Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Position: US Dept. of Justice, Environment Division, Law and Policy Section, Trial Attorney (Deadline: May 26, 2016)

https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/job/trial-attorney-158

LAW AND POLICY SECTION
ATTORNEY
WASHINGTONDC 20004
UNITED STATES
ENRD-16-047-EXC
About the Office: 
The Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking an experienced attorney for its Law and Policy Section (“LPS” or “Section”) in Washington, DC. 
The Law and Policy Section advises and assists the Assistant Attorney General on legal and policy questions, particularly those that affect multiple sections in the Division.  It handles the Division’s response to legislative proposals and Congressional requests, amicus participation in cases of importance to the United States, the Division’s involvement in international legal policy and trade matters, as well as other special litigation and projects on behalf of Division leadership.  Other LPS attorney duties include serving as the Division’s ethics officer and counselor, alternative dispute resolution counselor, and liaison with state and local governments.  
For more information about the Environment & Natural Resources Division, visit the Justice Department’s web site at:http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd.
Job Description: 
The Section’s work encompasses the full range of environmental, natural resources, public lands, and Indian-related laws handled by the Division, as well as issues of constitutional, administrative, and ethics law.  The Section’s work often involves complex, novel, and cross-cutting issues which require close coordination with the Division’s other sections and interaction with other DOJ components and leadership.  We expect that the attorney chosen for this position would maintain a portfolio that includes a broad mix of work, including legislative and proposed rulemaking analysis, litigation, and special projects that involve the analysis of cross-cutting legal and policy issues relating to litigation.  We anticipate that an element of this position will involve work on legislative matters, particularly legislative matters related to natural resources, energy, public lands, and Native American issues.
Qualifications: 
The Section’s docket is demanding and requires top caliber work products.  Successful applicants will have a demonstrated record of analysis of complex legal problems, initiative and creativity, and a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.  Applicants must also demonstrate outstanding research, analytical, and writing abilities, good judgment, and be able to balance a diverse and constantly evolving workload.  Direct legislative experience as a Congressional staffer, or in a similar position involving close work with the federal legislative process, is highly desirable.  Also highly desirable is a background in natural resources, Indian, environmental, criminal, and/or administrative law, and some litigation experience. 
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree; be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia, have at least 3-5 years of post-J.D. legal experience, and be a U.S. citizen.  Position is available immediately, subject to approvals and security checks.
Salary: 
Current salary and years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range is GS-14 ($108,887- $141,555) and GS-15 ($128,082- $160,300) per annum.
Travel: 
Periodic travel is required.
Application Process: 
Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on May 27, 2016.  Applicants must email a current resume, cover letter, writing sample, and OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment (Click on the link below to obtain the OF-306) to:
Rhodora Woolner, Supervisory Administrative Specialist, U.S. Department of Justice. Please reference vacancy announcement number ENRD-16-047-EXC.
Email applications only, please to attyapply-lps.enrd@usdoj.gov
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No telephone calls, please.  Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement if a position becomes available within 90 days of the closing date of the announcement.
Application Deadline: 
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Relocation Expenses: 
Relocation expenses will not be authorized.
Number of Positions: 
1
Updated May 9, 2016
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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 color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a parent, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, on the basis of personal favoritism, or any other non-merit 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.
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 targeted/severe disabilities are encouraged to register for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Shared List of People with Disabilities (the Bender Disability Employment Registry) by submitting their resume to resume@benderconsult.com
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and referencing "Federal Career Opportunities" in the subject line.  Additional information about the Bender Registry is available atwww.benderconsult.com[external link].  Individuals with disabilities may also contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC).  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. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys' Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. Citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. Citizens are 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.
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 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).

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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.