The United States Trustee Program (USTP) is a litigating component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders, debtors, creditors, and the public. As a national program with 21 regions consisting of 90 field offices, the USTP has broad administrative, regulatory, and enforcement authorities in bankruptcy cases.
Summary
The United States Trustee Program (USTP) is a litigating component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders, debtors, creditors, and the public. As a national program with 21 regions consisting of 90 field offices, the USTP has broad administrative, regulatory, and enforcement authorities in bankruptcy cases.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
The Program is seeking an attorney experienced in litigation practice and bankruptcy law to oversee bankruptcy cases filed in the federal judicial districts covered by the Region and/or field office, litigate enforcement matters on behalf of the Program, oversee private trustees, handle appellate matters, and refer criminal conduct identified in connection with bankruptcy case oversight. The Program seeks to hire and cultivate talented trial attorneys and provides them with frequent and meaningful court experience on a variety of issues arising in bankruptcy cases.
As a Trial Attorney in a field office, the typical duties include the following:
Oversee the administration of bankruptcy cases filed in the judicial districts served by the Region and the field office;
Litigate issues arising in chapter 11 proceedings, including those involving corporate governance, and issues arising in employment applications, fee applications, disclosure statements, and plan confirmation matters;
Litigate civil enforcement matters arising in consumer bankruptcy cases, including discharge objections, dismissal proceedings involving debtors' ability to repay creditors, attorney misconduct matters, and nonattorney document preparation servicer misconduct;
Assist with appellate matters arising in the Region and district;
Advise and partner with the Executive Office and the United States Trustee on policy questions and legal issues of national importance arising in cases to enhance the Program's mission locally, and help develop and implement policies and strategies designed to faithfully execute a uniform application of bankruptcy law;
Supervise private trustees in the Region who administer bankruptcy cases filed under chapter 7, 13, 11 (subchapter 5), and 12 of the Bankruptcy Code;
Work with a staff of bankruptcy auditors, paralegals, and support staff in the Region;
Work with the Program's federal and state law enforcement partners to report criminal activity identified through bankruptcy case oversight;
Provide outreach to interested constituents, and those involved in the bankruptcy system, such as the bankruptcy court, the bar, and other federal and state agencies; and,
Work on other national projects and priorities, as assigned.
Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing
Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable
May require completion of one year probationary period
COVID vaccination status may be requested for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic and professional credentials; superior oral and written communication skills; outstanding legal research, analytical, and legal reasoning skills; outstanding judgment; and, the ability to function with minimal guidance in a demanding legal environment. Further, an applicant must have a J.D. degree from an accredited law school; be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) in good standing; and, have at least three years post-J.D. professional legal or other relevant experience advocating on behalf of clients, interpreting, or applying provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and related laws, rules, and regulations that arise in bankruptcy cases.
Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the required qualifications listed above, the ideal candidate will have:
A demonstrated record of analyzing complex legal problems, interpreting statutory, rule, and regulatory provisions developing litigation strategies, and superior trial practice skills;
A demonstrated record of litigating complex matters including experience taking depositions, examining witnesses under oath, and propounding formal written discovery;
Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to address a broad array of issues arising in a large volume of cases;
The ability to accurately and precisely articulate the critical issues in a wide variety of cases and projects;
The ability to set, manage, and balance diverse, evolving, and challenging projects and priorities;
Demonstrated initiative and creativity;
Strong interpersonal communication skills;
Strong information technology skills, including using data bases and IT systems to manage and track work;
Experience working with or for federal agencies;
Experience in bankruptcy, especially complex chapter 11 proceedings; and,
A commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.
Position is on the GS pay scale, full-time and permanent, FPL of GS-15, and possible current annual salary range is: GS-14 ($128,565 - $167,134); or, GS-15 ($151,227 - $176,300). Years and type of experience will determine the appropriate grade level.
Travel: Periodic travel is required throughout the district, the region, and the country, depending on work assignments and for training.
COVID-19 Vaccination:
1. To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement Safer Federal Workforce Task Force 2 pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
2. Due to COVID-19, if selected, you may be expected to telework for an undefined period under the Department's evacuation authority, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Employees in this status may be notified of a requirement to report in person to the component workplace with an advance notice of not less than 30 days. Prior to a requirement to report to the workplace, employees may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the component's telework policy.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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).
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
This vacancy announcement is open to ALL U.S. CITIZENS.
To apply, interested candidates must submit as one PDF document:
A cover letter that highlights the applicant's interest in the position and addresses in detail how all qualifications are met;
A current resume that details months and years of education and employment, and states the month and year of earliest bar admission;
A short writing sample, or part of a longer writing sample (not to exceed ten pages), which should be exclusively or primarily the applicant's work and should include legal analysis;
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 copy) (if applicable);
CTAP/ICTAP documentation (if applicable); and,
Schedule (A) documentation, (if applicable).
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Email the document to: ustp.employment@usdoj.gov with the subject line Trial Attorney-Houston-09-2022.
Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 31, 2022
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses may be authorized to current USTP employees only, based on USTP policy.
Executive Office of the US Trustee Program
JMD Human Resources
2 Constitution Square
145 N Street NE
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
Internet Sites: This and selected other legal position announcements can be found on the internet at: http://www.justice.gov/careers/legal/attvacancies.htmlThe 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.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This vacancy announcement is open to ALL U.S. CITIZENS.
To apply, interested candidates must submit as one PDF document:
A cover letter that highlights the applicant's interest in the position and addresses in detail how all qualifications are met;
A current resume that details months and years of education and employment, and states the month and year of earliest bar admission;
A short writing sample, or part of a longer writing sample (not to exceed ten pages), which should be exclusively or primarily the applicant's work and should include legal analysis;
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 copy) (if applicable);
CTAP/ICTAP documentation (if applicable); and,
Schedule (A) documentation, (if applicable).
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Email the document to: ustp.employment@usdoj.gov with the subject line Trial Attorney-Houston-09-2022.
Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 31, 2022
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses may be authorized to current USTP employees only, based on USTP policy.
Executive Office of the US Trustee Program
JMD Human Resources
2 Constitution Square
145 N Street NE
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
Internet Sites: This and selected other legal position announcements can be found on the internet at: http://www.justice.gov/careers/legal/attvacancies.htmlThe 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.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
