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Trial Attorney (Detail to Office of Immigration Litigation - DNS)

Department of Justice
Offices, Boards and Divisions
Office of Immigration Litigation/District Court National Security Section
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Civil Division seeks Department attorneys to serve on nonreimbursable details to the Office of Immigration Litigation, District Court National Security Section beginning as early as March 9 and through September 30, with options to extend. Candidates are expected to perform the work in person in accordance with the Department's return to work and telework policies. Detailees must obtain their Office's approval and will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Civil Division.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
02/14/2025 to 03/13/2025
Salary
$75,706 to - $162,672 per year

The salary range above does not include locality. If selected, locality will be included once your geographical area has been determined.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 15
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Detail - This is a non-reimbursable detail NTE 9/30/2025 with the option to extend.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CIV-12691316-25-TLM
Control number
831637900

Duties

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OIL-DNS attorneys handle individual and class-based challenges to the Immigration and Nationality Act and its implementing regulations related to national security. Many of these challenges involve issues of first impression involving constitutional rights and entitlements, statutory interpretation, federal authority over immigration matters, agency rulemaking procedures, and Article III standing. In federal courts around the country, OIL-DNS primarily represents the interests of client agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State. Work includes handling all aspects of trial and appellate practice in all jurisdictions nationwide.

The Section's work arises in a variety of immigration contexts, including defense of: de novo lawsuits under 8 U.S.C. ยงยง 1421(c) and 1447(b), denials and delays of naturalization applications to prevent terrorists from obtaining United States citizenship (and U.S. passports); habeas corpus petitions filed by individuals posing a national security threat; national-security-focused challenges to the denial of applications for adjustment of status and visas under the Administrative Procedure Act; class-action and programmatic challenges to national-security checks and immigration-benefit adjudications; and mandamus challenges to immigrant-benefit application delays involving both overt and non-overt national-security concerns. A critical component of DNS's complex work involves litigation of extraordinary detention authorities to detain suspected or known terrorists presenting unique removal challenges as some of the most dangerous aliens in the United States.

This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person at an agency location on a full-time basis.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • You will be required to complete a suitability review.
  • Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable
  • It is the policy of the Department to acheive a drug-free workplace.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), have at least one year of post-JD legal experience, be a current Department of Justice Attorney and a U.S. citizen. Applicants must have excellent writing and advocacy skills, as well as superior negotiation and interpersonal skills. Successful applicants will be highly motivated, exhibit sound judgment and creativity.

Under a detail assignment, there is no change to the selectee's base pay. The positions will be filled at the employee's current grade level.

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://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

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 behalffrom 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This announcement is intended to provide readily available applicants for detail positions within OIL-DNS, Civil Division. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. We will accept applications through March 13, 2025. Candidate lists will be generated on: 2/21, 2/28, 3/7 and 3/14. Qualified applicants will be reviewed and referred to Management.

Please Note: The Selecting Official may select additional candidates if more positions become available within 120 days after the closing date of the vacancy.

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