Summary The Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice is seeking an experienced attorney for a position in the Appellate Staff, located in Washington, DC. The Appellate Staff represents the United States in a broad range of civil appellate litigation. The Appellate Staff handles appeals involving all of the subject-matter areas litigated by the Civil Division, including appeals arising out of civil cases handled by the United States Attorneys nationwide. Responsibilities The Appellate Staff is seeking many experienced attorneys to represent the United States, its agencies, and its officers in civil cases in the federal courts of appeals and other appellate courts. The trial attorney will personally brief and argue appellate cases assigned to them, draft recommendations and memoranda for the Solicitor General and other officials on a range of litigation matters, and work with the Office of the Solicitor General to prepare Supreme Court filings. Typical Appellate Staff cases include defending against constitutional challenges to Acts of Congress, Executive decisions, and national security programs; administrative challenges to agency rules and adjudications; tort claims against the United States; employment discrimination claims against the government; and claims against federal officers in their individual capacities for the alleged violation of a person's constitutional rights (Bivens claims). The Appellate Staff also represents Executive Branch interests in separation-of-powers litigation. This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must possess a J.D. degree or equivalent, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), have at least 1.5 years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; have at least 2.5 years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-14 level; and 4 years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-15 level. You must also be a U.S. citizen. Applicants should have excellent writing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills; exhibit good judgment, and have experience in trial work. Judicial clerkship experience is desirable. Education 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. OR 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. Additional Information Veteran Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veterans' 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/. 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 Veterans' 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). 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. Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.