Summary
A component of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, the Environmental Defense Section (EDS) represents the United States in complex and diverse civil litigation arising under a broad range of environmental statutes, including the Clean Air Act; Clean Water Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; Toxic Substances Control Act; Safe Drinking Water Act; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
Duties
This vacancy is for 1 or more positions. The duty location is Washington, DC. This is not a remote position.
ENRD is the nation's largest and most experienced environmental law firm and is often ranked among the federal government's best places to work. The Environmental Defense Section (EDS or Section) offers one of ENRD's and the Department's most varied dockets. It is one of the only DOJ components whose attorneys routinely handle cases in both the federal courts of appeals and in district courts. EDS defends petitions for review brought in the courts of appeals against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to special statutory judicial review provisions of the environmental statutes, as well as claims for judicial review brought in district courts pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. The substance of these cases ranges, for example, from high-profile, multi-party challenges to national EPA rules (such as major Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act rules) to more targeted challenges to site-specific agency decisions. EDS also handles complex claims of liability against federal agencies under pollution control laws, such as for costs of response actions at Superfund sites, federally owned facilities, and private sites. The Section also brings affirmative civil enforcement actions in district courts for unpermitted discharges of dredged and fill material to waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. In addition to EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, EDS routinely represents the Department of Defense (and its component military branches) and the Department of Energy.
Section attorneys are responsible for all aspects of complex litigation. This includes pre-trial tasks up to and through trial, such as preparation and filing of dispositive motions, drafting merits briefs, written and document discovery, selecting and working with experts, taking and defending expert and fact witness depositions, presenting oral argument in court, handling witnesses at trial and other evidentiary hearings, and negotiating settlements. Cases range from simpler matters handled by a single attorney to more complex matters typically handled by a small litigation team.
EDS cases present attorneys with the opportunity to regularly appear and argue cases in federal district courts and the federal courts of appeals, and to periodically try cases or handle other evidentiary proceedings. EDS attorneys also frequently provide counsel to our client agencies and other DOJ components on litigation, draft regulations, and other environmental and administrative law issues related to our work. In addition, Section attorneys routinely coordinate with their colleagues in the offices of the United States Attorneys, Solicitor General, and State Attorneys General. For more information about the Environmental Defense Section, visit: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/environmental-defense-section.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen or national.
- You must complete a background investigation to include pre-employment drug testing.
- Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
- You must maintain a bank account for direct deposit of salary.
- J.D. degree required, must be an active member of the bar, any jurisdiction.
Qualifications
The Section's docket is demanding and requires top caliber work product. Successful applicants will have a demonstrated record of outstanding legal writing, complex case management, initiative and creativity, strong courtroom skills, and a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and be a U.S. citizen or national. The ideal candidate should possess an excellent academic record and strong analytical, writing, and advocacy skills. The ideal candidate should also have a comprehensive understanding of federal civil procedure, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to work effectively in a team environment. Prior environmental law experience is helpful but not required.
Specific grade level requirements:
At least 3 years of post J.D. civil or environmental litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-13 grade level.
At least 4 years of post J.D. civil or environmental litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level.
At least 5 years of post J.D. civil or environmental litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level.
Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range is:
- GS-13 ($120,579 - $156,755)
- GS-14 ($142,488 - $185,234)
- GS-15 ($167,603 - $195,200)
YOUR RESUMÉ MUST provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement if you are using experience to meet all or part of the qualification requirements. Please ensure that your resume includes the month and year that you began and ended each position held or that position will not be credited toward meeting the experience requirement. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
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.
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://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Benefits
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.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veteran preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran preference must include that information in their 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 his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
How to Apply
You must apply online through USAJOBS. Click on the APPLY Online button. Follow the prompts to answer a few questions and submit all required documents by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.
Applicants must submit the following online: (1) resumé; (2) cover letter of not more than two pages highlighting relevant litigation, environmental law, and legal writing experience and any other factors that you believe would be a good fit for the Section's litigation practice; (3) short writing sample from an advocacy piece (5-10 pages); (4) law school transcript; and (5) DD-214 (if applicable).
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Office of Human Resources using the contact information listed below.
Internet Sites: For more information about the Environment and Natural Resources Division, visit the web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd.
This and selected other legal position announcements can be found on the Internet at: https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers.
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 80 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified of the outcome.