Legal Careers
Attorney Advisor (Director of Training), Civil Division
The Attorney Advisor (Director of Training) is responsible for providing advice and assistance to the Executive Officer (EO) and Civil Division Office Directors on a wide range of policy and training matters; ensuring training and professional development is effective and meaningful for the attorneys and staff throughout the Division; and ensuring mandatory training requirements are met.
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.
1. Serves as the Division's Training Officer for attorney professional development and supervises training staff in coordinating skills-based training and professional development opportunities for all employees throughout the Division. Works closely with the Division's Senior Management, Training Committee and Administrative Staff to identify and document training needs and set training policy for the Division. Collaborates with the EO in planning training strategy for the Division. Recommends appropriate course of action.
2. Analyzes and prepares reports on training-related questions or issues of personal interest to the EO. Reviews and evaluates proposed actions· and recommendations submitted within the Division for approval by the EO. Represents the Civil Division in conferences and on committees, working groups and task forces related to training and professional development. Performs research and prepares memoranda for the attention or signature of the EO on training-related matters of interest or concern to the Division.
3. Ensures that agreements with training suppliers comply with law, regulation, and Division policy, and that invoices and other payment documents are promptly and properly submitted for payment. Coordinates use of Civil Division training funds and provides support and guidance to the Branches and Sections in the effective use of funds available for training.
4. Serves as the Division's liaison with the National Advocacy Center (NAC), coordinating admissions to NAC courses, advocating for programs of interest to the Division, and recommending Division employees to serve as faculty for NAC courses. Assists attorneys in complying with their state bar Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements and provides meaningful opportunities for CLE credit wherever possible.
5. Coordinates and promotes in-house training and professional development opportunities for attorneys and staff throughout the Division. Provides new attorney orientation training on a quarterly basis or as needed. Works with the Division's Branches and Sections to improve training programs specific to the needs of each section. Works with the Division's Office of Litigation Support and the Division's Chief Information Officer to provide effective training on the technology used by the Division. Maintains information on sources of training and coordinates and serves as a liaison with other training units and trainers from inside and outside the Division. Coordinates and promotes training events with the other components of the Department. Promotes pro bono activities as a professional development opportunity, in coordination with the Division's Pro Bono Coordinator.
6. Establishes a system for evaluating the effectiveness of training received by Division employees. Ensures that evaluations are conducted appropriately, and that results are analyzed and communicated to the EO with sound recommendations for improvements for future training courses. Develops and maintains a Civil Division intranet site that identifies training resources, provides information to new employees, and organizes in a logical fashion materials of interest to the Division's branches and sections. Establishes and maintains an electronic registration system for Civil Division training courses and ensures compliance with mandatory training requirements.
7. Works with the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM), the Justice Management Division (JMD) and Civil Division's HR to ensure that the Division's interests are represented regarding mandatory training requirements, the attorney mentor program, intern programs, and Department-wide training programs.
8. Establishes, coordinates and executes new attorney and new employee orientation.
9. Serves as the leadership point of contact for the attorney mentor program and JMD's Leadership Excellence and Achievement Program (LEAP).
Applicants must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) have a least four years of post J.D, experience to qualify at the GS-15 level. You must also be a U.S. citzen.
Applicants must have demonstrated work experience related tothe mandatory requirements listed below and must address the qualification requirements in an attached cover letter or separate narrative statement.
Experience or demonstrated aptitude as a trainer or instructor of graduate-level or adult learners in this legal field.
Knowledge of federal litigation, both substantive and procedural.
Experience conducting legal research related to civil law involving analysis of statutes, proposed legislation, case law, and governmental and provate reports. Excellent legal analysis, writing, and editing skills.
Ability to express, orally and in writing, complex legal issues in clear and succinct language so that the concepts are understood by both lawyers and non-lawyers.
Ability to maintain effective working relationshops with agency staff at all levels as well as with key inviduals in a variety of other federal organizations and intrest groups.
Good organization and planning skills are a must.
Applicants must submit their applications materials by email to: Civil.vacancies@usdoj.gov
To apply for this position, you must submit a cover letter addressing all qualification requirements, and a resume, indicating relevant experience.
If you are claiming veterans preference, you must also submit your DD-214, and/or other documentation that you may have.
Applicants may also send their materials by commercial courier service, (FedEx or UPS) to:
U.S. Department of Jutice
Civil Division, Office of Human Resources
1100 L. Street, NW, Room 2102
Washington, DC 20005
ATTN:OHR/Staffing
No telephone calls please.
$137,849.00 to $166,500.00
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 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.
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://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.
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.