Legal Careers
Experienced Trial Attorney, GS-905-13/14/15
Washington, DC 20004 - United States
The National Security Division (NSD) leads the Department's efforts to prevent and combat terrorism and to protect the national security. NSD provides legal and policy advice on national security matters, litigates counterterrorism, counterespionage, and foreign intelligence surveillance matters, represents the Government before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and other federal trial and appellate courts, and conducts oversight over FBI national security investigations and foreign intelligence collection.
The Counterespionage Section (CES) investigates, prosecutes and supervises the investigation and prosecution of cases affecting the national security and foreign relations of the United States, including espionage and sabotage involving traditional and cyber activities, violations of trade embargoes, and cases involving the illegal export of military and/or strategic commodities, which increasingly involve computer hacking and unauthorized exfiltration. The Section has exclusive responsibility for authorizing the prosecution of cases under criminal statutes relating to espionage, sabotage, neutrality and atomic energy. It provides legal advice to U.S. Attorney's Offices and investigates agencies on all matters within its area of responsibility, which includes 90 federal statutes affecting the national security, as well as other cases that affect, relate to, or involve the national security, regardless of the underlying statute. The Section also coordinates criminal cases involving the application of the Classified Information Procedures Act and administers and enforces the Foreign Agents Registration Act and related disclosure statutes.
The Foreign Agents Registration Unit is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a disclosure statute that requires persons acting as agents of foreign principals to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of those activities. Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the government and the American people of the statements and activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents.
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.
This position is in the Foreign Agents Registration Unit. CES-FARA attorneys assess registration obligations and offer advice on statute requirements, provide legal counsel to staff while conducting inspections of the books and records of registered foreign agents; analyze legislation affecting domestic and foreign lobbyists, including the preparation of legal positions, comments, and legislative amendments; and prepare and present oral and written opinions regarding enforcement of FARA. In addition, they provide legal advice and guidance to the investigative and intelligence communities in the development of FARA-related cases for prosecution, and they assist the United States Attorney's Offices when prosecution is undertaken, ensuring, among other things, that intelligence community equities are identified and protected.
This position may be filled as full-time or part-time.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia and have at least 1.5 year of post-J.D. legal experience. Applicants should have an interest in national security matters and possess excellent writing skills. Experience with the intelligence community is helpful though not required. Applicants must be able to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.
To apply for this position, please submit a resume, a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience), a writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), a current performance appraisal (if applicable) electronically to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Counterespionage Section
600 E Street, NW, Room10606
Washington, DC 20004
ATTN: Heather Hunt
No telephone calls please.
Or apply by email to: CESattorneyvacancy@usdoj.gov with the subject line "Attorney Vacancy.
(GS-13): $ 90,823 - 118,069 per annum, (GS-14): $107,325 - 139,523 per annum, (GS-15): $126,245 - 158,700 per annum.
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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.
Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: 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.
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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