TRIAL ATTORNEY
DETAIL OPPORTUNITY
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
COMPUTER CRIME AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECTION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
13-CRM-CCIPS-033 Closes: 2/22/13
ABOUT THE OFFICE: The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) leads the Department's efforts to combat computer and intellectual property crimes worldwide. In addition, CCIPS is the Department's expert on the confluence of law enforcement, communication and information technologies, and collection of electronic evidence.
The U.S. depends on information technology and is connected to the world via the Internet and other electronic means of communicating, making the nation a lucrative target for computer intrusions, data thefts, and cyber-attacks on information systems. Likewise, Intellectual Property (IP) has become one of the principal U.S. economic engines, and the nation is a target of choice for thieves of material protected by copyright, trademark, or trade-secret designation.
To fight these crimes, CCIPS' multi-faceted responsibilities include enforcement, law development, and advisory roles. Section attorneys prosecute computer and IP crimes and work closely with law enforcement agencies in the United States and abroad to investigate such crimes. CCIPS proposes and supports legislative efforts, both in the U.S. and abroad, to ensure that prosecutors and investigators have the legal tools to catch and convict those who use the latest technologies for their criminal activities. Section attorneys also provide guidance on computer and IP crime issues to other federal agencies, foreign governments, and federal, state, and foreign prosecutors and investigators.
RESPONSIBILITIES & OPPORTUNITIES: Section attorneys are responsible for resolving unique legal issues raised by emerging technologies. Attorneys in the section:
• investigate and prosecute cases involving intellectual property violations and attacks on computers and computer networks;
• advise prosecutors and law enforcement agents on high-tech issues;
• speak to a variety of audiences and train investigators and other prosecutors;
• propose, write, and advise on legislation relating to computer and intellectual property crimes and to the collection of electronic evidence; and
• lead international efforts to promote effective cooperation to address the threats of computer and intellectual property crime.
• perform other duties as assigned.
The Section also drafts policies and monographs addressing significant issues relating to these responsibilities.
QUALIFICATIONS: Required Qualifications: Applicants must have a J.D. degree, a strong academic background, excellent research and communication skills (both oral and written), and an interest in computers and information technology. They must be admitted to practice before the bar of a U.S. jurisdiction, be an active member of that bar, and have at least two (2) years post-graduation experience. Upon accepting an offer of employment, applicants must make a three-year commitment to the Criminal Division.
Preferred Qualifications: This position will emphasize addressing intellectual property crime. In addition, many skills and experience are useful to CCIPS attorneys, and the Section especially seeks candidates with one or more of the following:
• first-chair criminal prosecution or defense experience;
• experience with complex investigations and the use of legal process (such as subpoenas and wiretap orders), especially in gathering electronic evidence;
•technical knowledge of computers, networking, and investigative technologies (such as tracing Internet communications);
• experience with legislative or policy development, especially policy related to criminal law, intellectual property, attacks on computer networks, and the collection of electronic evidence;
• substantive knowledge of 4th Amendment law, particularly as it relates to seizing computers;
• international training or experience, particularly in negotiating international agreements, in mutual legal assistance, and in fields related to CCIPS' work, such as computer security or intellectual property rights protection;
• working experience with U.S. government structures and inter-agency processes, especially relating to computer or intellectual property crime or the development of military, intelligence, or IT-security policy.
TRAVEL: Domestic and international travel may be required.
SALARY INFORMATION: This is a detail position open to existing Department attorneys for a 6-month reimbursable detail.
LOCATION: Washington, D.C.
RELOCATION EXPENSES: Relocation expenses are not authorized.
SUBMISSION PROCESS & DEADLINE DATE: Applicants should submit a cover letter, a resume, a list of at least three professional references, and a short writing sample or part of a longer writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages). The writing sample should be exclusively or primarily the applicant's work and it should include legal analysis. References will not be checked without permission from the applicant.
If you are a current or recent Federal employee, you must submit a performance appraisal issued within the past 12 months, or if none exists, a statement to that effect and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50).
This announcement is open until filled; applications submitted by February 22 are preferred. Applicants are encouraged to submit these materials by e-mail to employment.ccips@usdoj.gov. Applicants may also FedEx their materials to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section
1301 New York Avenue NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20530
ATTN: Sharon Hardy, Hiring Coordinator
INTERNET SITES: For information about the Criminal Division, see http://www.justice.gov/criminal/. For more information about CCIPS and its work, see www.cybercrime.gov/.
For a guide to lateral hiring by the Department, including a discussion of promotion policies, see http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm/images/lateralhiringguideforweb.pdf.
For other attorney vacancy announcements, see http://www.justice.gov/criminal/employment/.
DEPARTMENT POLCIES: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a parent, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, on the basis of personal favoritism, or any non merit factor. 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 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 Veteran 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). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of non-service-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
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