Legal Careers
Trial Attorney
The Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) protects the American public and U.S. interests by investigating and prosecuting certain complex international immigration and violent crime cases over which the U.S. has jurisdiction. As part of its work, HRSP leads Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which marshals the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating throughout the Americas. Additionally, JTFA investigates and prosecutes those who engage in sponsorship fraud or the abuse and exploitation of unaccompanied alien children, who are brought across the border without a parent or guardian and can fall prey to smuggling, sex trafficking, sexual assault, and forced labor. JTFA partners with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in border districts and elsewhere to prosecute cases and is supported by personnel from other Criminal Division sections. This joint team of specialized prosecutors (in addition to analysts and law enforcement personnel) significantly enhance investigations and prosecutions of the most significant leaders, organizers and facilitators of these networks by targeting individuals and organizations both inside and outside the United States.
The Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice is seeking qualified, experienced trial attorneys for the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), located in Washington, D.C., to serve on Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Attorney General's priority task force initiative, to investigate and prosecute the leaders and organizers of cartels and transnational criminal organizations involved in human smuggling and trafficking crimes throughout the Americas that impact the safety and security of our nation's borders and communities.
As a JTFA Trial Attorney at HRSP, the incumbent will:
- Investigate and prosecute complex, proactive cases involving human smuggling and trafficking federal offenses and related complex immigration crimes, along with other activities related to violent crime and transnational organized crime, to include material support for terrorism, kidnapping/hostage taking, sexual assault and abuse, fraud, narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, offenses involving minors, and money laundering.
- Collect evidence utilizing a myriad of techniques and tools, to potentially include Title III wiretaps, undercover law enforcement activities, and foreign-based evidence.
- Advise and consult with HRSP/JTFA leadership and others on the status of all cases and matters.
- Build and enhance relationships with partner Assistant United States Attorneys and prosecutors from other Department litigating components and offices to pursue human smuggling and trafficking investigations and prosecutions.
- Develop and maintain relationships with federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies and prosecutor counterparts that investigate and prosecute human smuggling, trafficking and related cases.
- Advise federal prosecutors and law enforcement in developing investigative and prosecutorial strategies. Such advice will include providing guidance concerning search and seizure warrants, criminal and civil forfeiture allegations, international law enforcement coordination, indictments, and other pleadings.
- Support the coordination and sharing of information and evidence between law enforcement offices to maximize the effectiveness of the Department’s investigations, prosecutions, and forfeitures involving human smuggling, trafficking and related cases.
- Interact with a variety of personnel from federal law enforcement agencies across the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and elsewhere, as well as the intelligence community and other organizations on cases and various projects and issues related to human smuggling and trafficking.
Required Qualifications:
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, 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 be an active member of the bar in good standing. To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have at least four (4) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of and experience with federal human smuggling and trafficking statutes, immigration law, and/or other federal violations relating to cartels and transnational organized crime.
- Prior experience working on international criminal cases.
- Experience working in or with U.S. Attorneys' Offices.
- At least two (2) years' trial experience as a prosecutor or trial attorney handling criminal matters.
- Experience investigating criminal matters involving complex or sensitive law enforcement techniques.
- Spanish-language fluency is helpful but not required.
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. Resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted.
- 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.
- Once you have an account, apply to the USAjobs vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/849828100.
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 conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
The salary range for this position $167,603.00 to $195,200.00 per annum, which includes locality pay. See OPM’s Web page at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2025/general-schedule.
Department Policies
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. To learn more, please visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
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.
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.