ATTORNEY VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION
LAND ACQUISITION SECTION
TRIAL ATTORNEY, GS-12/15
OPEN: MARCH 21, 2008
CLOSE: JULY 31, 2008
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: ENRD-08-043-EXC
About the Office: The Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking experienced litigators for its Land Acquisition Section ("LAS" or "Section") in Washington, DC.
The Land Acquisition Section is a litigation section primarily responsible for acquiring interests in land on behalf of federal agencies via condemnation proceedings filed in federal district courts throughout the country and the territories. Agency purposes for acquisition may range from establishment of national parks to providing office space for federal employees to conducting military training. The legal and factual issues involved in determining just compensation are frequently complex and include ascertainment of the market value of property through use of recognized professional appraisal standards. The Section’s litigation practice offers an opportunity to tackle complex discovery, prepare extensive written pre-trial motions, and try cases before judges, juries and land commissions. Land Acquisition Section attorneys seek to implement the protection of the Fifth Amendment in a way that is just both to property owners and taxpayers.
For more information about the Environment & Natural Resources Division, visit the Justice Department's web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd.
Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: Successful applicants will litigate complex cases associated with exercise of the United States government’s power of eminent domain in federal district courts throughout the country.
Qualifications: The Section’s docket is demanding and requires top caliber work products. Successful applicants will have a demonstrated record of complex case management, initiative and creativity, outstanding legal writing, and a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards. Experience in civil litigation involving real property and work with expert witnesses is highly desirable.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree; be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction); have at least two years of post-J.D. experience, one or more of which may be in a judicial clerkship; and be a U.S. citizen.
Travel: Periodic travel is required.
Salary Information: Current salary and years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range is GS-12 ($69,764 - $90,698), GS-13 ($82,961-$107,854), GS-14 ($98,033-$127,442) and GS-15 ($115,317 - $149,000) per annum.
Location: Washington, DC
Terms of Appointment: This is a permanent appointment with a probationary period following a security clearance. Selected attorneys are eligible for employment benefits such as health and life insurance, the FERS retirement program, paid vacation and sick leave, and a public transportation subsidy.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Submission Process and Deadline Date: Applications should be submitted by Thursday July 31, 2008.
Applicants must submit a current resume or OF612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment) and a writing sample to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Environment and Natural Resources Division
Land Acquisition Section
P.O. Box 561, Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0561
Attn: Andy Goldfrank
Assistant Chief
(ENRD-08-043-EXC)
Application materials may also be emailed to: Andrew.Goldfrank@usdoj.gov
No telephone calls, please.
Internet Sites: For more information about the Environment & Natural Resources Division, visit the Justice Department's web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd.
This and selected other legal position announcements can be found on the Internet at: http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm/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 based on color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, status as a parent, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization, or personal favoritism. 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 are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.