Attorney (Entry-Level)

Offices, Boards and Divisions•Washington, DC

About The Position

The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, is seeking experienced attorneys to work on a variety of significant and complex issues. The role involves enforcing federal statutes and executive orders that prohibit unlawful discrimination in areas such as voting, education, employment, housing, police services, public accommodations and facilities, and federally funded and conducted programs. The division encompasses various sections including Appellate, Criminal, Disability Rights, Educational Opportunities, Employment Litigation, Housing and Civil Enforcement, Immigrant and Employee Rights, Second Amendment, Special Litigation, and Voting. Each section focuses on specific aspects of civil rights enforcement, from investigating and prosecuting discrimination and hate crimes to ensuring equal opportunity for people with disabilities and protecting voting rights.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
All male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the selective service.
You may be required to complete a one- or two-year probationary period.
You may be required to complete a pre-employment security screening to initiate your background investigation, which includes a drug screening.
Must have a JD degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
Must be a member in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) by their entry on duty date.
Resume cannot exceed two (2) pages.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a one- or two-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
Strong, demonstrated qualifications in academic achievement.
Substantive knowledge and expertise in the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the work of the section or substantially similar laws, rules, and regulations.
Written and oral communication skills.
The ability to analyze complex issues.
Skill and experience working collaboratively and productively with others.
Organizational skills.
Professional judgment.
Initiative.
The ability to excel in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
Outstanding professional references.
Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.
Law school graduates and current law students taking a February 2027 bar examination may be considered, provided they meet these requirements prior to entry on duty.
Possessing the minimum legal experience or a law degree does not guarantee that an applicant will be selected at that grade level.
Up to one year of post-J.D. legal experience, or possess J.D. (for GS-11).
Minimum of one year of post-J.D. legal experience (for GS-12).

Nice To Haves

Judicial clerkships (especially in federal court).
Law review.
Moot court.
Clinical experience.
Skill and experience working cooperatively and productively with a range of people, such as charging parties, witnesses, respondents, disadvantaged or disenfranchised groups, opposing counsel, judicial or administrative officials, advocacy groups, law enforcement personnel, and the staff of other federal or state governmental agencies.

Responsibilities

Investigating allegations of civil rights discrimination or potential violations of the law.
Conducting extensive document review to gather, analyze, and evaluate data and evidence.
Interviewing witnesses.
Drafting legal and factual memoranda.
Presenting evidence to federal grand juries (if appropriate).
Developing cases for possible litigation.
Working with expert witnesses and other federal partners.
Presenting the government's case in federal or district court.
Conducting negotiations and mediations on a range of issues.
Enforcing settlement agreements and remedial orders.
Representing the United States in civil rights cases in the federal courts of appeals (Appellate Section).
Investigating and prosecuting cases involving interference with liberties and deprivation of rights (Criminal Section).
Prosecuting cases involving law enforcement misconduct, excessive force, sexual misconduct, and hate crimes (Criminal Section).
Implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Disability Rights).
Enforcing Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 (Educational Opportunities).
Enforcing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination against state and local government employers (Employment Litigation).
Enforcing the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 against state and local government employers and private employers (Employment Litigation).
Protecting the right to access housing free from discrimination, access credit on an equal basis, patronize places of business that provide public accommodations, and practice one's faith free from discrimination (Housing and Civil Enforcement).
Enforcing anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) regarding citizenship status and national origin discrimination, unfair documentary practices, and retaliation (Immigrant and Employee Rights).
Investigating alleged patterns or practices of Second Amendment infringement by law enforcement and filing statements of interest in relevant cases (Second Amendment Section).
Protecting civil rights in areas including rights of people in state or local institutions, rights of individuals with disabilities to community-based services, rights of people interacting with law enforcement, rights of youth in the juvenile justice system, safe access to places of religious worship and reproductive health clinics, and rights of people to practice religion while confined (Special Litigation).
Enforcing civil provisions of federal statutes designed to safeguard the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, and Civil Rights Acts (Voting).