Legal Careers
Trial Attorney
Although this vacancy announcement expires on August 28, 2026, the announcement may be closed at any time if all selections are made. This assignment is for a period of 12 months with the possibility of extension. This detail is non-reimbursable.
This vacancy is open to current DOJ attorneys. Additionally, applicants must be in the D.C. locality area; extended travel and relocation will not be offered. Term attorneys may apply but will only be detailed through the end of their term, unless their appointment is subsequently extended.
The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) is responsible for implementing the Department's national strategies in combating computer, cyber, and intellectual property crimes worldwide. CCIPS prevents, investigates, and prosecutes computer crimes by working with other government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, and foreign counterparts.
Section attorneys are responsible for independently investigating, prosecuting, and trying computer crime and intellectual property matters. Attorneys in the section:
- Investigate and prosecute cases involving intellectual property violations, cyberattacks, and intrusions of computers and computer networks;
- Advise prosecutors and law enforcement agents about technology issues;
- Train investigators and other prosecutors and speak to a variety of domestic and foreign audiences;
- Propose, write, and advise on legislation and policy relating to computer and intellectual property crimes and the collection of electronic evidence;
- Engage in and support litigation relating to the collection of electronic evidence;
- Lead international efforts to promote effective cooperation to address the threats of computer and intellectual property crime;
- Provide guidance and training to Department personnel about digital assets and serve as a liaison to the digital assets industry; and
- Draft policies and monographs addressing significant issues relating to these responsibilities.
To qualify for this position, applicants must possess ALL of the requirements below:
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 be an active member of the bar in good standing.
Specific grade level requirements:
GS-15: 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.
GS-14: At least two and a half (2.5) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-13 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: performing legal analysis and formulating recommendations to senior managers; composing pleadings, briefs, and other court documents involving legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; and conducting civil or criminal litigation.
GS-13: At least one and a half (1.5) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-12 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: performing legal analysis and formulating recommendations to senior managers; composing pleadings, briefs, and other court documents involving legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; and conducting civil or criminal litigation.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Criminal prosecution or defense experience;
- Experience with complex investigations and the use of legal process (such as subpoenas and wiretap orders), especially ingathering electronic evidence;
- Technical knowledge of computers, networking, cybersecurity, computer intrusions, and investigative technologies (such as tracing Internet communications, computer programming, digital forensics, and information security);
- Knowledge of criminal statutes for which CCIPS has responsibility, including criminal provisions in federal copyright, trademark, and trade secret statues, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act;
- Ability to communicate clearly through well-organized and accurately written documents;
- Ability to perform cogent and correct legal analysis on a variety of contentious and complex substantive issues;
- Ability to provide legal advice to others;
- Experience with legislative or policy development, especially policy related to criminal law, intellectual property, attacks on computer networks, and the collection of electronic evidence;
- Substantive knowledge of criminal procedure, particularly as it relates to obtaining electronic evidence;
- International training or experience, particularly in negotiating international agreements, in mutual legal assistance, and infields related to CCIPS' work, such as computer security or intellectual property rights protection;
- Working experience with U.S. government structures and inter-agency processes, especially relating to computer or intellectual property crime or the development of military, intelligence, or IT security policy;
- Experience developing and delivering training programs and oral presentations on law enforcement subjects; and
- Experience working with foreign government officials, providing training to foreign audiences, and familiarity with U.S. foreign policy as it relates to Internet and technology issues.
All interested attorneys meeting these qualifications should submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Criminal.crmjobs@usdoj.gov with the subject line “CCIPS Trial Attorney – First Name Last Name.”
Your resume must be no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Please ensure all information you believe is qualifying for the position is contained in the first two pages.
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.
Under a detail assignment, there is no change to the selectee’s base pay.
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.