Legal Careers
Trial Attorney
The Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section (AFMLS) leads the Department's efforts to take the profit out of crime. The Money Laundering and Bank Integrity Unit (MLBIU) within AFMLS investigates and prosecutes complex, multi-district and international criminal cases involving the financial institutions and individuals who violate the Bank Secrecy Act, the money laundering statutes, U.S. economic sanctions, the money laundering laws, and other related statutes. MLBIU’s investigations and prosecutions generally focus on financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. MLBIU’s financial institution focus encompasses the full range financial institutions as defined by the Bank Secrecy Act. The multi-dimensional responsibilities of AFMLS include anti-money laundering enforcement, forfeiture, law development, training, and technical assistance, all done in close cooperation with partners in the United States and abroad. AFMLS also provides oversight, management, and policy development for the DOJ Assets Forfeiture Fund, including returning money to victims, providing funding to federal, state, and local law enforcement, and sharing with our international partners.
Travel Required: Occasional Travel
Travel Description: Money Laundering and Bank Integrity Unit attorneys regularly travel in the United States, to other countries, or both.
Relocation Authorized: No
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
The Criminal Division, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, U.S. Department of Justice seeks experienced, motivated attorneys for the Money Laundering and Bank Integrity Unit that will focus on investigating and prosecuting financial institutions and individuals for Bank Secrecy Act and money laundering criminal violations.
As a Trial Attorney, the incumbent:
- Investigates and pursues criminal violations by financial institutions and their officers, managers, and employees, especially when the violations include the Bank Secrecy Act, the Money Laundering Control Act, and willful violations of U.S. sanctions regimes (such as IEEPA and TWEA).
- Leads and undertakes the most complex investigations and prosecutions within the federal courts throughout the United States; makes charging decisions and proposes dispositions with regard to assigned cases, issues lacking precedent, and other challenges in compliance with Department, Division, and Section policies and practices.
- Contributes to the development and maintenance of MLBIU’s mission by maintaining positive and effective relationships with our numerous law enforcement partners.
- Coordinates and partners with U.S. Attorneys, attorneys in other federal law enforcement agencies, FinCEN and other regulators in the development and management of MLBIU prosecutions. Advises and instructs federal agents and U.S. Attorneys on complicated questions of law and Departmental policy.
- Advises and consults with the MLBIU Deputy Chief, the AFMLS Section Chief, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General, and others on the status of all cases and matters
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 4 years post J.D. experience. Applicants must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
Grade Specific Qualifications:
- To qualify at the GS-15 level, applicants must have four (4) or more years of post-J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff.
Preferred Qualifications: Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies.
- Ability to plan and carry out complex cases involving violations of federal statutes;
- Superior oral advocacy preparation and experience;
- Superior written and analytical skills.
EDUCATION:
A J.D. Degree.
Other Requirements:
- You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
- All male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service (see http://www.sss.gov). If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
- DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.
Please submit your application through USAJOBS. The list of required documents can be found in the USAJobs announcement.
1. If you do not already have an account, please create a USAjobs account before applying Create an Account. You will be able to upload your resume and supporting documents and complete your profile prior to applying.
2. Once you have an account, apply to the USAjobs vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/402227500
126,245.00-158.700
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Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: 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 race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based 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. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.
Reasonable Accommodations: 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.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.
Suitability and Citizenship: 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. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is 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. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: 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 their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
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This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. 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.