This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/477110300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
The Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) of the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking experienced litigators for its Land Acquisition Section (LAS) in Washington, D.C. LAS is responsible for acquiring land and other real property on behalf of the United States through condemnation proceedings for purposes ranging from establishing national parks to creating military training centers to expanding our border security infrastructure. Recent cases being handled by LAS include the acquisition of land to create and expand national parks and forests such as the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, the Baca Ranch in New Mexico and the Florida Everglades National Park. LAS also has initiated hundreds of cases throughout the United States for military and national security reasons, including construction of border security infrastructure and land ports of entry such as the Peace Arch in Blaine, Washington, expansion of military training facilities in California and Louisiana, and storage of the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The attorneys hired through this advertisement will focus, in part, on condemnation actions involving acquisition of land for the continued development and construction of border security infrastructure along the United States-Mexico border - a project LAS has been working on since the 1990s.
LAS seeks to attract, retain, and promote individuals of exceptional ability and talent from all walks of life to reflect the people it serves by drawing its workforce from all segments of society and from across the United States. ENRD has been ranked among the top fifteen agency sub-components as the Best Place to Work in the Federal Government by the Partnership for Public Service in each of the years that sub-components have been ranked. Three of those rankings have been #1. This is due in no small part to the varied, challenging, and important work that we do, and the recognition that ENRD values all of its employees, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or religious background, age or disabilities. The work environment and atmosphere is open, diverse, collegial and inclusive.
For more information about the Land Acquisition Section, visit the Justice Department's web site at: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/ENRD_las.html
08/16/2017 to 09/22/2017
$112,021 - $161,900 per year
GS 14 - 15
3 vacancies in the following location:
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
No
Permanent
Full-Time
15
No
ENRD-17-035-EXC
477110300
Successful applicants will litigate complex cases associated with exercise of the United States government's power of eminent domain in federal district courts throughout the country. The Section is organized into teams in an effort to promote a collaborative and supportive environment. The Section's cases typically involve significant factual and expert discovery, a substantial motions practice, settlement negotiations and trial. This position will allow the selected applicants to utilize their legal research, writing and oral advocacy skills in all aspects of their assigned cases.
The legal and factual issues involved are often complex and can include the power of the United States to condemn under specific acts of Congress, ascertainment of the market value of property with millions of dollars at stake, and applicability of zoning and land use regulations. The work of the Section is critical to the ability of the federal government to function and serve the people. LAS offers a tremendous opportunity for those interested in complex civil litigation involving discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiations, work with sophisticated experts and significant trial work. This position also offers an opportunity to work on title issues and with expert witnesses, including appraisers, land use consultants and developers.
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 specialized 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.
Successful applicants must have the following:
In addition to the above qualifications, applicants must possess a J.D. degree; be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction); and be a U.S. citizen. Additionally, qualified applicants must demonstrate the ability to work well in a collaborative, team-oriented environment, outstanding legal writing skills, and a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards. Experience in civil litigation involving real property and work with expert witnesses is desirable, but not necessary.
Current salary and years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range is: GS-14 ($112,021 - $145,629); GS-15 ($131,767 - $161,900).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Please Note: The Selecting Official may select additional candidates if more positions become available within 90 days after the HR office issues the selection certificate.
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).
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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.
Applicants must submit a current résumé, brief statement of interest, writing sample, completed OF-306, and DD-214 if applicable. (See Required Documents)
Email résumé and documents to: ATTYAPPLY-LAS.ENRD@USDOJ.GOV.
Subject Line: ENRD-17-035-EXC
If email submission is not possible, please mail your application materials to arrive by the closing date to the following address:
U.S. Department of Justice
Environment and Natural Resources Division
Land Acquisition Section
P.O. Box 561, Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0561
Attn: Barry Weiner, Deputy Section Chief.
No telephone calls, please.
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 80 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.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/477110300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about