Trial Attorney

Closing Date: 16th October, 2026

Description:

Job Description:
Attorneys in the Environmental Crimes Section prosecute complex criminal cases (including fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, money laundering, etc.) against individuals and corporations that violate laws designed to protect the environment, the United States' critical natural resources, animal welfare, and American workers.

The Section is at the forefront of raising public awareness that environmental crimes are substantial crimes, which left unchecked threaten human health and the environment. The Section works with Assistant U.S. Attorneys in all 94 U.S. judicial districts and multiple federal law enforcement agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to enforce statutes including the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, the Lacey Act, the Animal Welfare Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Section attorneys handle all aspects of investigative and litigative work, from advising agencies on long-term undercover investigations to grand jury presentations, discovery, motions practice and trial.

Attorneys from the Section are also engaged in capacity building to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes both domestically and internationally. Consistent with the Section's practice, individuals selected will be responsible for handling a range of matters, including some of the most complex cases the Section handles. This position will allow the individual to use his or her superior legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills in all aspects of investigation, negotiation, motions practice and trial.

Qualifications:
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 at least 4 years of post J.D. criminal litigation experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level. Applicants must have litigated a minimum of three criminal trials. As part of the online assessment questionnaire, you will be asked to provide a brief summary of at least three criminal trials you have litigated to include the jurisdiction, the nature of the offenses, and a summary of the results.

Experience as a Federal, State or Local prosecutor or defender is preferred. The ideal candidate will possess not only the requisite criminal litigation experience, but also an interest in environmental protection and enforcement.

YOUR RESUME MUST provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement if you are using experience to meet all or part of the qualification requirements. Please ensure that your resume includes the month and year that you began and ended each position held or that position will not be credited toward meeting the experience requirement. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

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