Trial Attorney

Closing Date: 18th April, 2024

Description:

Summary:
The Special Litigation Section of A Government Entity is seeking an attorney for the position of Trial Attorney to work on complex, pattern or practice investigations, litigation, and enforcement of settlement agreements and remedial orders that affect the constitutional and other federal rights of people with disabilities. These matters are sensitive, of high public interest and often involve working with disadvantaged or disenfranchised groups.

Duties:
The attorney selected will be dedicated to the Section's Disability Practice Group which works to ensure that people with disabilities who are served in the public health system are not subjected to unnecessary institutionalization in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and that their rights are protected in publicly run residential institutions. The work is pursuant to the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control ("HCFAC") Program.

The Trial Attorney will be responsible for duties such as, but not limited to:

• personally handling and leading team members on sensitive and/or complex investigations, litigation, negotiations; monitoring/enforcement of systemic reform;
• working with the Section's management team to develop and establish strategies and priorities for disability-related enforcement;
• coordinating with other federal agencies to develop strategies for effective and efficient information sharing and case referrals; and
• conducting outreach to witnesses, victims, and those who are affected by the Section's work.

The Trial Attorney will be responsible for screening and developing new matters, conducting comprehensive investigations involving in-person visits, interviewing witnesses, working with experts, analyzing data, drafting written recommendations including legal analyses, litigating claims and negotiating, monitoring, and enforcing settlement agreements. Litigation associated with these investigations is typically complex, involving extensive discovery, pretrial motions practice, preliminary injunction hearings, trials, and post judgment enforcement and contempt proceedings. This position requires travel and may require extended hours.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• All male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the selective service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
• You may be required to complete a pre-employment security screening to initiate your background investigation, which includes a drug screening. Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion and adjudication of your investigation.
• You must have a JD degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and 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.
• DOJ uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.
  
• You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction), and possess the minimum years of post-professional law degree experience commensurate to the grade level of eligibility, as shown below. Applicants also must have strong, demonstrated qualifications in the following areas: academic achievement; 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; and the ability to excel in a fast-paced, demanding environment. In addition, applicants must have outstanding professional references.
Given the nature and volume of this work, the Section generally seeks candidates with significant experience in complex litigation. Applicants with one or more of the following qualifications are preferred: (1) extensive civil trial experience; (2) extensive federal civil litigation experience; (3) experience with complex investigations and negotiations; (4) substantive knowledge of Olmstead, Medicaid, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable law; and (5) experience conducting outreach to a broad array of stakeholders. Judicial clerkships (especially in federal court), law review, moot court, clinical experience, and 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 are also preferred. Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.

• GS-14 - minimum 2.5 years post-JD legal experience
• GS-15 - minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience

Education:

• All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
• Or
• Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials.

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