Trial Attorney (Reimbursable Detail)

Full Job Description

The Department of Justice, Civil Division seeks current federally employed attorneys to serve on reimbursable details to Federal Programs Branch, beginning as early as March 23 and through September 30, 2027, with options to extend in increments of up to one year.

Candidates are expected to perform the work in person, in accordance with current return to work and telework policies.

Selected detailees must obtain their Office's approval and will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding. Applicants must be a current federal attorney, possess a J.D.

degree or equivalent, be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S.

jurisdiction), have at least one year of post-JD legal experience (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience, be a current federal government Attorney and a U.S. citizen.

Applicants with proven advocacy and legal writing skills preferred.

Experience drafting and arguing motions, handling discovery, taking, and defending depositions, developing expert witness testimony, and trying cases are highly desirable. You must also be a U.S.

citizen. Under a detail assignment, there is no change to the selectee's base pay. The position will be filled at the employee's current grade level. Major Duties:

The Federal Programs Branch of the Civil Division, Department of Justice ("FPB") represents virtually the entire Executive Branch in civil litigation.

The Branch defends civil actions against the Executive Office of the President, Cabinet, and other government officials, and the approximately 100 federal agencies and departments in actions attacking the legality of government policies and decisions, principally in cases brought in the federal district courts.

Branch litigation is high-profile, fast-paced, and resource-intensive; the cases raise significant issues of national importance to complex nationwide class actions.

It requires coordination with involved agencies, the White House, and the Department's leadership offices.

Many Branch cases involve challenges to programs that are high priorities for the Executive Branch.

Trial attorneys in the Federal Programs Branch are generalists who participate in significant, often high-profile litigation across a broad range of practice areas.

Trial Attorneys are expected to handle all phases of district court litigation, including taking and defending depositions, managing written discovery, conducting legal research and analysis, writing briefs and other documents, attending court conferences, arguing motions, and conducting trials.

As part of their work, Trial Attorneys communicate regularly with client agencies, Department of Justice leadership, opposing counsel, and others.

Trial Attorneys work on both individual and team cases in support of the Branch's and Department's mission of defending the interests of the United States.

FPB handles issues at the cutting edge of constitutional law, including the scope of the powers of Congress, the President, and the Federal Courts as well as the limitations imposed by the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Fourteenth Amendments.

Some examples of our cases involve the decennial census, the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts, classified information and the protection of national security interests, terrorism financing and designation, and large-scale housing, education, health care, and agricultural programs.

The Branch also represents the federal government, as the nation's largest employer, in employment litigation, including cases alleging discrimination under the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Rehabilitation Act, and cases alleging a variety of claims under the Civil Service Act and a panoply of labor laws.

Although the majority of Branch litigation is defensive, the Branch brings affirmative proceedings to enjoin actions of state and local governments that conflict with the Supremacy Clause and to enforce a variety of agency statutory and regulatory powers.

This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person at an agency location on a full-time basis.