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Summary The Appellate Section plays a crucial role in defending the integrity and constitutionality of DOJ's investigations and prosecutions. Appellate Section attorneys write briefs and argue cases in the courts of appeals; prepare draft briefs and certiorari petitions for the Solicitor General (SG); make recommendations to the SG regarding whether further review is warranted when adverse decisions have been rendered; and brief and argue motions in district courts in cases of national importance. Responsibilities As a Trial Attorney in the Appellate Section, the incumbent will: Handle criminal cases in the U.S. Courts of Appeals, including briefing and oral arguments. Cases include those prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and other litigating sections in the Criminal Division. Draft briefs in merits cases before the Supreme Court, either as a party or an amicus, for the Solicitor General. This includes attending moot courts and oral arguments with attorneys from the Solicitor General's Office. Write memoranda recommending whether to seek further review of adverse decisions in criminal cases. Draft briefs for the Solicitor General in opposition to certiorari petitions in the Supreme Court. Prepare and argue pleadings in significant district court cases. Provide advice to Department leadership and U.S. Attorneys' Offices on a variety of complex substantive issues. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Required Qualifications: Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, 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. Grade Specific Qualifications: To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, applicants must have at least one and a half (1.5) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-12 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: performing basic legal analysis and formulating recommendations for senior managers; and composing legal memoranda, reports, and position papers on legislative history, laws, regulations, and court opinions in support of civil or criminal litigation. To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, applicants must have at least two and a half (2.5) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-13 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: performing legal analysis and formulating recommendations to senior managers; composing pleadings, briefs, and other court documents involving legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; and conducting civil or criminal litigation. To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have at least four (4) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff. Preferred Qualifications: Ability to communicate clearly through well-organized and accurately written documents. Ability to perform cogent and correct legal analysis on a variety of complex substantive issues. Ability to provide legal advice to others. Ability to manage a heavy legal case load. Ability to argue persuasively in court. Education A J.D., or equivalent, degree. Applicants who possess an equivalent degree rather than a J.D. may be subject to additional review by the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management. Additional Information Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement to fill vacancies that occur subsequent to this announcement. The Criminal Division participates in the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. To learn more, please visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 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. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys' Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. Citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. Citizens are 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. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please reach out to [email protected] or (202) 514-0361 for alternative application procedures. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Human Resources team at [email protected]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.