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.
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), be a U.S. citizen, and possess at least 1 year post J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience. The minimum years of post-law degree experience commensurate with the grade level of eligibility is shown below. Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level. GS-13 - minimum 1.5 years post-JD legal experience GS-14 - minimum 2.5 years post-JD legal experience GS-15 - minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience Preferred qualifications: Applicants should have excellent writing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills; exhibit good judgment, and have experience in trial work. Judicial clerkship experience is desirable.
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.