Legal Careers
Attorney
The Civil Rights Division’s (CRT or Division) Employment Litigation Section (ELS) protects the rights of job applicants and employees by fighting unlawful discrimination in the workplace. ELS enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) against state and local governments. We also protect military servicemembers’ rights by enforcing the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) against all employers, except the federal government. Additionally, ELS litigates cases involving Executive Order 11246, which, among other things, prohibits employment discrimination by federal contractors and subcontractors. Finally, as pertinent to this detail, ELS defends federal agencies in actions that challenge the constitutionality of congressionally authorized preference programs under the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program, 15 U.S.C. § 637(a), and other minority and disadvantaged business enterprise programs.
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.
CRT seeks a DOJ employee in a permanent attorney position to serve a six-month reimbursable detail to support ELS’ efforts to defend federal agencies in litigation alleging constitutional violations in the enactment and operation of federal procurement and small business programs, such as the 8(a) program and other minority and disadvantaged business enterprise programs. If agreeable, the detail may be extended for an additional 60 days.
The detailee’s duties may include:
• Tracking related and relevant litigation;
• Conducting legal and factual research;
• Participating in and/or leading trial teams defending current and upcoming litigation;
• Assisting with internal and external communications related to the Division’s efforts;
• Drafting legal briefs or memoranda, statements of interest, and other legal documents;
• Preparing justification memoranda and briefing materials;
• Participating in outreach efforts, including stakeholder meetings.
This detail is open to attorneys who are working both within and outside of the Washington, DC locality. The detailee will follow guidance consistent with CRT’s telework and Flexible Work Options Policy.
Required – This detail opportunity is open to all DOJ employees in a permanent attorney position (not time-limited appointment), who possess a J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school, are an active member of a bar in good standing (any jurisdiction) and possess at least three years post-professional law degree experience. Applicants must have strong, demonstrated qualifications in the following areas: academic achievement; substantive knowledge and expertise in the laws, rules and regulations applicable to the work of the Civil Rights Division or substantially similar laws, rules and regulations; written and oral communication skills; the ability to analyze complex issues; skills and experience working collaboratively and productively with others; organizational skills; professional judgment; initiative; and the ability to excel in a fast-paced, demanding environment. In addition, applicants must have outstanding professional references.
Preferred (not required) – Experience with affirmative or defensive constitutional and civil rights litigation, particularly Equal Protection Clause jurisprudence.
Interested candidates should be available to start the detail within approximately two weeks of selection. CRT encourages all interested and qualified DOJ employees in a permanent attorney position to apply for this position. If you are interested in this detail opportunity, please submit a cover letter, a resume, your most recent performance appraisal, a current SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and a statement indicating whether you have requested and/or obtained tentative approval from your supervisor to be considered for this detail to: crd.vacancies@usdoj.gov. The subject line of your email should include #23-CRT-DTL-007. If you are being seriously considered for this detail, you may be asked to provide a writing sample.
If you have questions related to the responsibilities of this detail, please contact Andrew Braniff at andrew.braniff@usdoj.gov. All other questions can be directed to Susan Pridemore at susan.pridemore@usdoj.gov.
This is a reimbursable full time detail assignment. There will be no change in salary or duty station. The position will be filled at the employee’s current grade/step level.
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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.