Legal Careers
Assistant General Counsel, Litigation Branch
Washington, DC 20534 - United States
The mission of the Litigation Branch is to provide support to attorneys in the Department of Justice (DOJ) components and in the U.S. Attorney's Offices on cases filed in the District of Columbia and cases having a national impact on Bureau programs and policies. The litigation covers a wide variety of issues, such as constitutional challenges, tort claims, and injunctive relief. The Litigation Branch also works with and advises the Assistant Director/General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Assistant Directors, Regional Directors, and Wardens, and their management staff on issues related to Bureau litigation.
The Litigation Branch is responsible for analyzing all adverse decisions against the Bureau to determine if appeal is warranted; this entails working closely with DOJ appellate attorneys and attorneys in the Solicitor General's Office. The Litigation Branch reviews cases before the Supreme Court and advises attorneys in the Solicitor General's Office of the Bureau's position. Nationwide, the branch reviews and obtains settlement authority for cases and claims above a certain dollar amount. The Litigation Branch also oversees claims filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act and recovers funds owed to the agency pursuant to the Federal Claims Collection Act and the Medical Care Recovery Act.
The incumbent will have the opportunity to work with Central Office, regional and institution management and line staff with respect to inmate-related litigation affecting the Bureau of Prisons, as well as attorneys in the U.S. Attorney's Offices, DOJ Civil and Criminal Divisions, and Solicitor General's Office. The incumbent's responsibilities include: providing litigation support to U.S. Attorney’s Offices and Department of Justice litigating components for cases filed in DC and cases having an impact on Bureau programs and policies at the national level; reviewing decisions adverse to the Bureau and providing recommendations on the Bureau’s position regarding appeal to DOJ; providing assistance to the Solicitor General’s Office on cases before the United States Supreme Court; reviewing and obtaining settlement authority for proposed settlement of cases and claims nationwide; developing an expertise in specific areas of the law and providing training and support to legal staff Bureau wide; advising BOP staff regarding the Federal Tort Claims Act, BOPCA, and CECA, and processing claims under these statutes for events taking place in Central Office; coordinating the disclosure of information responsive to subpoenas and discovery demands made upon the Bureau and its Central Office staff; and recovering funds owed to the agency pursuant to the Federal Claims Collection Act and the Medical Care Recovery Act.
Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least one (1) year of post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience.
Preferred qualifications: Prior experience in correctional law, constitutional law, administrative law, or tort law is preferred, but not required.
Applicants must submit a cover letter highlighting relevant experience, resume (not to exceed two pages), writing sample, and a list of legal references by February 13, 2026 to Renee Fornshill, Associate General Counsel, Litigation Branch, at rfornshill@bop.gov. Please include in the subject line "LIT Attorney."
Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
The possible salary range, including locality pay adjustment is GS-12, GS-13, GS-14, or GS-15.
Department Policies
The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and treating employees with fairness, dignity and compassion. We must ensure that no applicant for employment or employee of our Department is denied equal opportunity because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex – including pregnancy – or because of age, physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor and that all have the freedom to compete on a fair and level playing field. To learn more, please view the Department’s full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.
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.
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.
Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.
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://help.usajobs.gov/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.
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).
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.
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.