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Legal Careers

Trial Attorney

Hiring Organization
Tax Division (TAX)
Hiring Office
Criminal Appeals and Tax Enforcement Policy Section
Location:
Washington, DC 20530 - United States
Application Deadline:
About the Office

The Tax Division invites qualified attorneys to apply for an attorney position in the Criminal Appeals and Tax Enforcement Policy Section.   Attorneys who applied to the recent vacancy announcements for attorney positions in the Criminal Enforcement Sections, through the USAJOBS vacancy announcement TAX-ATTCES-21-DW12, or the Criminal Appeals and Tax Enforcement Policy Section on the Department's intranet legal careers site, will be considered for this position and do not need to submit an application to this announcement. 

Criminal litigation experience (either trial or appellate) and superior writing skills are required. Experience with white-collar prosecutions is helpful but not required. The successful applicant will have an interest in appellate litigation and policy, and the ability to work both collaboratively and independently.

The mission of the Tax Division is to enforce the nation's tax laws fully, fairly, and consistently, through both criminal and civil litigation, in order to promote voluntary compliance with the tax laws, maintain public confidence in the integrity of the tax system, and promote the sound development of the law.  The attorneys in the Criminal Appeals and Tax Enforcement Policy Section represent the United States in litigation in U.S. Circuit Courts across the country.

Are you interested in a rewarding and challenging career? Join one of the best places to work in the federal government - the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice! The Department of Justice ranked 12th among large size agencies, and the Tax Division ranked as the #1 litigating division in the Department of Justice, in the Partnership for Public Service's 2019 "Best Places to Work".

We place a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspective and encourage applications from all interested eligible candidates, including attorneys of all ages from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, all sexual orientations and gender identities, political affiliations, marital or parental status, religious backgrounds, with or without disabilities, and with or without military service. 

For more information about the Tax Division, please see https://www.justice.gov/tax

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

Job Description

The Tax Division's jurisdiction is the United States - accordingly, travel to jurisdictions where the Circuit Courts hear argument is an essential component of the job. Travel frequency and location varies and is based on the attorney's docket.

Appellate attorneys in the Criminal Appeals and Tax Enforcement Policy Section (CATEPS) play an important role in promoting the fair, correct and uniform enforcement of criminal tax laws. CATEPS attorneys handle appeals in cases tried by the Tax Division’s Criminal Enforcement Trial Sections, and provide assistance for appeals in criminal tax cases prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys' Offices. CATEPS attorneys also review adverse decisions of United States District Courts and United States Courts of Appeals in all criminal tax cases, prepare recommendations to the Solicitor General about whether to appeal or seek other review, and prepare draft oppositions to petitions for certiorari for the Office of the Solicitor General. CATEPS attorneys work closely with attorneys in the Tax Division’s criminal trial sections and provide guidance and assistance to Assistant U.S. Attorneys throughout the nation on criminal tax issues, to include guidance and assistance with indictments, motions practice, jury instructions, sentencing, and restitution.

CATEPS’s policy portfolio is broad and includes updating the Criminal Tax Manual and other guidance materials, and helping to formulate the Tax Division’s position with respect to proposed amendments to the Justice Manual, the Sentencing Guidelines Manual, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Qualifications

The Tax Division anticipates hiring one criminal appellate attorney. Applicants must have at least 3 years of full-time post-J.D. litigation experience by the closing date of the announcement. Criminal litigation experience (either trial or appellate) and superior writing skills are required. Experience with white-collar prosecutions is helpful but not required.

Applicants should have a strong demonstrated interest in federal criminal litigation and an articulable interest in appellate work; superior writing, oral-advocacy, research, and organizational skills; a demonstrated commitment to producing consistently excellent work; and the ability to handle multiple matters concurrently. The work of the Criminal Appeals and Tax Enforcement Policy Section requires the application of analytical, research, and writing skills to complex and significant issues involving all aspects of criminal law and criminal tax enforcement. Persuasiveness, judgment, initiative, and a collaborative orientation are also highly valued. Candidates should also have a strong interest in developing their litigation skills, including the technology skills required for court filings (e.g., manipulation of PDFs), and remaining current on developments in the law. Applicants with an accounting, tax, or business background, federal clerkship experience, or white-collar prosecution experience are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must possess a J.D. degree and must be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Active bar membership (of any jurisdiction) is required.

Applicants who accept an offer of employment may be required to undergo a background check.

Attorneys selected for a position in the Tax Division must commit to working for the Tax Division for three years.

Application Process

Applications must include a cover letter, resume, law school and any advanced degree transcripts, and a list of three professional references. All documents should be provided in either PDF or MS Word format. The cover letter, which should not exceed two single-spaced pages, should describe how your background and qualifications make you well suited for the position.

Applications should be emailed to criminal.taxattorney@usdoj.gov by the closing date of this announcement. 

Failure to include all required documents may affect consideration of your application. Candidates selected for further consideration may be required to submit a writing sample prior to an interview.

Applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference or consideration under a special hiring authority (such as programs for individuals with disabilities) must submit appropriate documentation demonstrating eligibility.

Department of Justice attorneys eligible for priority consideration under the Department's Reemployment Priority List Program must include notice to the Division of their eligibility in their application package.

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.

Salary

Years of experience will be considered in determining the salary level.

Number of Positions
1
Travel
The frequency and location of travel to jurisdictions where the Circuit Courts hear argument varies and is based on the attorney’s docket.
Relocation Expenses
Relocation Expenses will not be authorized.

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.

Updated March 15, 2021