Trial Attorney for Appellate Matters - Environmental Defense Section (Open Continuous)

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 and a demonstrated interest in court of appeals litigation 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.

Ideal candidates will have federal appellate litigation experience including the defense of agency actions under the Administrative Procedure Act; experience managing complex litigation; superior writing and editing skills; familiarity with federal pollution-control statutes and administrative law issues; and familiarity with the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Judicial clerkship and law review experience is highly desirable. Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level.

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)

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT that will remain open until April 5, 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. This announcement may be amended to extend the deadline or close early without prior notice at the discretion of the organization, based on administrative or operational needs. Candidates are encouraged to submit their materials promptly.

The duty location is Washington, DC, or Denver, CO. This is not a remote position. The Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) is the nation's largest and most experienced environmental law firm and is consistently ranked among the federal government as a good place to work. The Environmental Defense Section (EDS) is one of the only DOJ components whose attorneys routinely handle cases in the federal courts of appeals and district courts.

EDS defends the United States in petitions for review brought in the courts of appeals pursuant to special statutory judicial review provisions of the environmental statutes and also handles a wide range of district court litigation, including claims for judicial review 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 greenhouse-gas regulations and standards for toxic chemicals) to more targeted challenges to site-specific agency decisions. EDS is soliciting applications for trial attorney positions specializing in our petition for review appellate practice.

Selected applicants will handle all stages of petition for review litigation in the courts of appeals, from preliminary motions practice through merits briefing and oral argument. While larger cases often are staffed with a small team of attorneys, most matters are handled by a single attorney. A significant portion of EDS petitions for review are filed in the D.C. Circuit, but the Section typically handles petitions for review in all the federal judicial circuits nationwide.

The Section's petition for review appellate litigation will be the priority and focus of the selected applicants' assignments, but as workflow and other demands allow, there will also be opportunities, if desired, to handle select matters arising in the Section's district court docket as well.