Director of Litigation

Antitrust Division (ATR)
Office of the Assistant Attorney General
Attorney
Liberty Square Building, 450 5th Street NW
Washington, DC 20530
United States
E15-05-O05
About the Office: 

The United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, is soliciting applications for the position of Director of Litigation in its Office of the Assistant Attorney General (OAAG). The Director of Litigation is responsible for overseeing important aspects of the Division's civil and criminal litigation programs, as described below. The Director of Litigation advises the Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Assistant Attorneys General with respect to ongoing litigation and investigations that may lead to litigation.

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: 

As to civil matters, the Director of Litigation is responsible for ensuring that the Division effectively represents the United States in complex and high-profile antitrust cases. This requires working closely with Division trial lawyers and the Directors of Civil Enforcement and Economics on investigations and litigation. The Director of Litigation is also charged with developing internal procedures and standards for document discovery, teaching deposition and trial skills, promoting effective teamwork among Division attorneys and economists, and preparing and reviewing court filings. The Director of Litigation must also be capable of undertaking specific and important litigation tasks, which may include brief writing and editing, taking depositions, selecting and preparing expert witnesses, arguing motions, and participating in hearings and trials.

As to criminal matters, the Director of Litigation is expected to assist the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Enforcement and the Director of Criminal Enforcement on an as-needed basis in developing trial strategies, training prosecutors, and keeping Division attorneys current on a wide range of best practices.

As to both civil and criminal matters, the Division requires that its attorneys adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards and the Director of Litigation must work to ensure compliance with that requirement.

Qualifications: 

Applicants must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States;

2. Possess a J.D. or equivalent degree, be an active member of the bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least four years of post-J.D. experience; and

3. Have significant, wide-ranging, investigation, litigation and enforcement experience and expertise, including:

· A significant background in antitrust law.

· Excellent communication skills.

· A minimum of seven years of civil litigation experience; candidates with ten or more years of experience are preferred.

· While not required, some experience in criminal law matters is preferred.

· First or second chair responsibility in a minimum of three trials or substantial evidentiary hearings and experience managing large litigation teams.

· Significant experience taking and defending fact and expert witness depositions.

· The ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a senior management team responsible for the Division's overall civil and criminal enforcement efforts.

· Strong legal editing, writing and analytical skills.

· Significant experience working with economists or other expert witnesses.

· Organizational and management skills that will assist in the development and implementation of procedures and guidelines to facilitate the effective oversight of Division investigations and cases.

· Significant experience with coaching, training, and mentoring of legal staff.

Salary: 
Candidates are being solicited at the GS-15 level, ranging in pay from $126,245 - $158,700 per annum, commensurate with current salary and experience.
Travel: 
Domestic and International travel may be required.
Application Process: 

Applications under this announcement will be accepted until May 7, 2015. To receive consideration under this announcement, please reference E15-05-O05. All application packages MUST be submitted and received by the final closing date.

Applicants must submit a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience), a resume, description of significant federal cases litigated, including your role in them, and a writing sample/brief (not to exceed 15 pages). If you are a current or recent Federal employee, you must submit a performance appraisal issued within the last 12 months, or if none exists, a statement to that effect and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50).

Please submit your application through USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov).

1. If you do not already have a USAJOBS account, please create one before applying via the “Create an Account” link. You will be able to complete your profile and upload your resume and supporting documents prior to applying.

2. Once an account has been created, apply to the USAJOBS vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/400539500.

For additional information about positions with the Division, please contact LaToya Outlaw of the Personnel Staff at (202) 514-2469.

Internet Sites: Additional information on the Antitrust Division is located on the Internet at http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/. This and selected other legal position announcements can be found at http://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/vacancies.

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: 
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Relocation Expenses: 
Relocation expenses will NOT be authorized.
Number of Positions: 
1
Updated April 7, 2016

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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.