Attorney Advisor (Policy and International Law Attorney)

Criminal Division (CRM)
Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section
Attorney
Washington, DC
United States
21-CRM-HRSP-059
About the Office: 

The Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) investigates and prosecutes international crime cases involving human rights violators, human smuggling organizations, and extraterritorial violent crime over which the U.S. has jurisdiction. This is the HRSP attorneys work with virtually all federal law enforcement agencies, and cases are brought in partnership with U.S. Attorneys' Offices around the country or by the Section alone.

HRSP primarily investigates and prosecutes cases against human rights violators, human smugglers and other international criminals. Within its Human Rights portfolio, HRSP investigates and prosecutes human rights violators for genocide, torture, war crimes, and recruitment or use of child soldiers, and for immigration and naturalization fraud arising out of efforts to hide their involvement in such crimes. Within the International Violent Crime portfolio, HRSP prosecutes crimes of violence committed abroad, particularly involving victims or perpetrators who are U.S. government employees, contractors and dependents (usually using MEJA or SMTJ jurisdiction). Within its Smuggling/Immigration Crimes portfolio, HRSP prosecutes members of international human smuggling networks who present national security concerns and/or who endanger the lives of migrants, and multi-jurisdictional immigration fraud-related offenses. 

The Section’s prosecutions are usually pursued jointly with a United States Attorney’s Office and involve complex international investigations. HRSP also is actively engaged in policy and legislative work regarding its diverse portfolios that involves close coordination with other U.S. government agencies and international organizations.

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.

Job Description: 

The Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking a qualified, experienced attorney to serve as an Attorney Advisor (Policy and International Attorney), in the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP).

As an Attorney Advisor (Policy and International Law Attorney), the incumbent will perform the following functions:

  • Monitor, review, and comment on draft legislation, potential testimony, federal regulations, policy proposals, and other requests.
  • Participate in development of policy initiatives.
  • Advise Section attorneys regarding international law principles and norms relating to the prosecution of human rights violations, international violent crime, and criminal immigration offenses.
  • Perform legal research in support of HRSP portfolios.
  • Develop and maintain positive and effective relationships within the Office.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: 

Required Qualifications: Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, 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 be an active member of the bar in good standing.

Grade Specific Qualifications:

  • To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, applicants must have at least two and a half (2.5) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-13 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: independently performing legal analysis; formulating recommendations to senior managers; and composing pleadings, briefs or other court documents.
  • To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have at least four (4) years 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; formulating recommendations to senior managers; composing pleadings, briefs or other court documents; conducting civil or criminal litigation; reviewing, analyzing and developing policies and legislation; and leading paralegals and support staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies and experiences:

  • Demonstrated expertise in international law principles;
  • Familiarity with U.S. statutes pertaining to human rights law, particularly the law of genocide, child soldier use and recruitment, torture, war crimes, and female genital mutilation;
  • Knowledge of U.S. criminal law, U.S. military law, international law, international organizations such as the United Nations, and international tribunals' processes and procedures;
  • Knowledge of immigration law and fraud enforcement;
  • Experience in policy development within the inter-agency process;
  • Experience with the development of law, policy, and legislative proposals;
  • Experience in drafting, analyzing, and reviewing legal policy, legislation relating to law enforcement, and executive orders;
  • Superior oral advocacy and writing abilities;
  • Superior analytical skills and judgment;
  • Prior trial experience; 
  • Demonstrated ability to work well with others, both as a leader and as a team member;
  • Foreign language skills;  
  • Ability to represent the Section in Department, interagency, and other committees, groups, and task forces; and
  • Experience working with foreign governments, international organizations, and persons from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Salary: 
The salary range for this position is $144,128 – $172,500 per annum, which includes locality pay. See OPM’s Web page at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2021/DCB.pdf
Travel: 
Domestic and international travel may be required occasionally for international work.
Application Process: 

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/612445700

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 conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Application Deadline: 
Friday, September 24, 2021
Number of Positions: 
1
Updated August 27, 2021

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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.