Legal Careers
Deputy Associate General Counsel, Litigation Branch
Washington, DC 20534 - United States
The mission of the Litigation Branch is to provide support to attorneys in the litigating components of the Department of Justice (DOJ) as well as attorneys in the U.S. Attorney's Offices. Specifically, the Litigation Branch assists with BOP litigation filed in the District of Columbia and cases having national impact on BOP programs and policies. The Litigation Branch also oversees claims filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The Litigation Branch is responsible for analyzing all adverse decisions against the BOP and its employees to determine if appeal or further review is warranted; this entails working closely with DOJ Civil Division attorneys and attorneys in the Solicitor General's Office. The Litigation Branch works with and advises the Assistant Director/General Counsel, Senior Deputy General Counsels, Assistant Directors, Regional Directors, and Wardens, and their management staff, as well as attorneys in the U.S. Attorney's Offices and the DOJ on issues related to Bureau litigation. The Litigation Branch is also comprised of the BOP's Administrative Remedy Section.
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.
The Deputy Associate General Counsel of the Litigation Branch assists the Associate General Counsel in the management of the Branch. Based on the needs of the Branch, the Deputy Associate General Counsel of the Litigation Branch could, for example, be responsible for supervising other Litigation Branch attorneys and staff, managing the Branch's workflow, and standing in for the Associate General Counsel upon request. The incumbent also would likely develop the incumbent's own areas of subject-matter expertise and perform other functions as needed, including, but not limited to, providing direct litigation support to Assistant U.S. Attorney's and DOJ attorneys and handling a caseload. Like the Associate General Counsel and other Litigation Branch attorneys, the Deputy Associate General Counsel would be responsive to internal and external stakeholders and might be expected to provide training in a variety of subject areas and settings.
Duty Location: Washington, D.C.
Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least three years of post-J.D. experience.
Preferred qualifications: Prior experience in correctional law, constitutional law, administrative law, or legislation is preferred, but not required. Prior supervisory experience also is preferred, but not required.
Applicants must submit a cover letter highlighting relevant experience, a resume, at least two writing samples, and a list of legal references by May 14, 2021, to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Office of General Counsel
Litigation Branch
320 First Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20534
Attention: Corinne Nastro, Associate General Counsel
It is preferred that you submit your application packet via email to cnastro@bop.gov by May 14, 2021. Please include in the subject line "LIT Deputy Branch Chief April 2021."
No telephone calls, please. This position is open until filled, but no later than May 14, 2021.
The possible salary range is GS-14 ($122,530 to $159,286); or GS-15 ($144,128 to $172,500).
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.
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