Legal Careers
Trial Attorney
The United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, is seeking highly qualified attorneys to serve as Trial Attorneys in its seven civil enforcement sections, including the Civil Conduct Task Force, and its five criminal enforcement sections based in Washington, DC, Chicago, IL, New York, NY and San Francisco, CA.
The attorneys hired can expect to be given significant responsibility and have immediate involvement with matters of national importance.
Additional information about the Antitrust Division can be found at http://www.justice.gov/atr/.
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.
Listed below are sections in Washington, DC, responsible for civil antitrust enforcement and litigation, competition advocacy, and competition policy in multiple sectors of the economy as described.
- Civil Conduct Task Force: investigating and prosecuting civil nonmerger matters across a broad range of industries.
- Defense, Industrials & Aerospace Section: defense, avionics and aeronautics, industrial equipment, road and highway construction, metals and mining and waste industries.
- Financial Services, Fintech & Banking Section: financial services and technology, credit and debit cards, residential real estate services, book and ebook publishing, printing, concert ticketing and venues, and advertising agencies.
- Healthcare & Consumer Products Section: healthcare and health insurance, wood and paper products, dairy, bread, beer, and other food and retail products.
- Media, Entertainment & Communications Section: television and motion picture production and distribution, music, newspapers and mass-market publishing, radio and television broadcasting, pay television (including cable, satellite and streaming services), sports, recreation and gambling, wireline and wireless telecommunications (including mobile and enterprise services), commercial satellite communications services, internet (the services, infrastructure and hardware that comprise the foundation of the Internet) and telecommunications equipment.
- Technology & Digital Platforms Section: computer hardware and software, high technology component manufacturing, internet-related businesses, and gig economy platforms.
- Transportation, Energy, & Agriculture Section: aviation, railroads, trucking, ocean shipping, hotels, restaurants, travel services, electricity, oil field services, crops, seeds, fish and livestock.
Responsibilities as a Trial Attorney in one of the Division's civil sections include merger review, civil investigations and litigation of anticompetitive conduct as well as public advocacy for policies that ensure an innovative and competitive marketplace. Attorneys in these sections frequently grapple with challenging cases involving technical complexity, technological change, barriers to entry and evolving competitive and regulatory landscapes.
The Chicago, IL, New York, NY and San Francisco, CA offices and Washington, DC sections listed below are responsible for criminal antitrust enforcement and litigation. These offices and sections investigate and litigate criminal antitrust matters and serve as the Division's liaison with U.S. attorneys, state attorneys general and other regional law enforcement agencies. They also handle national and international matters and play a primary role in the Division's criminal investigations and prosecutions.
- Chicago Office
- New York Office
- San Francisco Office
- Washington Criminal I Section
- Washington Criminal II Section
Responsibilities as an Attorney in one of the Division's criminal offices or sections will include investigation and prosecution of criminal antitrust and other white-collar crimes involving executives and their companies. Attorneys represent the United States before grand juries and district courts throughout the country at arraignments, motions hearings, trials, and sentencings; work closely with the FBI and other law enforcement partners to develop and execute investigative strategies; make charging decisions and propose dispositions on assigned cases; coordinate with international competition enforcers in matters involving multiple, parallel investigations of world-wide cartels; draft and negotiate grand jury subpoenas and obtain search warrants from magistrate judges; and participate in competition advocacy, outreach, and training throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this position, your resume and supporting documentation will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. To qualify, an applicant must:
- Be a citizen of the United States;
- Possess a J.D. or equivalent degree, be an active member of the bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least one and a half years of post-J.D. legal experience to qualify at the GS-13 level, two and a half years of post J.D. legal experience to qualify at the GS-14 level, and/or at least four years of post J.D. legal experience to qualify at the GS-15 level;
- Have experience in the investigation of potential federal civil or criminal antitrust and/or white-collar criminal violations, or general federal litigation experience, including criminal and/or civil cases; and
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Demonstrate excellent writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
Applications will be accepted until January 28, 2021. To receive consideration, please reference announcement E21-01-O05, and submit a resume, description of significant antitrust experience and/or litigation experience (including your role on each matter or litigation), and a writing sample/brief (no more than 15 pages). If you are a current or recent Federal employee, you must also submit a performance appraisal issued within the past 12 months, or if none exists, a statement to that effect and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50).
Please submit your application through USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov).
- If you do not already have a USAJOBS account, please create one before applying via the “Create an Account” link. You will be able to complete your profile and upload your resume and supporting documents prior to applying.
- Once an account has been created, apply to the USAJOBS vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/589374100
A complete application package includes:
- Cover Letter (highlighting relevant experience and a description of significant federal cases litigated, to include your role in them).
- Your Résumé - applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in their resume. Applicants are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position and the technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position.
- Writing Sample/Brief (not to exceed 15 pages).
- Performance Appraisal (if a current federal employee) - issued within the last 12 months, or if none exists, a statement to that effect.
- A copy of your latest SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if a current federal employee).
- Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable):
- If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
- If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
- If you are a disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it online or by calling 1-800-827-1000.
- Documentation of eligibility for special hiring authorities (if applicable) to prove appointment eligibility. Examples include: Peace Corps volunteer letter, military spouse hiring authority documentation, etc.
Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
This and selected other legal position announcements can be found at https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers.
Candidates are being solicited at the GS-13, GS-14, and GS-15 levels, with salaries up to $172,500 per annum, commensurate with current salary and experience. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2021….
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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.
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 behalf from 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.
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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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.