Trial Attorney - Environmental Defense Section (Open Continuous)

Hiring Organization Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) Hiring Office Environmental Defense Section Attorney Appointment Type Attorney Permanent Job ID ENRD-27-007-EXC (1372) Location: 150 M Street, NE

Washington, DC 20002 - United States Application Deadline: Thursday, September 30, 2027 About the Office The Environmental Defense Section (EDS) is seeking attorneys to represent the United States in complex and diverse civil litigation arising under a broad range of environmental statutes, including the Clean Air Act; Clean Water Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; Toxic Substances Control Act; Safe Drinking Water Act; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

Job Description This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT that will remain open until September 30, 2027. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, and positions will be filled when the need arises or as vacancies occur to meet immediate and future hiring needs. It will also allow the organization to maintain a standing pool of qualified applicants for Fiscal Year 2027.

Management may terminate this vacancy announcement early and without notice once a sufficient talent pool is established or authorized positions have been successfully filled.

The duty location is Washington, DC, or Denver, CO. This is not a remote position.

The Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) is consistently ranked among the federal government as a good place to work, and the Environmental Defense Section (EDS) offers one of ENRD's and the Department's most interesting dockets. It is one of the only DOJ components whose attorneys routinely handle cases in the federal district courts and courts of appeals.

EDS handles complex claims of liability against federal agencies under pollution control laws, such as for costs of response actions at Superfund sites, federally owned facilities, and private sites. EDS routinely represents EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, other branches of the Department of War, the Department of Energy, and other federal agencies.

EDS also defends petitions for review brought in the courts of appeals pursuant to special statutory judicial review provisions of the environmental statutes, as well as claims for judicial review brought in district courts pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.

The substance of these cases ranges, for example, from high-profile, multi-party challenges to national EPA rules (such as major Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act rules) to more targeted challenges to site-specific agency decisions.

Section attorneys are responsible for all aspects of complex litigation.

This includes pre-trial tasks up to and through trial, such as preparation and filing of dispositive motions, drafting merits briefs, written and document discovery, selecting and working with experts, taking and defending expert and fact witness depositions, presenting oral argument in court, handling witnesses at trial and other evidentiary hearings, and negotiating settlements.

Cases range from simpler matters typically handled by a single attorney to more complicated matters typically handled by a small litigation team. EDS cases present attorneys with the opportunity to regularly appear and argue cases in district courts and courts of appeals, and to periodically try cases or handle other evidentiary proceedings.

EDS attorneys also frequently provide counsel to our client agencies and other DOJ components on litigation, draft regulations, and other environmental and administrative law issues related to our work. In addition, Section attorneys routinely coordinate with their colleagues in the United States Attorney's offices, the Office of the Solicitor General, and State Attorney Generals offices.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants must have the years of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal experience for the specific grade level requirements listed below:

• At least 1 year of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level.
• At least 1.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-13 grade level.
• At least 2.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level.
• At least 4 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level.

Applicants should have a strong interest in federal litigation, trial work, and an exceptional academic background. Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with defensive civil litigation is highly desirable. Applicants must demonstrate superior research, analytical, and writing abilities.

Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level.

Application Process

How you will be evaluated

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You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Resumes will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Candidates may be contacted for interviews based on the organization's interest and vacancy availability.

Veterans

There is no formal rating system for applying veteran preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veteran preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.

Applicants eligible for veteran preference must include that information in their 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 his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Required Documents

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To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Veteran Status: Applicants wishing to claim veteran's preference must indicate their status in their cover letter and attach a DD-214 (Member 4 copy) to the submission email.

Your resume MUST include full employment information such as periods of employment with month/year started and ended, title of position(s), FT or PT hours worked, and description of duties. If you have Federal employment, you must include the grade of the positions(s).

Do not include the following types of information in your profile or resume:

• Classified or government sensitive information
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Personal information, such as age, religious affiliation, etc.
• Encrypted and digitally signed documents

If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate content, you may not be considered for this vacancy.

How to Apply

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This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future vacancies. Applications will be reviewed beginning October 28, 2026, and continue on an as-needed basis as specific vacancies and operational needs arise, but no later than September 30, 2027. You may only apply to this vacancy once.

No updates will be permitted. We will review applications, interview candidates, and make selections continuously as they arrive.

Please email a cover letter, resume, and DD-214 (if applicable) to:

ATTYAPPLY-EDS.ENRD@usdoj.gov

Subject Line: ENRD-27-007-EXC

Note: While law school transcripts, writing samples, and related documents are not required to apply, candidates selected to move forward must provide them upon request.

No telephone calls or status inquiries please. We will reach out should there be an interest.

Internet Sites

For more information about the Energy and Natural Resources Division, visit the web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd .

This and selected other legal position announcements can be found on the Internet at: https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers.

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 conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Salary

The possible salary range for Denver, CO.:

• GS-12 ($ 99,800 - $129,742)
• GS-13 ($118,675 - $154,280)
• GS-14 ($140,239 - $182,316)
• GS-15 ($164,956 - $197,200)

The possible salary range for Washington D.C.:

• GS-12 ($102,415 - $133,142)
• GS-13 ($121,785 - $158,322)
• GS-14 ($143,913 - $187,093)
• GS-15 ($169,279 - $197,200)