Summary The Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch seeks Lead Trial Attorneys to oversee high-impact affirmative litigation that protects public health and safety and ensures nationwide compliance with federal law. The Branch handles cutting-edge matters enforcing consumer protection statutes and challenging laws that undermine federal policy. For attorneys seeking impactful public service, the Branch offers a front-line role in the Department's major civil enforcement initiatives. Responsibilities The Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch safeguards Americans' health, safety, economic security, and data privacy through proactive enforcement and high-impact affirmative litigation. The Branch's mission is to bring affirmative litigation to enforce federal laws and regulations, enjoin actions that conflict with or violate federal law, obtain declaratory judgments regarding the laws of the United States, and seek monetary penalties where appropriate. The Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch is seeking Lead Trial Attorneys to supervise a broad range of affirmative civil litigation. The Branch is structured into two sections: an Enforcement Section that pursues cases under key consumer protection and public-safety statutes, and an Affirmative Litigation Section that files lawsuits against state, local, or private actors to ensure nationwide compliance with federal law. The incumbent serves as a Lead Trial Attorney, with an organizational title of Senior Litigation Counsel, Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch, Civil Division, Department of Justice. The incumbent reports to the Assistant Director, supervises Trial Attorneys, and Paralegal Specialists, and serves as lead attorney on more complex or difficult cases. If selected you may, at the discretion of the Director or designee, be assigned work in both the Affirmative and Enforcement Sections, or other areas of the Branch, that involves supervising the work of attorneys in those areas. The incumbent provides expertise, leadership, and mentoring of Trial Attorneys in accomplishing work involving preparation for and carrying out litigation; assists Trial Attorneys through sharing of knowledge and experience; assigns and reviews work; and apprises the Assistant Director and Deputy Director, Affirmative Litigation Section, of attorneys' progress, performance, training needs, and other issues. The incumbent is accountable for results of the work performed by the assigned attorneys. The incumbent prepares for and conducts hearings, settlement negotiations, and trials of complex cases; prepares memoranda such as pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents on the basis of factual and legal research; participates in pretrial and prehearing conferences; conducts trials and presents oral arguments in federal courts, state courts, and administrative proceedings, as appropriate; provides advice to Trial Attorneys; handles appellate litigation, as necessary; reviews and analyzes facts and develops evidence during the preparation of assigned cases. This involves handling difficult and complex cases in which legal principles are not clearly established or where they are novel. The incumbent also confers with the Assistant Director and Deputy Director of the Section to identify the policy of the Department in related litigation; applies the theory of the government's cases, determines applicable legal principles to a given statement of facts, selects and examines witnesses, and plans trial strategy and appropriate techniques; works closely with U.S. Attorneys' Offices on enforcement and litigation matters; participates in discussions with opposing counsel and in the formulation of settlements often having far-reaching legal consequences; makes recommendations with respect to proposed changes in legislation relating to provisions of law; provides advice concerning legal and policy questions related to statutes administered by the office; advises and consults with the Assistant Director and Deputy Director of the Section to report on the status of cases and matters related to legal issues within the assigned area of litigation; maintains personal contacts and works closely with officials and employees of the Section, Branch, Division, officials and employees of the Department, other government agencies, and the public on litigation and policy-related matters; responds to inquiries from the White House, Congress, federal departments and agencies, state and local authorities, and private individuals on matters within the scope of assigned statutory responsibilities; as requested, performs special legal and administrative projects requiring broad experience and sound judgement; and performs other job-related duties, as assigned. This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level. To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience Preferred Qualifications Applicants must have excellent academic credentials and outstanding advocacy and legal writing skills. Experience supervising teams and leading investigations and litigation, drafting and revising dispositive motions, and overseeing discovery are highly desirable. Successful applicants will be highly motived, exhibit sound judgment and creativity, and have several years of active litigation and supervisory experience. Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with constitutional challenges and the enforcement of federal laws is strongly preferred. Trial Period Statement As a condition of employment for accepting this position in accordance with section 11.5 of Executive Order 14284, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Additional Information Veteran Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veterans' 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/. 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 Veterans' 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. 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.
