Legal Careers
TRIAL ATTORNEY
The Antitrust Division (ATR) is seeking a highly qualified attorney to serve in the Competition Policy and Advocacy Section (CPA). This position is located in Washington, D.C.
The CPA Section provides expert internal guidance and external advocacy to further the Division's mission to promote competition. It engages with Division leadership and staff, consumers, business, and lawmakers in the state and federal governments. It plays a key role in developing the Division's guidance documents, such as the Merger Guidelines, and in promoting a whole-of-government competition policy in connection with other federal partners. The section's work on evolving issues of competition policy is typically fast paced and high profile.
The CPA Section serves a valuable range of functions for the Division: analyzing complex antitrust matters; advising on a wide range of civil and criminal antitrust policy issues, including agriculture, technology, healthcare, financial services, technology - including digital platforms and artificial intelligence - labor, intellectual property and standards; developing and supporting the Division's legislative work; analyzing the competitive effects of proposed state and federal laws and regulations; and developing and implementing short- and long-range policy projects and programs of interest to the Assistant Attorney General.
Additional information about the Antitrust Division can be found at http://www.justice.gov/atr/. Additional information about the Policy and Advocacy Programs can be found at https://www.justice.gov/atr/about-division/other-offices
As an attorney in the Competition Policy and Advocacy Section, responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- Providing authoritative advice on all policy and legal issues to the Division Front Office;
- Working with and providing policy advice to the Division's litigating sections on investigations and litigations;
- Analyzing the competitive impact of draft federal and state laws and regulations; and
- Working on congressional, interagency, and international matters involving competition.
Work also often involves assignments on other Division matters where investigations and enforcement intersect with ongoing policy projects. The attorneys hired can expect a collegial and stimulating environment working with highly experienced attorneys and economists on cutting-edge matters as well as the satisfaction of serving the public interest.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this position, your resume and supporting documentation will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. To qualify, an applicant must:
- Be a citizen of the United States;
- 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 one-half years of post J.D. legal experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; two and one-half years of post J.D. legal experience to qualify at the GS-14 level, and/or at least four years of post J.D. legal experience to qualify at the GS-15 level.
- Have superior writing, editing, oral communication, interpersonal and organizational skills; and
- Possess substantial familiarity with competition law and policy.
A background in economics and/or public policy are beneficial.
Applications will be accepted until July 31, 2026. To receive consideration, please submit your application through USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov).
- 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.
- Once an account has been created, apply to the USAJOBS vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/875251100
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.
Candidates are being solicited up to the GS-15 level, with salaries up to $197,200.00 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/general-schedule/
Department Policies
The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and treating employees with fairness, dignity and compassion. We must ensure that no applicant for employment or employee of our Department is denied equal opportunity because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex – including pregnancy – or because of age, physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor and that all have the freedom to compete on a fair and level playing field. To learn more, please view the Department’s full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy 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://help.usajobs.gov/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.