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.
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.
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.
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:
Current salary and years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range is:
YOUR RESUME 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. If you have Federal employment, you must list the grade of the position(s). 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.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before appointment or onboarding with the agency. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.
Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 60 days.
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
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience you report relative to this position.
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).
Applicants must email a current resume, cover letter with a brief statement of interest, a writing sample, a copy of J.D. transcripts, signed OF-306 Declaration for Federal Employment https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/of0306.pdf) and DD-214 if applicable to:
ATTYAPPLY-EES.ENRD@USDOJ.GOV
Subject line: ENRD-22-012-EXC
No telephone calls, please. You must submit your application so that it will be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.
This and other legal position announcements can be found on the Internet at: http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm/attvacancies.html.
Internet Sites: For more information about the Environment and Natural Resources Division, visit the Justice Department's website at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd.
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. We expect to make a selection within 90 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified of the outcome.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
