Closing Date: 3rd November, 2025
Description:
Summary:The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) Office defends litigation brought under the "Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022" (CLJA), Pub. L. No. 117-168, 804, 136 Stat. 1802, 1802-04 (2022). This statute aims to provide "appropriate relief" to service members and others who were injured as a result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Duties:
This position is Trial Attorney, located in the Camp Lejeune Unit, Environmental Torts Litigation Section, Torts Branch, Civil Division, Department of Justice.
Environmental Torts Litigation (ETL) handles the defense of complex, high-stakes, high-visibility environmental and toxic tort cases brought against the United States, including multi-billion-dollar sensitive cases of substantial public and Congressional interest. Cases defended by ETL commonly involve hundreds, if not thousands, of individual plaintiffs, expansive facts, expert discovery, and novel issues of law. The facts at issue in toxic tort cases can span decades. The duration of the cases, from inception to resolution, is often measured in years. Continuity of counsel competent to deal with the medical, scientific, and legal issues, is required to manage such massive and complex cases.
Trial Attorney responsibility primarily involves defending the United States in complex, high stakes civil litigation in federal courts nationwide. Its attorneys directly handle all aspects of wrongful death, personal injury, and property damage cases that often involve hundreds, even thousands, of plaintiffs. The cases typically stem from alleged exposure to environmental contaminants, such as biological agents, chemicals, and other substances; defending fact and expert depositions; working with expert witnesses; draft and argue motions; assist with trials and work on settlement matters; preparing for and conducting hearings, settlement negotiations, and trials of complex cases; preparing memorandums such as pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents on the basis of factual and legal research; participating in pretrial and pre-hearing conferences; conducting trials or presents oral arguments in federal courts, state courts, and administrative proceedings, as appropriate.
Camp Lejeune Unit Litigation involves responding to inquiries from the White House, Congress, federal departments and agencies, state and local authorities, and private individuals on matters within the scope of assigned statutory responsibilities. Making recommendations with respect to proposed changes in legislation relating to provisions of law. Provides advice concerning legal and policy questions related to statutes administered by the office.
This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
Minimum experience: Applicants must have a J.D. degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) and have at least one-year post-JD. (or equivalent) legal/trial or other relevant experience commiserate with the grade you are applying to. You must be a US Citizen
Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Examples of the experience described above include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff
Preferred qualifications: Applicants should have excellent writing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills; exhibit good judgment, and have experience in trial work. Judicial clerkship experience is desirable.
Trial Period Statement
As a condition of employment for accepting this position in accordance with section 11.5 of Executive Order 14284, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov.
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. More information may be found at https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Additional Information:
Veteran Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veterans' preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/.
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 Veterans' 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.pdffor a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).
DOJ EEO Statement/Policy: http://www.justice.gov/jmd/eeos/08-eeo-policy.pdf
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and 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. DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes to resume@benderconsult.com, and reference "Federal Career Opportunities" in the subject line. Additional information is found at: www.benderconsult.com.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so
Environmental Torts Litigation (ETL) handles the defense of complex, high-stakes, high-visibility environmental and toxic tort cases brought against the United States, including multi-billion-dollar sensitive cases of substantial public and Congressional interest. Cases defended by ETL commonly involve hundreds, if not thousands, of individual plaintiffs, expansive facts, expert discovery, and novel issues of law. The facts at issue in toxic tort cases can span decades. The duration of the cases, from inception to resolution, is often measured in years. Continuity of counsel competent to deal with the medical, scientific, and legal issues, is required to manage such massive and complex cases.
Trial Attorney responsibility primarily involves defending the United States in complex, high stakes civil litigation in federal courts nationwide. Its attorneys directly handle all aspects of wrongful death, personal injury, and property damage cases that often involve hundreds, even thousands, of plaintiffs. The cases typically stem from alleged exposure to environmental contaminants, such as biological agents, chemicals, and other substances; defending fact and expert depositions; working with expert witnesses; draft and argue motions; assist with trials and work on settlement matters; preparing for and conducting hearings, settlement negotiations, and trials of complex cases; preparing memorandums such as pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents on the basis of factual and legal research; participating in pretrial and pre-hearing conferences; conducting trials or presents oral arguments in federal courts, state courts, and administrative proceedings, as appropriate.
Camp Lejeune Unit Litigation involves responding to inquiries from the White House, Congress, federal departments and agencies, state and local authorities, and private individuals on matters within the scope of assigned statutory responsibilities. Making recommendations with respect to proposed changes in legislation relating to provisions of law. Provides advice concerning legal and policy questions related to statutes administered by the office.
This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
- Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing
- Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable
- May require completion of a 2-year trial period. (Please refer to the trial period statement under Qualifications.)
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access depending on organizational assignment / duty location.
- 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.
- Financial Disclosure: If selected, you will be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
Qualifications:
Minimum experience: Applicants must have a J.D. degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) and have at least one-year post-JD. (or equivalent) legal/trial or other relevant experience commiserate with the grade you are applying to. You must be a US Citizen
Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.
- GS-13 - minimum 1.5 years post-JD legal experience
- GS-14 - minimum 2.5 years post-JD legal experience
- GS-15 - minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Examples of the experience described above include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff
Preferred qualifications: Applicants should have excellent writing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills; exhibit good judgment, and have experience in trial work. Judicial clerkship experience is desirable.
Trial Period Statement
As a condition of employment for accepting this position in accordance with section 11.5 of Executive Order 14284, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
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. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov.
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. More information may be found at https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Additional Information:
Veteran Preference: If you are entitled to or claim veterans' preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/.
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 Veterans' 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.pdffor a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).
DOJ EEO Statement/Policy: http://www.justice.gov/jmd/eeos/08-eeo-policy.pdf
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and 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. DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes to resume@benderconsult.com, and reference "Federal Career Opportunities" in the subject line. Additional information is found at: www.benderconsult.com.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so
