Legal Careers
Trial Attorney
The Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) primarily investigates and prosecutes cases against human rights violators and other international criminals. The work of the office is divided into three primary portfolios. First, within the 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. Second, within the International Violent Crime portfolio, HRSP prosecutes international crimes of violence and other serious felonies by and against U.S. citizens, including U.S. government employees, contractors and dependents, in those instances in which U.S. jurisdiction can be obtained. Third, within the 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. HRSP's attorneys may perform work in all of its portfolios.
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 U.S. government agencies and international organizations.
The Criminal Division, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, U.S. Department of Justice seeks motivated attorneys who have a demonstrated interest in its portfolios and possess prior prosecution experience.
As a Trial Attorney, the incumbent:
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Investigates and prosecutes cases in federal court, usually in partnership with United States Attorneys’ Offices.
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Handles complex, challenging, and potentially novel legal issues.
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Develops and maintains positive and effective relationships with our numerous law enforcement partners including federal, military and international investigative agencies.
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Advises and consults with the deputy chiefs, Section Chief, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General, and others on the status of all cases and matters.
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Works with others in the Department of Justice and other agencies to develop policy.
Required Qualifications: Interested applicants must possess a J.D. 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 have at least four years post J.D. experience, at least two of which involve criminal litigation. Applicants must be an active member of the bar in good standing. All applicants must have, or be eligible for, a top secret or higher security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications: Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies.
- Prior experience as a criminal prosecutor (federal, state, or military);
- Prior trial experience;
- Demonstrated ability to handle complex investigations, particularly those involving violations of federal statutes;
- Superior oral advocacy and writing abilities;
- Superior analytical skills and judgment; and
- Demonstrated ability to work well with others, both as a leader and as a team member.
- Foreign language fluency (particularly in Spanish) is preferred, but not required.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. A list of eligible candidates will be referred to the hiring managers every week during the open period of the announcement. If you are interested in applying, it is recommended that you do so early.
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.
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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.
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Once you have an account, apply to the USAjobs vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/444936400
Internet Sites: This and selected other attorney vacancy announcements can be found on the Internet at https://www.justice.gov/criminal/attorney-vacancies
For more information about the Criminal Division, please visit http://www.justice.gov/criminal/
For more information about HRSP, please visit http://www.justice.gov/criminal/hrsp/
The salary range for this position is GS-15, $128,082 - $160,700 per annum, which included locality pay. See OPM’s Web page at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/sala…
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.
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.