Summary
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) Office defends litigation brought under the "Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022" (CLJA), Pub. L. No. 117-168, § 804, 136 Stat. 1802, 1802-04 (2022). This statute aims to provide appropriate relief to service members and others who were injured as a result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Duties
The Civil Division is the largest litigating component in the Department of Justice, with over 2,000 employees. Each office within the Division handles cases worth millions, sometimes trillions , as well as cases that involve legal issues of great national importance, including matters of national security, separation of powers, and immigration. The Division also defends against constitutional challenges to Federal statutes, substantive and procedural challenges to agency regulations and Executive Branch initiatives, and tort actions brought against Federal employees and agencies, among many other kinds of defensive litigation. In addition, the Division handles an array of affirmative enforcement matters, including in the areas of civil fraud, government ethics, Federal preemption, and consumer protection.
The CLJA is a fast-moving litigation that is a high priority for the Department of Justice. It is purported to be the largest mass tort in United States history. Currently, more than 3,700 lawsuits are pending in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC) and approximately 409,000 administrative claims have been submitted to the Department of the Navy. The cases present interesting issues of scientific and medical causation. Some of the pending cases are expected to go to trial in the EDNC in 2026.
This position is Trial Attorney, located in the Department of Justice, Torts Branch, Civil Division, Camp Lejeune Unit .
The Camp Lejeune Unit consists of a team of dedicated employees who energetically provide the defense of what is reported to be the largest mass toxic tort litigation in United States history. This Unit defends the United States in litigation brought under the "Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022" (CLJA), Pub. L. No. 117-168, § 804, 136 Stat. 1802, 1802-04 (2022), which was signed into law on August 10, 2022. This statute aims to provide appropriate relief to service members and others who were injured as a result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, between 1953 and 1987.
This litigation provides unique opportunities in many components of litigation, including fact and expert discovery, working with scientific and medical expert witnesses, interacting with various federal agencies, robust motion practice, oral advocacy, settlement negotiations, and trials. Other responsibilities include working with the Department of Justice Civil Appellate Section and representing the United States in certain appellate matters, including CLJA statutory construction matters. This Unit also works closely with the Department of the Navy on the administrative claims and related settlement matters. This Camp Lejeune team provides relevant litigation training sessions, and they attend educational programs provided for Federal employees.
CLJA litigation is a complex, high-stakes, and high-visibility toxic tort matter where multi-trillions of dollars in damages are sought from the United States. This litigation is of substantial public and Congressional interest. There are over 3,700 CLJA lawsuits pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and over 409,000 administrative claims pending with the Department of the Navy. The Camp Lejeune team provides the defense for all of these matters. Continuity of counsel competent to deal with the medical, scientific, and legal issues, is required to manage such massive and complex cases.
The incumbent reports to the Chief, Camp Lejeune Unit, and is responsible for conducting litigation in the District Court and appeals that arise from Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA) cases and administrative claims.
This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Must complete and pass a drug test.
- Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
- May require completion of a 2-year trial period. (Please refer to the trial period statement under Qualifications.)
- Must be able to successfully complete a background investigation and may be required to obtain a clearance.
- 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.
- Financial Disclosure: If selected, you will be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
Qualifications
In performing the work of the position, the incumbent carries out the following functions:
- Prepares for and conducts hearings, settlement negotiations, and trials of complex cases. Prepares memoranda such as pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents on the basis of factual and legal research. Participates in pretrial and prehearing conferences. Conducts trials or presents oral arguments in federal courts, state courts, and administrative proceedings, as appropriate. Provides advice to junior trial attorneys. Handles appellate litigation, as necessary;
- Reviews and analyzes facts and develops evidence during the preparation of assigned cases. This involves difficult and complex cases in which legal principles are not clearly established or where they are novel;
- Confers with the Chief to identify the policy of the Department in related litigation. Applies the theory of the government's cases, determines applicable legal principles to a given statement of facts, selects and examines witnesses, and plans trial strategy and appropriate techniques;
- As assigned, represents the United States and individual clients in direct negotiations and discussions with attorneys for private litigants;
- Participates in discussions with opposing counsel and in the formulation of settlements often having far-reaching legal consequences;
- Makes recommendations with respect to proposed changes in legislation relating to provisions of law. Provides advice concerning legal and policy questions related to statutes administered by the office;
- Advises and consults with the Chief to report on the status of cases and matters related to legal issues within the assigned area of litigation;
- Maintains personal contacts and works closely with officials and employees of the Division, officials and employees of the Department and other government agencies, and the public on litigation and policy-related matters;
- Responds to inquiries from the White House, Congress, federal departments and agencies, state and local authorities, and private individuals on matters within the scope of assigned statutory responsibilities;
- As requested, performs special legal and administrative projects requiring broad experience and sound judgement; and
- Performs other job-related duties, as assigned.
