Legal Careers
Trial Attorney – Natural Resources Section (Open Continuous)
Washington, DC 20002 - United States
The Natural Resources Section has one of the most dynamic and complex practices in the Energy and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, representing virtually every federal agency in federal district courts, the Court of Federal Claims, and state courts in novel litigation arising under more than 80 natural resource, environmental, and cultural resource statutes.
The Natural Resources Section seeks experienced litigators in Washington DC and Denver, Colorado.
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT that will remain open until September 30, 2027. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, and positions will be filled when the need arises or as vacancies occur to meet immediate and future hiring needs. It will also allow the organization to maintain a standing pool of qualified applicants for Fiscal Year 2027.
Much of our work involves challenges under the Administrative Procedure Act or the Just Compensation Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Natural Resources Section (NRS) has a dynamic practice with a diverse docket and attorneys may choose to focus on brief writing or trial practice or both. On any given day, the Section's attorneys handle a vast portfolio of cases involving:
- Vital federal programs ranging from national energy policy to nuclear materials management to military preparedness;
- The balanced use of federal natural resources for varied uses, including mineral extraction, conservation, preservation, recreation, and commercial uses;
- The stewardship of our national parks, forests, rangelands, wildlife refuges, and offshore resources;
- Original actions in the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve boundary and water allocation disputes in the western part of the country;
- Real property claims arising under the Just Compensation Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which involve issues such as military readiness, transportation infrastructure, and flood control; and
- The United States' trust relationship with Native Americans and Tribes.
Because of the diverse nature of our docket, the ideal candidate should be comfortable having primary or sole responsibility in multiple complex cases, and have demonstrated and substantial experience in civil litigation, including some combination of discovery, working with experts, drafting substantive briefs, engaging in negotiations and mediations, appearing in court to argue motions, and going to trial. The cases handled by the Section require attorneys to achieve intellectual command of complicated facts, scientific principles, and legal issues, often rapidly.
Successful candidates will be intellectually curious, driven, and possess the ability to harness technology and litigation support in the preparation of cases. Creative thinking and talent in problem-solving -- whether in a litigation or settlement context -- are critical. Collegiality is fundamental to our Section. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working collaboratively with other attorneys, learning from Section veterans, and providing support and mentorship to less experienced attorneys. On a day-to-day basis, our attorneys address case management issues, negotiate with opposing counsel, write motions and briefs, handle discovery, take and defend depositions, present oral arguments, and conduct trials. Our attorneys work closely with both attorneys and program staff at our client agencies, as well as with expert witnesses retained to offer opinions in our litigation.
In staffing our cases, we strive to create work opportunities for our attorneys that allow them to constantly learn and grow by providing new challenges. We provide new attorneys with robust skills-based and substantive training. We also have exceptionally talented attorneys who are generous with their time to mentor. The group of paralegals and legal assistants we have are valuable resources, offering expert help. Overall, the Section cultivates an atmosphere of respect among colleagues who work together to advocate on behalf of the United States.
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants must have the years of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal experience for the specific grade level requirements listed below:
- At least 1 year of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level.
- At least 1.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-13 grade level.
- At least 2.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level.
- At least 4 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level.
Applicants should have a strong interest in federal litigation, trial work and/or appellate work, and an exceptional academic background. Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with defensive civil litigation is highly desirable and knowledge of Fifth Amendment takings, natural resource law, or Indian law is a plus but not a requirement. Applicants must demonstrate superior research, analytical, and writing abilities.
Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Resumes will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Candidates may be contacted for interviews based on the organization's interest and vacancy availability.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veteran preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran preference must include that information in their 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 his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes the following:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
Your resume MUST include full employment information such as periods of employment with month/year started and ended, title of position(s), FT or PT hours worked, and description of duties. If you have Federal employment, you must include the grade of the positions(s).
Do not include the following types of information in your profile or resume:
- Classified or government sensitive information
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Photos of yourself
- Personal information, such as age, religious affiliation, etc.
- Encrypted and digitally signed documents
How to Apply
This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future vacancies. Applications will be reviewed beginning October 1, 2026, and continue on an as-needed basis as specific vacancies and operational needs arise, but no later than September 30, 2027. You may only apply to this vacancy once. No updates will be permitted. We will review applications, interview candidates, and make selections continuously as they arrive.
Please email a cover letter and your resume to:
ATTYAPPLY-NRS.ENRD@USDOJ.GOV
Subject Line: ENRD-27-001-EXC
No telephone calls or status inquiries please. We will reach out should there be an interest.
Internet Sites: For more information about the Energy and Natural Resources Division, visit the web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd.
This and selected other legal position announcements can be found on the Internet at: https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers.
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 possible salary range for Denver, CO.:
- GS-12 ($ 99,800 - $129,742)
- GS-13 ($118,675 - $154,280)
- GS-14 ($140,239 - $182,316)
- GS-15 ($164,956 - $197,200)
The possible salary range for Washington D.C.:
- GS-12 ($102,415 - $133,142)
- GS-13 ($121,785 - $158,322)
- GS-14 ($143,913 - $187,093)
- GS-15 ($169,279 - $197,200)
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.