Duties

The incumbent independently directs, conducts, and monitors investigations, prepares and conducts trials and related post-trial litigation, and drafts pleadings and other court filings. As a litigation Trial Attorney practicing in United States district courts, the incumbent is directly responsible for results in the cases handled. Recommendations and decisions can affect institutions and the public and, as a result, come with pressure to carry out the Department's mission at the highest level, under demanding time deadlines, and in significant volume.

• Investigates and pursues professional money launderers for criminal prosecution under the money laundering statutes and forfeiture.
• Investigates and litigates civil and criminal forfeiture actions.
• Leads and undertakes complex investigations and prosecutions in the federal courts throughout the United States; makes charging decisions and proposes dispositions with regard to assigned cases; handles issues lacking precedent, and other challenges in compliance with Department, Division, and Section policies and practices.
• Provides forfeiture support to other Sections of the Criminal Division, including but not limited to drafting and/or reviewing seizure warrants, restraining orders, criminal forfeiture allegations, indictments, and other pleadings.
• Develops and maintains working relationships with partners at the U.S. Attorneys' Offices, other litigating components and offices, and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
• Advises and instructs federal agents and prosecutors on complicated questions of law and Departmental policy related to the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit's mission.
• Advises and consults with the Unit Chief, the MLARS Chief, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General, and others on the status of all cases and matters.
• Oversees and helps to coordinate the litigation assignments of paralegals and clerical personnel.
• Provides asset forfeiture and money laundering training to other federal prosecutors, federal, state and local law enforcement, and international partners.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to qualify for this position.
• You must undergo a pre-employment security investigation.
• 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.
• DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Please see "Next Steps" for additional information.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications : Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing. To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have at least four (4) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff.

Preferred Qualifications :
The incumbent plays a unique and essential role in the Department's fight against money laundering and its effort to forfeit criminal proceeds. The incumbent is responsible for investigating and litigating money laundering and asset forfeiture cases. Each case requires knowledge of the federal rules of procedure, the federal rules of evidence, and federal criminal statutes relevant to these prosecutions and forfeiture cases. Cases assigned to the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit are often precedent setting or novel.

The position requires admission to a bar (to be maintained in good standing); experience and/or a strong interest in the investigation and prosecution of complex financial cases; willingness and ability to master concepts, principles, laws, regulations, and practices relating to domestic and international prosecution of complex cases; mastery of clear and persuasive writing; mastery of concise and informative oral presentation; and a high order of skill in analytical and legal reasoning. Prior experience investigating and prosecuting money laundering and asset forfeiture cases is desirable. A high degree of diplomacy, integrity, and tact is essential in coordinating many sensitive Department initiatives, as well as the ability and commitment to build expertise and capability in money laundering and forfeiture law and practice. Experience with the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) is desirable.

In addition, experience with domestic wiretaps, obtaining foreign evidence and testimony, including through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) requests, investigating and prosecuting cyber and virtual currency matters, foreign language fluency, and experience with foreign arrests and extraditions are desirable.

Education

A J.D., or equivalent, degree.

Applicants who possess an equivalent degree rather than a J.D. may be subject to additional review by the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management.

Additional information

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

An in-person interview in Washington, D.C. may be required for this position prior to final selection. The cost of travel to the interview site will be the responsibility of the applicant unless otherwise stated. Reasonable accommodation requests will be considered on an individual basis as requested by a person with a disability. Declining an invitation to interview may remove you from further consideration.

The Criminal Division participates in the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program ( E-Verify ). E-Verify helps employers to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .