The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey is seeking an experienced attorney to serve in the Civil Division handling primarily creditor-side civil bankruptcy matters in all three of the District's vicinages, Newark, Trenton, and Camden. This position will be located in either Camden, Newark or Trenton NJ.
Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least 1 year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. United States citizenship is required. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Responsibilities will include objecting to bankruptcy plans proposed under chapter 11 and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, reviewing (and opposing where necessary) proposed asset sales in bankruptcy, prosecuting motions to dismiss or convert bankruptcy cases from one chapter to another, protecting federal agencies' interest in cash collateral, obtaining determinations regarding the dischargeability of federal debts, and responding to objections to federal agencies' claims. The position will also require defending the following types of lawsuits filed in Bankruptcy Court: (i) complaints to determine the dischargeability of federal debts, (ii) complaints to determine the extent, validity or priority of federal liens, and (iii) complaints to recover pre-bankruptcy payments to federal agencies. Typical agencies represented include the Department of Treasury (including the IRS), the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Education. The candidate must work independently and serve as effective and dedicated advocates for the government's interests, timely and efficiently pursue the just resolution of their assigned cases and make sound and legally supportable decisions. The candidate must possess the foresight and organizational and legal skills needed to manage a diverse caseload that involves both a high volume and complex cases. They must be able to identify the relevant legal and factual issues in their assigned cases, and to develop and implement effective strategies for all proceedings in those cases, including motions practice, discovery, alternative dispute resolution, trial, and appeal. They must be able to work well with their colleagues, supervisors, support staff (including a dedicated Senior Bankruptcy Paralegal), and witnesses. They must have strong legal research skills, be able to produce high-quality written work even under short deadlines and be persuasive oral advocates. Newly hired AUSAs are expected to quickly develop subject matter expertise and possess or rapidly acquire expert-level knowledge of the bankruptcy procedures and other applicable rules and laws. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. Residency Requirements: Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which he or she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district-specific information. 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. See www.sss.gov.