Trial Attorney (Appellate)
The Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice is seeking several experienced attorneys for multiple positions in the Appellate Staff, located in Washington, DC. The Appellate Staff represents the United States in a broad range of civil appellate litigation. The Appellate Staff handles appeals involving all of the subject-matter areas litigated by the Civil Division, including appeals arising out of civil cases handled by the United States Attorneys nationwide.
DutiesAppellate Staff attorneys practice in all thirteen of the federal courts of appeals, and other courts as appropriate. The Appellate Staff's portfolio includes many of the most difficult and controversial cases in which the Federal Government is involved. Typical matters concern the litigation of legal questions central to the Government's business, defending federal statutes and regulations and the Executive Branch's prerogatives, preserving the public fisc and protecting national security. The Appellate Staff also works with the Office of the Solicitor General to prepare Supreme Court filings in civil cases.
In addition, the Appellate Staff represents the United States in certain types of affirmative litigation, such as consumer protection cases and False Claims Act suits to recover money fraudulently obtained from the U.S. treasury. The Appellate Staff handles a wide variety of counter-terrorism and national security litigation, including challenges to enemy combatant detention and challenges to the designation of foreign terrorist organizations.
The Appellate Staff is seeking multiple experienced attorneys to represent the United States, its agencies, and its officers in civil cases in the federal courts of appeals and other appellate courts. The trial attorney will personally brief and argue appellate cases assigned to them, draft recommendations and memoranda for the Solicitor General and other officials on a range of litigation matters, and work with the Office of the Solicitor General to prepare Supreme Court filings.
Typical Appellate Staff cases include defending against constitutional challenges to Acts of Congress, Executive decisions, and national security programs; administrative challenges to agency rules and adjudications; tort claims against the United States; employment discrimination claims against the government; and claims against federal officers in their individual capacities for the alleged violation of a person's constitutional rights (Bivens claims). The Appellate Staff also represents Executive Branch interests in separation-of-powers litigation.
This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week.
Requirements- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
- Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing
- 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 obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access depending on organizational assignment/duty location.
- 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.