

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness , Credentialing

Required Documents

• Resumé
• Cover letter highlighting relevant experience and interest
• Writing sample
• Three professional references
• Copy of J.D. transcripts
• Signed OF-306 Declaration of Employment http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/of0306.pdf
• DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation, as applicable