TRIAL ATTORNEYS
GS-12 THROUGH GS-15
CIVIL DIVISION
OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION LITIGATION
DISTRICT COURT SECTION
WASHINGTON, DC
Who May Apply: Open to all applicants
About the Office: The Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation District Court Section handles immigration-related civil litigation in federal district and appellate courts across the country. District Court Section trial attorneys represent various agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State, in lawsuits dealing with federal jurisdiction, statutory interpretation, administrative law and constitutional law – all in the context of federal immigration law, regulations, and policy. Trial Attorneys in the District Court Section engage in both defensive and affirmative litigation as first chair attorneys through all phases of litigation, from case assessment and strategy through dispositive motions, discovery, trial, and appeal to the circuit courts.
Opportunity Offered: The Office of Immigration Litigation District Court Section seeks experienced litigators for permanent positions. Immigration experience is a plus, but not necessary.
Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, must be admitted to the bar (any jurisdiction) and must have a minimum of one year of relevant experience. Applicants should have a strong interest in immigration law, as well as trial and appellate work, and possess exceptional written and oral advocacy skills, and an excellent academic background.
Travel: These positions require some travel.
Salary Information: The salary for these positions is at the GS-12 through GS-15 level ($69,764.00 to $149,000.00 per year) depending upon experience.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Submission Process and Deadline Date: Applicants must submit a resume (preferred) or current OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment), a cover letter (highlighting relevant background) and a writing sample (no more than 12 pages), and e-mail all materials to: OIL.DistrictCourt@usdoj.gov.
Please specify that the application is for the "Trial Attorney - District Court Section" position in the subject line.
Although e-mail is preferred, applications will also be accepted by U.S. Mail addressed to:
District Court Section
Civil Division, Office of Immigration Litigation
Department of Justice
P. O. Box 868
Ben Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0868
Attn: Paula Richardson
No telephone calls. Positions open until filled on a rolling basis. Accordingly, applications should be submitted as early as possible but, in any event, not later than October 17, 2008.
Internet Sites: For more information about the Civil Division and the Office of Immigration Litigation, visit the Justice Department web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/index.html.
Other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at: www.usdoj.gov/oarm/attvacancies.html
Department Policies: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination based on color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, status as a parent, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization, or personal favoritism. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department 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 of Justice. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
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.
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 a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.