Attorney Detail to Consumer Protection Branch

Civil Division (CIV)
Consumer Protection Branch
Attorney
United States
About the Office: 

The Consumer Protection Branch (CPB) enforces federal consumer protection laws throughout the United States. CPB brings both criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions in matters of national importance related to adulterated and misbranded products, consumer frauds, and data-privacy violations. The Branch also defends against suits in district courts challenging consumer protection agencies’ regulatory actions. The Branch works closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other consumer protection agencies. For more information visit: https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

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 Consumer Protection Branch seeks Department of Justice attorneys to serve on one-year non-reimbursable details to handle enforcement actions related to electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products, including e-cigarettes. Responding to an increase in youth usage of flavored ENDS products, the FDA recently has taken actions to prohibit or restrict the sale of certain ENDS products that fail to meet the standard Congress established to protect the public health. The Branch expects that civil and criminal enforcement efforts will likely be necessary to address continued sales of prohibited products. Detailee attorneys will have the opportunity to work on the full range of anticipated affirmative litigation.

Detailee attorneys will work closely with attorneys from CPB and various U.S. Attorney’s Offices to investigate and pursue appropriate civil and criminal cases. Detailee attorneys also will engage regularly with FDA personnel and Department leadership.

In addition, detailee attorneys may have the ability to handle other affirmative matters across the range of CPB’s work, including matters related to prescription drug diversion, consumer frauds, and data-privacy violations.

Detailees may perform work from their current home district so long as they are able to travel as required for court proceedings.

Qualifications: 

Required Qualifications: Applicants must be a current Department of Justice attorney with a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) and have at least three years of post-J.D. experience. Applicants also must have excellent writing, research, and advocacy skills.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience handling affirmative civil or criminal enforcement actions, as well as prior service as a federal judicial law clerk is preferred.

Salary: 
Under a detail assignment, there is no change to the selectee’s base pay or grade level. Temporary promotions are not authorized.
Travel: 
Domestic travel may be required.
Application Process: 

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample (not more than 10 pages in length) by email to: consumer.protection@usdoj.gov

On the subject line, please put “CPB – Trial Attorney Detail Application.” No telephone calls, please. 

Applicants may also send their materials by commercial courier service (FedEx or UPS) to:


Mr. Vincent Shuler

U.S. Department of Justice

Consumer Protection Branch

450 5th St., NW, Ste. 6400

Washington, D.C. 20530

Before submitting application materials, applicants should secure support to apply for this detail opportunity from their home district supervisor.

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.

Relocation Expenses: 
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Number of Positions: 
Up to 2
Updated March 17, 2023

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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.