Legal Careers
Trial Attorney, GS-0905-14/15
The mission of the National Security Division (NSD) is to coordinate the Department’s efforts in carrying out its top priority of preventing and combating terrorism and protecting the national security of the United States. NSD provides legal and policy advice on national security matters; litigates counterterrorism, counterespionage, and foreign intelligence surveillance matters; represents the Government before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) and other federal trial and appellate courts; and conducts oversight of the activities of various Intelligence Community (IC) agencies.
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) Unit of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) in the National Security Division (NSD) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of FARA. Originally enacted in 1938, FARA requires certain agents of foreign principals who are engaged in political activities or other activities specified under the statute to make periodic public disclosures related to their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts, and disbursements in support of those activities. Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the Government and the American people of the activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents.
The attorney for this position will focus on administering and enforcing FARA. The attorney's FARA responsibilities will include preparing for and leading civil litigation, conducting inspections, and drafting advisory opinions.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, must have at least three years of post J.D. experience, and must be an active member of a bar (any jurisdiction). Applicants must also have superior academic credentials, possess excellent analytical and writing skills, and have the dedication and capacity to work independently in a very demanding environment. Past experience in the national security or intelligence field is not required.
Candidates selected for an attorney position with NSD are expected to make a three-year commitment to NSD.
Candidates must personally volunteer for Department-wide initiatives, special projects, Division-initiatives, and perform other duties as assigned.
Must be able to meet JMD and NSD suitability criteria for this position.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance. Failure to obtain or retain this level of security clearance and access will be grounds for reassignment, demotion, or removal from the Federal Service. Employee must successfully pass a urinalysis screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment and subsequent periodic drug screening thereafter.
This position is MISSION ESSENTIAL. Most, if not all, essential job functions must be performed in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF). The incumbent is required to report for duty, in person, as necessary, in an emergency (regardless of holidays, weekends, nights, furloughs) or conditions such as weather in which non-essential personnel are not expected to report.
Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the National Security Division.
Please submit a cover letter highlighting your relevant skills and experience and describing why you are interested in working with CES/FARA Unit, a copy of your resume (not to exceed two pages), a writing sample (we encourage you to submit a legal memorandum or brief), and a current performance appraisal (if a current performance appraisal is available) to:
NSDVacancySubmissions@usdoj.gov with the subject line “FARA Trial Attorney Vacancy.”
No telephone calls please.
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.
(GS-14) $143,913 - $187,093 per annum
(GS-15) $169,279 - $197,200 per annum
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.