Closing Date: 16th January, 2026

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:
The Civil Division is the largest litigating component in the Department of Justice, with over 2,000 employees. Each office within the Division handles cases worth millions, sometimes trillions , as well as cases that involve legal issues of great national importance, including matters of national security, separation of powers, and immigration. The Division also defends against constitutional challenges to Federal statutes, substantive and procedural challenges to agency regulations and Executive Branch initiatives, and tort actions brought against Federal employees and agencies, among many other kinds of defensive litigation. In addition, the Division handles an array of affirmative enforcement matters, including in the areas of civil fraud, government ethics, Federal preemption, and consumer protection.

The CLJA is a fast-moving litigation that is a high priority for the Department of Justice. It is purported to be the largest mass tort in United States history. Currently, more than 3,700 lawsuits are pending in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC) and approximately 409,000 administrative claims have been submitted to the Department of the Navy. The cases present interesting issues of scientific and medical causation. Some of the pending cases are expected to go to trial in the EDNC in 2026.

This position is Trial Attorney, located in the Department of Justice, Torts Branch, Civil Division, Camp Lejeune Unit .

The Camp Lejeune Unit consists of a team of dedicated employees who energetically provide the defense of what is reported to be the largest mass toxic tort litigation in United States history. This Unit defends the United States in litigation brought under the "Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022" (CLJA), Pub. L. No. 117-168, 804, 136 Stat. 1802, 1802-04 (2022), which was signed into law on August 10, 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, North Carolina, between 1953 and 1987.

This litigation provides unique opportunities in many components of litigation, including fact and expert discovery, working with scientific and medical expert witnesses, interacting with various federal agencies, robust motion practice, oral advocacy, settlement negotiations, and trials. Other responsibilities include working with the Department of Justice Civil Appellate Section and representing the United States in certain appellate matters, including CLJA statutory construction matters. This Unit also works closely with the Department of the Navy on the administrative claims and related settlement matters. This Camp Lejeune team provides relevant litigation training sessions, and they attend educational programs provided for Federal employees.

CLJA litigation is a complex, high-stakes, and high-visibility toxic tort matter where multi-trillions of dollars in damages are sought from the United States. This litigation is of substantial public and Congressional interest. There are over 3,700 CLJA lawsuits pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and over 409,000 administrative claims pending with the Department of the Navy. The Camp Lejeune team provides the defense for all of these matters. Continuity of counsel competent to deal with the medical, scientific, and legal issues, is required to manage such massive and complex cases.

The incumbent reports to the Chief, Camp Lejeune Unit, and is responsible for conducting litigation in the District Court and appeals that arise from Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA) cases and administrative claims.

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 and pass a drug test.
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 successfully complete a background investigation and may be required to obtain a clearance.
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:
In performing the work of the position, the incumbent carries out the following functions:

Prepares for and conducts hearings, settlement negotiations, and trials of complex cases. Prepares memoranda such as pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents on the basis of factual and legal research. Participates in pretrial and prehearing conferences. Conducts trials or presents oral arguments in federal courts, state courts, and administrative proceedings, as appropriate. Provides advice to junior trial attorneys. Handles appellate litigation, as necessary;
Reviews and analyzes facts and develops evidence during the preparation of assigned cases. This involves difficult and complex cases in which legal principles are not clearly established or where they are novel;
Confers with the Chief to identify the policy of the Department in related litigation. Applies the theory of the government's cases, determines applicable legal principles to a given statement of facts, selects and examines witnesses, and plans trial strategy and appropriate techniques;
As assigned, represents the United States and individual clients in direct negotiations and discussions with attorneys for private litigants;
Participates in discussions with opposing counsel and in the formulation of settlements often having far-reaching legal consequences;
Makes 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;
Advises and consults with the Chief to report on the status of cases and matters related to legal issues within the assigned area of litigation;
Maintains personal contacts and works closely with officials and employees of the Division, officials and employees of the Department and other government agencies, and the public on litigation and policy-related matters;
Responds 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;
As requested, performs special legal and administrative projects requiring broad experience and sound judgement; and
Performs other job-related duties, as assigned.
Receives general instructions from the Assistant Director and the Unit Chief. Assignments are typically completed with a broad latitude of judgment in terms of leadership responsibilities, case preparation and theory development, case presentation, consultations, etc.
Consults with the Assistant Director and Unit Chief, as appropriate, concerning issues or problems that have a significant impact on policy, procedure, or case action.

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: Highly qualified applicants would have experience in toxic tort litigation. This includes expertise as to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, eDiscovery, defensive litigation, and defense of important federal laws, regulations, and policies. The incumbent is expected to work under a variety of conditions as dictated by the particular circumstances involved in each case.

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 determin