Department of Justice Seal

TRIAL ATTORNEY (GS-0905-13/14/15)
DOMESTIC SECURITY SECTION
WASHINGTON, DC

Vacancy Announcement Number: 09-CRM-DSS-014

The Domestic Security Section (DSS) of the Criminal Division seeks to fill a trial attorney position specializing in human rights violations and related offenses. The position involves substantial responsibility for handling investigations, prosecutions and policy initiatives relating to serious human rights violations, including genocide, war crimes, use of child soldiers, and torture.

About the Office: DSS is responsible for prosecution and policy development in a variety of areas, including organized human smuggling and immigration fraud, violent crimes committed extraterritorially by certain U.S. citizens, and serious human rights abuses. As part of these efforts, DSS works closely with other parts of the Department of Justice, federal agencies, foreign governments, and international organizations.

DSS's human rights work focuses on the investigation and prosecution of genocide, war crimes, use of child soldiers, torture and related offenses including immigration fraud in U.S. federal courts. To that end, DSS litigates cases and provides advice and assistance to United States Attorneys Offices, senior Department officials, and various law enforcement agencies. DSS also works closely with government agencies to develop related legislative proposals and policy initiatives.

Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: The attorney sought would primarily focus on the Section's human rights portfolio, including litigation and policy work. Work from the Section’s other portfolios may also be assigned.

Qualifications:

Required qualifications: The applicant must have litigation experience, a demonstrated interest in human rights cases, excellent judgment, and strong interpersonal skills. All applicants must be admitted to practice before the bar of a U.S. jurisdiction and be active members of that bar. All applicants must also have, or be eligible for, a top secret security clearance.

Preferred qualifications: Criminal litigation experience is highly preferred. The applicant should have extremely strong oral, writing and organizational skills and an established record of strong initiative. The candidates should possess the abilities to address multiple and diverse demands and set priorities with strong inter-personal skills with particular emphasis on team building. The candidate should have a demonstrated interest in development of policy or legislative proposals and a demonstrated understanding of, and sensitivity to, the political and cultural nuances inherent in working with foreign governments, international organizations, and persons from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Foreign language abilities would be helpful.

Travel: Requires substantial domestic and international travel on a regular basis.

Salary Information: Current salary and years of experience determine the appropriate salary level,

(GS-13) $86,927-$113,007 per annum
(GS-14) $102,721-$133,543 per annum
(GS-15) $120,830-$153,200 per annum
(See OPM’s Web page at www.opm.gov/oca/payrates/index.htm

Location: 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. (Main Justice)

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Submission Process and Deadline Date:

Applicants must submit:

  • a cover letter that highlights the applicant's interest in and particular qualifications,

  • a resume;

  • a list of at least three professional references, preferably recent ones that are intimately familiar with the applicant's work (References will not be     contacted without prior notification of the candidate.);

  • a short writing sample (not to exceed ten pages) (The writing sample should be exclusively or primarily the applicant's work, and should include     legal analysis.); and,

  • a copy of the candidate's most recent performance appraisal (if applicable).

    • Applicants are encouraged to submit these materials through e-mail by forwarding their application to dssjobs@usdoj.gov. Application materials may also be forwarded by express or regular mail to:

    U.S. Department of Justice
    Criminal Division
    Domestic Security Section
    950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
    Room 6746
    Washington, DC 20530
    Attn: Brenda McMahon

    Please note that internal security measures related to the processing of correspondence may affect the timely receipt of applications submitted by the use of regular postal service.

    Applications for this announcement must be received by July 20, 2009.

    The cut off date will be the 15th and 30th of every month.

    Internet Sites: This and other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at:
    www.usdoj.gov/oarm/attvacancies.html [OR]
    http://10.173.2.12/oarm/attvacancies.php – for those vacancies posted ONLY on the Intranet.

    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 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.

    * * *

    The 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.