Closing Date: 31st July, 2026
Description:
Summary:The mission of the Antitrust Division is to promote competition by enforcing the antitrust laws to protect economic freedom and opportunity on behalf of the American people.
The Antitrust Division has openings for Trial Attorneys to join its dedicated team and gain invaluable experience working in the public interest to protect the competitive process.
Are you ready to contribute to matters of national importance that promote a competitive and productive American economy?
Duties:
The United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, is seeking highly qualified attorneys to serve as Trial Attorneys in its Appellate Section, based in Washington, DC. The Appellate Section is an active office that deals routinely with complex issues on the cutting edge of civil and criminal enforcement of the antitrust laws and related statutes. For one position we are seeking someone with a background in criminal law. These positions are in Washington, DC.
The Appellate Section represents the United States in the courts of appeals in all Division enforcement proceedings and as amicus curiae in select private antitrust actions.
As a Trial Attorney in the Appellate office, you will:
- Represent the United States in cases to which it is a party or is participating as amicus curiae in the courts of appeals, including the most complex cases; analyzing all relevant legal, factual, and strategic issues presented.
- Prepare briefs, motions, responses, and other necessary filings, ensuring compliance with all applicable rules.
- Present oral arguments.
- Consult as appropriate with trial counsel, Division supervisors, senior Division managers, representatives of other Division components, agency counsel, and counsel for other affected components.
- Negotiate with opposing counsel, agency counsel, and court officials, as appropriate.
- In conjunction with the Office of the Solicitor General, represent the United States in cases to which it is a party or participating as amicus curiae in the Supreme Court.
- Make recommendations as to whether review should be sought in the courts of appeals or the Supreme Court in cases to which the United States is a party.
- Make recommendations as to whether the United States should participate, and as to the position it should take, as amicus curiae in private cases, including cases involving highly complex issues of substantial precedential significance.
- Prepare memoranda, in connection with potential trials and appeals, analyzing all relevant legal, factual, policy, and strategic issues; consult with affected components of the Division, Department, and other Executive Branch components, as well as Division supervisors and agency counsel.
- Research and provide authoritative advice on all legal and policy issues of relevance to the Division's work.
Please note: Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement. Further selections may also be made for additional organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to be considered for this position.
- You may be required to complete a pre-employment security screening to initiate your background investigation, which includes a drug screening. Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion and adjudication of your investigation.
- You must submit a complete application package by the closing date of this announcement.
- Selective Service: All male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service (see SSS.gov). If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
- Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
- This position is ineligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit.
- This is a full-time, non-supervisory appointment in the excepted service, subject to a one-or-two-year trial period in accordance with 5 CFR Part 11.
- The Antitrust Division participates in the E-Verify program.
Qualifications:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this position, your resume and supporting documentation will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. To qualify, an applicant must:
- Be a citizen of the United States;
- Possess a J.D. or equivalent degree, be an active member of the bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least one and one-half years of post J.D. legal experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; two and one-half years of post J.D. legal experience to qualify at the GS-14 level, and/or at least four years of post J.D. legal experience to qualify at the GS-15 level;
- Have experience practicing federal antitrust law (and, for one of the two positions, criminal law), and
- Demonstrate excellent writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
Education:
You must possess a J.D. or equivalent degree to qualify for consideration as an Attorney for the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division.
Additional Information:
Additional information about the Antitrust Division can be found at http://www.justice.gov/atr/. Additional information about the Policy and Advocacy Programs can be found at https://www.justice.gov/atr/about-division/other-offices
DOJ EEO Statement/Policy (https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline=)
OPM (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/reasonable-accommodations/) Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/reasonable-accommodations/)
DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement (https://www.justice.gov/jmd/doj-reasonable-accommodation-policy-and-instruction)
Veterans' Information (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/)
Legal and Regulatory Guidance (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/)
Additional Information:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits:
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. (https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits?_gl=1*qb6oob*_ga*NjQ0MjQ5MzQ5LjE3MjU1OTI5OTA.*_ga_CLZB1LJ1VZ*czE3ODQ2MDUzNzUkbzIkZzEkdDE3ODQ2MDU3MzUkajYwJGwwJGgw)
Review our benefits (http://www.justice.gov/careers/benefits)
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this position, your resume and supporting documentation will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration.
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 are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
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.
This and selected other legal position announcements can be found at https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers.
Required Documents:
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes:
A copy of your resume or equivalent - Applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality
Review our benefits (http://www.justice.gov/careers/benefits)
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this position, your resume and supporting documentation will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration.
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 are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
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.
This and selected other legal position announcements can be found at https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers.
Required Documents:
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes:
A copy of your resume or equivalent - Applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality
