TRIAL ATTORNEYS, GS-11 THROUGH GS-15
CIVIL DIVISION, OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION LITIGATION
APPELLATE LITIGATION
WASHINGTON, DC
About the Office: The Office of Immigration Litigation is responsible for all civil litigation arising under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (INA), as amended (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), and related statutes. Immigration litigation is primarily defensive in nature, with the volume and character of the cases reflecting the varied personal, political, and economic circumstances that bring persons to the United States. Most immigration cases handled by the Office are suits by individual aliens seeking to avoid or defer expulsion from the United States. Typically, such cases involve claims that have been adjudicated administratively in proceedings before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or by the Immigration Judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), components of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). In general, these cases are heard in the federal circuit courts of appeals, and the Office’s attorneys therefore are expected to brief and argue cases in nearly all of the circuit courts.
Opportunity Offered: The Office of Immigration Litigation is seeking experienced attorneys for two year term appointments on its Appellate Litigation teams.
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 an excellent academic background.
Travel: These positions require some travel.
Salary Information: The salary for these positions is at the GS-11 through GS-15 level ($58,206.00 to $149,000.00 per year) depending upon experience.
Location: Washington, DC
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Submission Process and Deadline Date: Applicants must submit a resume or current OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment), a cover letter (highlighting relevant background) and a writing sample (no more than 12 pages) to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Division, Office of Immigration Litigation
P. O. Box 14660
Ben Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-4660
Attn: Towanna Williams
or e-mail application materials to Civil.OIL-Resumes@usdoj.gov.
Please specify that the application is for the “Trial Attorney-Appellate Litigation” position in the subject line.
No telephone calls, please. Positions open until filled on a rolling basis. Accordingly, applications should be submitted as early as possible but, in any event, not later than February 27, 2009.
Internet Sites: Justice Department web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/index.html.
Other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at: http://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 sex, sexual orientation, color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, disability, age, 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 as 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.