Legal Careers
Dark Web and Cryptocurrency International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Attorney Advisor
This assignment is for a period of at least 12 months, with the possibility of extension, contingent on the availability of funding. Appointment to this position will be effected by detail appointment.
The mission of the Criminal Division's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) is to develop and administer technical and developmental assistance designed to enhance the capabilities of foreign justice sector institutions and their law enforcement personnel. This assistance is administered in order to enable those institutions and their personnel to more effectively combat terrorism, transnational organized crime, corruption, financial crimes and other types of crime in a manner consistent with the rule of law. The assistance is also administered to enable those institutions and their personnel to more effectively cooperate regionally and with the United States in combating such crime. http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/opdat.
This position will also work closely with the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS). CCIPS is responsible for implementing the Department's national strategies in combating computer and intellectual property crimes worldwide. CCIPS acts as a force multiplier in the domestic and international prevention, investigation, and prosecution of computer crimes and use of electronic evidence by working with other government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, and foreign counterparts. Section attorneys work to improve the domestic and international infrastructure-legal, technological, and operational-to pursue network criminals most effectively. The Section's enforcement responsibilities against intellectual property crimes are similarly multi-faceted. Intellectual Property (IP) has become one of the principal U.S. economic engines, and the nation is a target of choice for thieves of material protected by copyright, trademark, or trade-secret designation. In pursuing all these goals, CCIPS attorneys train federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel; comment on and propose legislation; initiate and participate in international efforts to combat computer and intellectual property crime and provide case-based mentoring and litigation support to other prosecutors. In addition, CCIPS attorneys located in Washington, D.C. regularly run complex investigations, resolve unique legal and investigative issues raised by emerging computer and telecommunications technologies; and litigate cases.
The U.S. Transnational and High-Tech Crime Global Law Enforcement Network (GLEN) program is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Affairs (DOS/INL) and CCIPS and OPDAT. Currently, ICHIPs are posted to regional positions in Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Asia (Hong Kong S.A.R. and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Europe (Bucharest, Romania, Zagreb, Croatia and the Hague), and Western Hemisphere (Panama City, Panama and Sao Paulo, Brazil). Two subject-matter expert ICHIPs -- the ICHIP for Internet Fraud and Public Health (IFPH) and the ICHIP for Dark Web and Cryptocurrency (DWC) -- as well as DOJ computer forensic analysts and law enforcement officials with intellectual property and cybercrime expertise also form part of the GLEN.
The objective of the GLEN is to promote the rule of law and to protect Americans from criminal threats emanating from abroad by delivering targeted training to encourage both immediate improvements as well as long-term institutional change. This assistance includes training workshops, legislative review, case-based mentoring, skills-development, and promoting institutional reform such as the formation of specialized units to address these criminal threats.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
The Dark Web and Cryptocurrency International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Attorney Advisor (DWC-ICHIP) will work with the GLEN to support international capacity building aimed at countering cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) criminals in the context of transnational organized crime (TOC). The DWC-ICHIP will provide assistance on a variety of criminal justice projects including: (1) developing and delivering technical assistance and programs on criminal investigations involving the Dark Web and cryptocurrency, with particular emphasis on Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe/Central Asia regions where sophisticated TOC threats are located; (2) identifying gaps in existing law, providing advice to legislative bodies on effective legislation and amendment of existing laws to improve enforcement; and (3) building capacity of law enforcement agencies on a range of Dark Web and cryptocurrency topics, including techniques to conduct undercover operations on the Dark Web and undercover cryptocurrency transactions, technical skills and technology to perform block-chain analysis to trace transactions, and training prosecutors to obtain and present admissible evidence related to Dark Web activity. The selected attorney will work closely with law enforcement and government officials, including prosecutors, investigators, judges, legislators, and others to serve as a subject-matter expert on Dark Web and cryptocurrency in order to develop and carry out the justice sector assistance program.
Required: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess ALL of the requirements below:
- A J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
- Specific grade level requirements:
- GS-15: At least four (4) years of post J.D. legal experience, to include four (4) years of prosecutorial experience in Article III courts or comparable state level courts.
- GS-14: At least three (3) years of post J.D. legal experience, to include three (3) years of prosecutorial experience in Article III courts or comparable state level courts.
Applicants must have, or be able to obtain through their Component/Agency, and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
Preferred: Applicants should have a thorough understanding and practical knowledge of Department of Justice and other U.S. Government approaches and policies involving cybercrime and intellectual property crime, with an emphasis on Dark Web and cryptocurrency matters, and security and justice sector development issues, including training and institution-building.
The successful applicant should also have:
- Ability to function effectively in an international, multi-cultural environment;
- Excellent interpersonal and management skills;
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing;
- Extensive prosecution experience; and
- Experience in bar activities, teaching, designing course curricula, and/or work with international development projects.
Although this vacancy announcement expires on August 12, 2020, the announcement may be closed at any time if selections are made. The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.
All interested attorneys meeting these qualifications should submit a cover letter and resume to ICHIP.Applicants@USDOJ.GOV
This position may be eligible for either a temporary change of station (TCS) relocation or EX-TDY. Upon selection, a cost comparison will be conducted to evaluate which option will be offered if detailee is outside the Washington D.C. area.
If candidate is offered EX-TDY, transportation, lodging and M&IE may be provided in accordance with government regulations, DOJ policy and the governing Memorandum of Understanding between the detailee and Criminal Division.
If a candidate is offered TCS relocation, relocation expenses may be provided in accordance with government regulations, DOJ policy and the governing Memorandum of Understanding between the detailee and Criminal Division.
Under detail assignment, there is no change to the selectee's base pay.
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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 race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based 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. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.
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 disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. 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. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is 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. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled 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 their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
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