Trial Attorney (Special Matters Unit)

Criminal Division (CRM)
Fraud Section
Attorney
Washington, DC
United States
20-CRM-FRD-055
About the Office: 

The Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking qualified, experienced attorneys for permanent or 24-month detail appointments to Trial Attorney positions in the Fraud Section's Special Matters Unit (SMU). Specifically, the incumbent will conduct, supervise, and litigate legal privilege matters and filter reviews on behalf of the Fraud Section's three litigating units.

The Fraud Section’s three litigating units—the Health Care Fraud Unit, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit and the Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit—investigate and prosecute both domestic white-collar crime across the United States, often in partnership with U.S. Attorney’s Offices, as well as international bribery and financial fraud, at times in coordination with global law enforcement agencies and regulators.

The Special Matters Unit is responsible for coordinating a variety of Fraud Section significant matters and initiatives as well as the Privilege Review Team. The SMU is responsible for working with the Fraud Section’s three litigating units to establish uniform practices for handling evidence collection and review that implicate claims of attorney-client or other privileges. In addition, the SMU may also litigate filter and privilege-related matters when necessary.

Applicants to this announcement may also be considered for other Trial Attorney positions within the Fraud Section, including positions located in the Medicare Strike Forces throughout the U.S.

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 Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking qualified, experienced attorneys for permanent or detail appointments to Trial Attorney positions in the Fraud Section’s Special Matters Unit (SMU). Specifically, the incumbent will conduct, supervise, and litigate legal privilege matters and filter reviews on behalf of the Fraud Section's three litigating units (Health Care Fraud (HCF), Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and Market Integrity and Major Frauds (MIMF)). Upon accepting an offer of permanent appointment employment, applicants must make a three-year commitment to the Fraud Section. Detailees will not be required to make this commitment.

Generally, as a Trial Attorney in the Unit specializing in filter review and privilege matters, the incumbent:

  • Advises prosecutors and supervisors throughout the Fraud Section on strategic approaches to identifying and handling issues related to privilege at all stages of criminal investigations and litigation;
  • Handles and advises prosecutors regarding pre-indictment privilege-related litigation, including grand jury litigation, that may be necessary to ensure that such matters are being handled appropriately and effectively;
  • Supervises and engages in the review of potentially privileged materials;
  • Assists in the management of the Section’s programs to develop policies and procedures related to evidence collection and handling for materials that implicate attorney-client or other privileges, including where appropriate the establishment of filter teams or other evidence review processes; and
  • Coordinates with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and federal law enforcement agencies in the development and implementation of privilege and filter teams. 
Qualifications: 

Required 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 of the bar in good standing.

Grade Specific Qualifications:

  • To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, applicants must have 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.
  • 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: 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.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Expertise in the law of legal privilege, including the Attorney-Client Privilege, Work Product Doctrine, Spousal Privilege, and all exceptions to such privileges, including waiver and the crime-fraud exception;
  • Experience supervising attorneys and support staff engaged in the review of potentially privileged materials;
  • Experience litigating privilege matters in federal court;
  • Experience as a criminal prosecutor;
  • Knowledge of white collar criminal litigation;
  • Experience in supporting, litigating, and supervising federal or state criminal cases; and
  • Experience with the federal judiciary.
Salary: 
The salary range for this position is $121,316 – $170,800 per annum, which includes locality pay. See OPM’s Web page at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2020/general-schedule/.
Travel: 
Occasional travel may be required.
Application Process: 

The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.

Please submit your application through USAJOBS. The list of required documents can be found in the USAJobs announcement.

  1. If you do not already have an account, please create a USAjobs account before applying Create an Account. You will be able to upload your resume and supporting documents and complete your profile prior to applying.
  2. Once you have an account, apply to the USAjobs vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/576875300

 

TCS Relocation/TDY Expenses:

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

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 conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Application Deadline: 
Friday, September 4, 2020
Relocation Expenses: 
See Application Process section.
Number of Positions: 
Few
Updated August 25, 2020

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Department Policies

Equal Employment Opportunity:  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.

Reasonable Accommodations:  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.

Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities:  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.   

Suitability and Citizenship:  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.

Veterans:  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).

USAO Residency Requirement:  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.

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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.