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Legal Careers

Trial Attorney (International Unit)

Hiring Organization
Criminal Division (CRM)
Hiring Office
MONEY LAUNDERING AND ASSET RECOVERY SECTION (MLARS)
Job ID
23-CRM-DET-006
Location:
Washington, DC - United States
Application Deadline:
About the Office

While this vacancy announcement expires on December 8, 2022, the announcement may be closed at any time if a selection is made. This assignment is for a period of 11-12 months, beginning in or about January 2, 2023, or earlier if possible, with the possibility of extension, contingent on the availability of funding. Appointment to this position will be through a reimbursable detail.

In the International Unit of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), prosecutors focus on investigating and prosecuting complex criminal and civil matters involving international, multi-jurisdictional money laundering schemes, including actions aimed at combating large-scale foreign official corruption and international money laundering offenses impacting the integrity of the U.S. financial system. Attorneys also provide assistance to U.S. Attorney's Offices and law enforcement field offices as well as foreign law enforcement partners seeking to forfeit assets.

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

MLARS seeks a number of qualified prosecutors and experienced litigators for the Department of Justice's initiative to counter foreign government corruption. The Department's Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative is aimed at combating large­scale international corruption, preventing international criminal networks from corrupting the U.S. financial system, and recovering the proceeds of foreign official corruption. To date, MLARS prosecutors have initiated multiple criminal and civil actions as part of the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, including cases alleging the misappropriation of billions of dollars in funds from various governments or state-owned institutions. These include a major sovereign wealth entity in Malaysia, and the Governments of Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, as well as major international bribery and kickback schemes in Ukraine, Nigeria, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Brazil and Honduras. We are also staffing Klepto/Capture Task Force cases involving criminal prosecutions and civil forfeiture cases based on evasions of sanctions involving Russian aggression against Ukraine. For this position, we prefer federal prosecutors with criminal prosecution in complex money laundering cases. We will also consider experienced civil litigators.

This is a litigating position. The successful candidate's responsibilities will include:

  • Instituting complex, sensitive, and high-profile criminal and civil investigations and cases targeting high-level foreign corruption and international money laundering schemes aimed at laundering the proceeds of foreign corruption through the U.S. financial system.
  • Collaborating on a frequent basis with foreign prosecutors and foreign law enforcement officers and working closely with federal law enforcement agencies, U.S. Attorneys' Offices and other Sections within the Criminal Division, including the Office of International Affairs and the Fraud Section.
  • Developing and strengthening strategic international partnerships and treaty relationships with foreign authorities.
Qualifications

Interested applicants must possess 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 in good standing of any bar. To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have 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, but are not limited to: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; obtaining foreign evidence, conducting trials in complex criminal litigation and forfeiture proceedings; and leading paralegals and support staff. Applicants with experience prosecuting complex crimes cases will be given preference.

Applicants must have, or be able to obtain through their Component/Agency, and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.

Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies:

  • Ability to plan and carry out complex cases involving violations of federal statutes.
  • Substantial federal criminal prosecution experience in complex cases.
  • Superior oral advocacy preparation and experience.
  • Superior written and analytical skills.
Application Process

Although this vacancy announcement expires on December 8, 2022, the announcement may be closed at any time if selections are made. The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.

All interested attorneys meeting these qualifications should submit a cover letter and resume to MLARS.Attorney.Hiring@usdoj.gov

TCS Relocation/TDY Expenses:

This position may be eligible for either a temporary change of station (TCS relocation) or EX-TDY. Upon selection, a cost comparison will be conducted to evaluate which option will be offered if detailee is outside the Washington D.C. area.

If a candidate is offered EX-TDY, transportation, lodging and M&IE will be provided in accordance with government regulations, Department of Justice policy and the governing Memorandum of Understanding between the detailee and Criminal Division.

If a candidate is offered TCS relocation, relocation expenses will be provided in accordance with government regulations, Department of Justice policy and the governing Memorandum of Understanding between the detailee and Criminal Division.

Salary

Under a detail assignment, there is no change to the selectee's base pay.

Number of Positions
1
Travel
Some domestic and international travel will be required.

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 November 16, 2022