Trial Attorney

Offices, Boards and Divisions•Washington, DC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Torts Branch is seeking Trial Attorneys for its Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Section. The Section handles a wide variety of complex and often high-profile suits filed against the United States under the FTCA, arising from matters such as medical care at federal facilities or community health centers, federal regulatory activities, law enforcement and immigration enforcement, and management of federal lands. Trial Attorneys handle personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage suits arising from activities of federal employees acting within the scope of their federal employment. They frequently handle large or complex cases of national significance, including law enforcement matters, suits involving individuals detained in immigration custody, cases arising from federal responses to protests and riots, litigation stemming from catastrophic natural disasters, and complex medical malpractice cases involving medical causation issues and high damages claims. Attorneys provide guidance to United States Attorneys' Offices (USAOs) and federal agencies on complex legal issues and case strategy; recommend whether proposed settlements should be authorized; and prepare appeal recommendations on adverse FTCA judgments. The Section reviews draft legislation that may affect the public fisc, adjusts and settles administrative claims arising from DOJ employees' conduct, approves certain administrative settlements involving other federal agencies, and recommends to the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division whether to authorize settlements requiring approval by the Assistant Attorney General or Associate Attorney General. This is not a remote position. The employee is required to work in person five days a week.

Requirements

J.D. or equivalent degree.
Duly licensed and authorized to practice law under the laws of a U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia, and an active member of the bar in good standing.
Post-J.D. legal experience according to grade: GS-11, up to 1 year; GS-12, at least 1 year; GS-13, at least 1.5 years; GS-14, at least 2.5 years; GS-15, at least 4 years.
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
Must complete a background investigation, including drug testing.
Selective Service registration is required when applicable.
May be required to complete a 2-year trial period.
Depending on organizational assignment or duty location, may be required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.
If selected, must disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and federal ethics guidelines.
Academic degrees and coursework must be from an accredited or pre-accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or foreign education must be shown to be comparable to U.S. accredited education.
Qualifications must be met by the vacancy announcement closing date.

Nice To Haves

Excellent writing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
Good judgment.
Experience in trial work.
Judicial clerkship experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

Handle personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage suits under the FTCA arising from federal employees' conduct within the scope of their federal employment.
Litigate large, complex, high-profile, and nationally significant cases, including law enforcement, immigration detention, natural disaster, and medical malpractice matters.
Provide guidance to USAOs and federal agencies on complex legal issues and case strategy.
Recommend whether settlements proposed by federal agencies and USAOs should be authorized.
Prepare appeal recommendations on adverse FTCA judgments, including judgments in cases handled by USAOs.
Review draft legislation that may affect the public fisc.
Adjust and settle administrative claims arising from the conduct of DOJ employees.
Approve administrative settlements of claims arising from other federal agencies' activities when the claims exceed agencies' delegated settlement authority.
Recommend to the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division whether to authorize settlements requiring approval by the Assistant Attorney General or Associate Attorney General.