EXPERIENCED TRIAL ATTORNEY, GS-905-13/14/15
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CRIMNAL DIVISION
CAPITAL CASE UNIT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
13-CRM-CCU-035
About the Office: CCU attorneys work with United States Attorneys' Offices in relation to all aspects of capital prosecutions including acting as co-counsel in federal capital trials, assisting with the preparation of submissions of capital-eligible cases for Department review, providing guidance on death penalty related aspects of the pre-trial and trial process, and periodically assisting on direct appeals and collateral review under 18 U.S.C. § 2255. CCU attorneys assist the Attorney General's Review Committee on Capital Cases in reaching its recommendation to the Attorney General in deciding whether the death penalty should be sought in each capital-eligible case submitted pursuant to the DOJ death penalty protocol. CCU also provides training and resource materials to federal prosecutors for handling capital cases; provides advice and staff support to senior department officials on policy matters related to handling capital cases; drafts and/or reviews proposed legislation, amendments, regulations, testimony, briefing materials, public statements, and correspondence on capital punishment issues; and collects and maintains current information and materials for a brief bank and resource center for capital prosecutors.
Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: Work expected to include: litigate capital cases; provide constitutional, substantive, procedural and technical assistance to United States Attorneys' Offices in capital case investigations and prosecutions; assist the Attorney General's Review Committee on Capital Cases in its evaluation of cases submitted to the Department of Justice for review; assist in the development of policies and procedures for Federal capital prosecutions; provide training on the Department's capital case litigation; prepare legal memoranda and other documents; and assist and coordinate with USAOs on legal issues related to capital cases.
Qualifications: Strong academic credentials, strong advocacy and legal writing skills, sound judgment, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative and a demonstrated commitment to public service. Upon accepting an offer of employment, applicants must make a three-year commitment to the Criminal Division.
Required Qualifications: Interested applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and have at least three years post J.D. experience. Applicants must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
Preferred Qualifications: Expertise in the violent crime, and/or specifically capital prosecution fields preferred. Policy experience, particularly experience directing and implementing comprehensive national-scale or international policy initiatives similarly preferred.
Travel: Domestic travel is required.
Salary Information: Current salary and years of experience determine the appropriate salary level. The possible range for a GS-13 through GS-15 position is $89,033 to $155,500. (See OPM's Web page at 2012 GS SCALE)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Submission Process and Deadline Date: Applicants must submit a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience), a detailed resume, and a writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages). 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).
The cut-off will be the 15th and 30th of each month.
Preference is to receive an application via e-mail at kerry-ann.young@usdoj.gov or faxed to (202) 353-9779.
Send mailed applications to:
Attn: P. Kevin Carwile, Chief, Capital Case Unit
1331 F. Street, NW. Room 345
Washington, DC 20004
Internet Sites: This and other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at: http://www.justice.gov/careers/legal/attvacancies.html
Department Policies: 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 nonservice-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).
The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.