Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD)
Our offices are conveniently located adjacent to the NoMA-Gallaudet University (Red Line) Metro Station, a short walk from Union Station. ENRD's building was constructed in 2019; offices and shared spaces in the building are new, clean, well-equipped, and packed with amenities. A wide variety of restaurants, coffee shops, stores, entertainment venues, and other attractions are easily accessible to employees in the neighborhood. The rich, culturally-diverse NoMA neighborhood is one of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods in DC!
Our office places a high value on diversity of experiences and perspectives and encourages applications from all qualified men and women from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBT individuals, and persons with disabilities.
Telework available in accordance with agency policy.
The Environmental Defense Section ("EDS" or "Section") represents the United States in complex civil litigation arising under a broad range of environmental statutes, including the Clean Air Act; the Clean Water Act; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
EDS offers one of the Department’s most diverse dockets. It is one of the only DOJ components whose attorneys routinely handle cases in the federal courts of appeals and district courts, as well as both affirmative and defensive litigation. EDS 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 complex, multi-party challenges to major national EPA rules (such as Clean Air Act rules regulating greenhouse gas emissions and rules defining the scope of “waters of the United States” subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act) to more site-specific wetlands permit decisions made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. EDS also handles complex claims of liability against federal agencies under the pollution control laws, such as for costs of response actions at Superfund sites, federally-owned facilities and private sites. The Section also brings affirmative civil enforcement actions under the Clean Water Act against those who fill wetlands and other regulated waters.
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, 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 complex matters typically handled by a small litigation team. EDS cases present attorneys with the opportunity to regularly appear and argue cases in the 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, environmental and administrative law issues related to our work.
For more information about the Environmental Defense Section, visit: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/environmental-defense-section
The Section's docket is demanding and requires top caliber work product. Successful applicants will have a demonstrated record of outstanding legal writing, complex case management, initiative and creativity, strong courtroom skills, and a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards. Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and be a U.S. citizen or national. The ideal candidate should possess an excellent academic record and strong analytical, writing, and advocacy skills. The ideal candidate should also have a comprehensive understanding of environmental law and federal civil procedure, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Specific grade level requirements:
- At least 4 years of post J.D. relevant civil/environmental litigation experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level.
- At least 5 years of post J.D. relevant civil/environmental litigation experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience you report relative to this position. Applicants must email the (1) resumé; (2) cover letter of not more than two pages highlighting relevant
litigation, environmental law, and legal writing experience and any other factors that you believe would be a good fit for EDS' litigation practice; (3) short writing sample from an advocacy piece (5-10 pages); (4) OF-306 declaration for federal employment - https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/of0306.pdf; (5) law school transcript; and (6) DD-214 (if applicable) to:
ATTYAPPLY-EDS.ENRD@USDOJ.GOV
Subject Line: ENRD-21-028-EXC
No telephone calls, please. You must submit your application so that it will be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.
Please Note: Additional candidates may be selected if more positions become available in the Division within 90 days after the announcement closes.
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 conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
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Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected genetic information, pregnancy, status as a parent, or any other nonmerit-based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.
Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.
Suitability and Citizenship: 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. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is 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. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or 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).
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This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. 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
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