Trial Attorney (Appellate Law)

Closing Date: 23rd August, 2026

Description:

Job Description:
OGC is seeking an attorney experienced in complex civil appellate litigation or complex civil litigation to provide expert legal advice and litigate complex civil appeals before federal appellate courts across the nation. The incumbent will serve as a civil appellate expert and will use his or her expertise to help OGC litigate roughly 100 appellate matters annually. Periodically, the incumbent will brief constitutional issues before federal trial courts. The incumbent will also craft administrative decisions.

As a Trial Attorney (Appellate Law), GS-0905-15, duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Serving as a member of a cohesive and collegial team of experienced civil appellate attorneys based in OGC and reporting to the Associate General Counsel for Appellate Practice.
• Litigating complex and important civil bankruptcy appeals across the nation. Litigating constitutional matters before trial and appellate courts. The public's interest in these matters may be substantial. Writing appellate briefs, making oral arguments, and participating in moot courts in USTP appeals.
• Overseeing appeals that attorneys in USTP field offices litigate by acting as a resource, editing draft briefs, and providing guidance.
• Researching and drafting memoranda, which recommend whether to participate in appeals, including matters before the Supreme Court, based upon cases' importance, potential impact upon federal law, and other relevant considerations.
• Providing recommendations to other governmental components, including the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), about significant or novel appeals that the USTP is not litigating directly.
• Acting as a resource, including editing draft briefs, providing guidance, and participating in moot courts in appeals being argued by other Departmental components, including OSG.
• Implementing legal strategies in complex civil appellate matters to advance the policies and goals of USTP and the Department.
• Devising solutions to complex and challenging legal questions involved in USTP civil litigation and presenting them to OGC supervisors and EOUST Senior Leadership.
• Leading, organizing, and preparing material for training and conferences. Developing guidance, programs and procedures to govern USTP activities.
• Presenting USTP and Departmental positions to agencies, private sector organizations, congressional staff, and Departmental components. Addressing and resolving sensitive problems and helping develop guidance.
• Drafting administrative decisions to be issued by Senior Leadership.
• Providing technical advice and assistance, which may include active participation in novel cases.
• Drafting EOUST comments and recommendations on proposed changes to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Preparing congressional testimony. Tracking proposed rulemaking. Recommending action plans, guidance, and procedures. Drafting responses to congressional inquiries.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
Required:
To qualify at the GS-15 level, you must have at least five (5) years post Juris Doctorate professional legal experience in complex civil appellate law and/or complex civil litigation. The successful applicant should have substantial expertise handling such matters. Strong writing skills are required. Bankruptcy experience is not required. At least two years of the required professional legal experience must be at or equivalent to the GS-14 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

Applicants must be an active member of a state bar in good standing. Please note, in a select few jurisdictions, federal attorneys are required to be active members of the jurisdiction's state bar.

Preferred:

• Significant experience providing a full spectrum of legal services concerning complex civil appellate litigation;
• Ability to utilize their extensive knowledge of complex civil or appellate litigation to provide thoughtful, nuanced, comprehensive and sophisticated legal advice to Senior Leadership;
• Ability and expertise to assume front-line responsibility for handling and overseeing complex civil appeals;
• A record of analyzing complex legal problems, interpreting statutory, rule, and regulatory provisions, developing litigation strategies, and demonstrating superior trial practice skills;
• A record of litigating complex matters including persuasive briefs and oral advocacy;
• Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to address a broad array of issues arising in a large volume of cases;
• The ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical issues in a wide variety of cases and projects;
• The ability to set, manage, and balance diverse, evolving, and challenging projects and priorities;
• Demonstrated initiative and creativity;
• Strong interpersonal communication skills;
• Experience working with or for federal agencies; and,
• A commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.

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