Duties
The Civil Division is seeking up to 10 attorneys to serve on non-reimbursable full-time details to CLJA for a period of six months, potentially renewable for a second six-month period by agreement between Civil Division and the originating agency or office.
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. The cases present interesting issues of scientific and medical causation. Some of the pending cases are expected to go to trial in the Eastern District of North Carolina in 2026.
The Camp Lejeune Unit consists of a team of dedicated employees who energetically provide the defense of the CLJA. 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 administrative claims and related settlement matters. This Camp Lejeune team also provides relevant litigation training sessions.
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.
The judges of the Eastern District of North Carolina established a Track System for handling the discovery in these cases. Five diseases are being litigated under Track One. CLJA has completed fact and scientific expert discovery for 25 Track One Plaintiffs, and trials are expected to begin in 2026. Discovery for Tracks Two and Three diseases could begin while Track One is underway. Among other responsibilities, detailees may be taking and defending fact (plaintiffs, family members, employers, treating physicians, etc.) and expert depositions; working with expert witnesses; assisting with discovery matters and motions; and possibly assisting with trials. The issues will include whether and to what extent the plaintiff was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, whether the scientific evidence makes it at least as likely as not that the claimed illness was caused by water exposure, and whether and to what extent the plaintiff has suffered damages as a result of the alleged injury.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
- You will be required to complete a suitability review.
- Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable
- Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
Qualifications
Applicants must have a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least one year of post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. Applicants should also have excellent academic credentials and outstanding advocacy and legal writing skills. Experience drafting and arguing motions, handling discovery, taking and defending depositions, developing expert witness testimony, and trying cases are highly desirable.
This is a public trust position that is subject to a current background investigation but does not require or provide a clearance.
Under a detail assignment, there is no change to the selectee's base pay. The positions will be filled at the employee's current grade level.
Education
Applicants must be in possession of a JD degree.
Additional information
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.
Your benefits will be maintained by your home agency.
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.
This announcement is intended to provide readily available applicants for detail positions within the Torts Branch, Camp Lejeune Justice Act Unit, Civil Division. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Qualified applicants will be reviewed and referred to Management.
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
- Resume showing relevant experience (not to exceed 2 pages)
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.