- Receives general instructions from the Assistant Director and the Unit Chief. Assignments are typically completed with a broad latitude of judgment in terms of leadership responsibilities, case preparation and theory development, case presentation, consultations, etc.
- Consults with the Assistant Director and Unit Chief, as appropriate, concerning issues or problems that have a significant impact on policy, procedure, or case action.
Minimum experience: Applicants must have a J.D. degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) and have at least one-year post-JD. (or equivalent) legal/trial or other relevant experience commiserate with the grade you are applying to. You must be a US Citizen
Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.
· GS-13 - minimum 1.5 years post-JD legal experience
· GS-14 - minimum 2.5 years post-JD legal experience
· GS-15 - minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Examples of the experience described above 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: Highly qualified applicants would have experience in toxic tort litigation. This includes expertise as to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, eDiscovery, defensive litigation, and defense of important federal laws, regulations, and policies. The incumbent is expected to work under a variety of conditions as dictated by the particular circumstances involved in each case.
Trial Period Statement
As a condition of employment for accepting this position in accordance with section 11.5 of Executive Order 14284, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Education
All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov.
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Additional information
Veteran Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veterans' preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/.
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 Veterans' 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.pdffor a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).
DOJ EEO Statement/Policy: http://www.justice.gov/jmd/eeos/08-eeo-policy.pdf
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and 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. DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes to resume@benderconsult.com, and reference "Federal Career Opportunities" in the subject line. Additional information is found at: www.benderconsult.com.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: www.sss.gov.
Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: 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 behalffrom 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.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications. Your application will be evaluated by a reviewing panel.
Please Note: The Selecting Official may select additional candidates if more positions become available within 120 days after the closing date of the vacancy.
Required Documents
You must submit the following documents:
- Cover Letter (highlighting month and year of relevant experience)
- Resume (not to exceed 2 pages) - Applicants are encouraged to ensure that work experiences clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position and the technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position.
- Writing Sample (not more than 12 pages in length)
- DD-214 (Member-4 copy) and/or veteran documentation, (if applicable)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application questionnaire and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 01/16/2026 to receive consideration.
1. Click "Apply Online" to get started.
2. If you're not logged in to your USAJOBS account, you will need to login. If you don't have an account, please create one.
3. You will be prompted to select one of your stored (or uploaded) resumes, and any supporting documents you have uploaded to USAJOBS. If you have not uploaded these documents, you can do so later before submitting your application.
4. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, you will be asked to submit your demographic information (if you have provided this in your profile). Submission is optional and anonymous.
5. You'll be asked to confirm your choices and certify the accuracy of your information before you're able to continue to the Application Manager system. Until you see the blue border and DOJ logo, you are still on USAJOBS. You'll see a folder animation just before you leave USAJOBS.
6. Once you reach DOJ's Application Manager system, you'll be asked to verify the information you transmitted from USAJOBS. You will then respond to the application assessment questionnaires and indicate your eligibility options.
7. After responding to the questionnaires, you will have the opportunity to attach the documents you brought over from USAJOBS *OR* upload documents directly from your computer or device.
8. If you opt to upload a document directly, click the "Upload" button and select the document on your device, then wait for the upload to finish. Repeat as needed. Documents must be less than 3 MB each and should be in a compatible file format.
9. Once all your documents are uploaded, you must assign the uploads to the appropriate document category. You may attach more than one document to each category. Click the drop-down menu for a document category, and select one of the available options in the menu. The document will be listed under this category. You can click the drop-down again to add other documents, as needed. You can have up to 15 document assignments.
10. Once you've uploaded and assigned all your documents to an appropriate document type, you can proceed to the final verification step, and click Submit.
11. If you have correctly submitted your application, you will receive an automated e-mail notification within 30-60 minutes. Be sure to review the announcement fully to make sure that your application contains everything that is required.
If you need help with the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help Site (for everything on the USAJOBS-side), or the Application Manager Help Site (for everything on the DOJ-side).
Regrettably, the Department of Justice cannot assist you with USAJOBS account issues. If you contact us for assistance and the problem is related to your USAJOBS account, we will have to direct you to USAJOBS to remedy the issue.
Next steps
Once the application package is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. All qualified applications will be sent to the hiring official for review. You will be contacted directly if an interview is desired.