Summary The Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking about 25 experienced litigators for positions in 5 Sections: Appellate Section (APP), Environmental Defense Section (EDS), Land Acquisition Section (LAS), Natural Resources Section (NRS), and Wildlife and Marine Resources Section (WRMS), located in Washington DC or Denver. Note: In your Cover Letter, indicate which Section(s) you're applying to and, if more than one, rank them in order of preference. Responsibilities Below is a description of each Section. Appellate Section The Appellate Section represents the federal government in federal and state appellate courts in cases arising under the more than 200 statutes for which the Division has litigation responsibility. The Section handles appeals in all cases handled by an ENRD Section in the trial courts. In addition, the Appellate Section has responsibility for certain petitions for review filed directly in the courts of appeals that seek review of decisions of agencies such as the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Surface Transportation Board. The Appellate Section works closely with the Office of the Solicitor General in determining whether to appeal adverse district court decisions, to seek further review of adverse court of appeals decisions, and to participate as amicus curiae in appellate courts and the Supreme Court. The Section provides the Office of the Solicitor General with initial drafts of briefs filed in the Supreme Court in Division cases handled by the Appellate Section. Environmental Defense Section The Environmental Defense Section (EDS) offers one of ENRD's and the Department's most varied dockets. It is one of the only DOJ components whose attorneys routinely handle cases in the federal courts of appeals and district courts. EDS defends petitions for review brought in the courts of appeals pursuant to special statutory judicial review provisions of the environmental statutes, as well as claims for judicial review brought in district courts pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. The substance of these cases ranges, for example, from high-profile, multi-party challenges to national EPA rules (such as major Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act rules) to more targeted challenges to site-specific agency decisions. EDS also handles complex claims of liability against federal agencies under pollution control laws, such as for costs of response actions at Superfund sites, federally owned facilities, and private sites. The Section also brings certain Clean Water Act and Rivers and Harbors Act civil enforcement actions in district courts. In addition to EPA, EDS routinely represents the Department of War (and its component military branches) and the Department of Energy. Land Acquisition Section The Land Acquisition Section (LAS) represents virtually every federal agency, in federal district court across the United States and its territories, tackling novel and complex civil litigation arising under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. LAS litigates condemnation cases to acquire real property for the United States for public uses including taking land into trust for tribes, expanding military installations, rebuilding federal courthouses, establishing national monuments, and constructing border and immigration security infrastructure and land ports of entry. The Section's work is designed to ensure the protection of the Fifth Amendment so that the amount of compensation for condemned property is fair to both property owners and taxpayers. LAS also is responsible for ensuring the sufficiency of title for all real property that federal agencies acquire by direct purchase. Natural Resources Section The Natural Resources Section represents virtually every major federal agency in federal district court, the Court of Federal Claims, and State courts in novel and complex litigation arising under more than 80 natural resource, environmental, and cultural resource statutes, various treaties and international agreements, interstate compacts, and congressional referrals. Among other statutes, our cases arise under the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, the National Park Service Organic Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the National Trails System Act, and more. Large portions of our docket involve challenges under the Administrative Procedure Act and under the Just Compensation Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Wildlife and Marine Resources Section The Wildlife and Marine Resources Section is responsible for civil cases filed in federal courts arising under the nation's wildlife laws, including the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Section attorneys primarily handle complex civil defensive litigation involving challenges to agency decisions over energy production, public lands management, and national defense. They also enforce the Animal Welfare Act and pursue civil forfeitures, including through emergency proceedings. The Section's docket is varied and fast paced, often addressing matters of national significance. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants must have at least 1 year of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience and the years of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal experience for the specific grade level requirements listed below: At least 2 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level. At least 3 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-13 grade level. At least 4 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level. At least 5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level. Applicants should have a strong interest in federal litigation, trial work and/or appellate work, and an exceptional academic background. Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with defensive civil litigation is highly desirable. Applicants must demonstrate superior research, analytical, and writing abilities. Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range is: Washington DC: GS-12 ($102,415 - $133,142) GS-13 ($121,785 - $158,322) GS-14 ($143,913 - $187,093) GS-15 ($169,279 - $197,200) Denver, CO: GS-12 ($ 99,800 - $129,742) GS-13 ($118,675 - $154,280) GS-14 ($140,239 - $182,316) GS-15 ($164,956 -$197,200) YOUR RESUMÉ MUST provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement if you are using experience to meet all or part of the qualification requirements. Please ensure that your resume includes the month and year that you began and ended each position held or that position will not be credited toward meeting the experience requirement. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. 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. 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. Please Note: Additional candidates may be selected if more positions become available in the Division within 90 days after HR office issues the certificate of eligibles.
