Closing Date: 10th July, 2026
Description:
Summary:The Office of Foreign Litigation (OFL) is responsible for handling litigation in foreign courts in which the United States is a party or has an interest. Well-qualified candidates may be eligible for a signing bonus of up to $25,000, depending on qualifications, education, and other factors. All recipients of a signing bonus are required to fulfill a service obligation.
Duties:
OFL is seeking attorneys to join the office. The incumbent will not litigate in court but will work closely with client agencies and foreign counsel to investigate and litigate civil and/or criminal cases abroad and/or advise and process individual judicial assistance requests, considering the legal issues that commonly arise in connection with such requests. The work with foreign counsel entails providing detailed instructions and advice relating to the handling of assigned matter. An important aspect of the position is to maintain close overall supervision of assigned matters and to develop appropriate litigation strategies that are consistent with the policies of the United States, the Department of Justice, the client agencies, the local law of the forum, doctrines of public international law, and the overall foreign policy and programmatic interests of the United States.
In addition, the incumbent will provide legal advice to other DOJ components, federal agencies, and U.S. embassies on a wide variety of issues involving current or potential foreign litigation, foreign and international law, and the impact of foreign and international law programs or activities undertaken abroad. Because foreign litigation impacts the foreign policy of the United States as well as other U.S. government policies and activities, the incumbent will closely coordinate with other agencies, including the Department of State and U.S. embassies abroad, regarding pending or potential foreign litigation.
Defensive cases handled by the office include employment, property, contract or tort litigation; criminal actions against U.S. officials acting within the scope of their duties; and other lawsuits challenging U.S. activities abroad. In addition to defensive matters, OFL conducts affirmative litigation, including civil litigation aimed at combatting fraud perpetrated against the United States, contract and other commercial claims, debt collection matters, and fighting cross-border fraud that targets American citizens, as well as affirmative criminal suits when the United States is a victim of a criminal act abroad. OFL has litigated in the courts of over 100 countries.
The Office of International Judicial Assistance (OIJA), which sits within OFL, acts as the U.S. Central Authority for incoming requests for international judicial assistance to serve judicial documents or obtain evidence in civil or commercial matters. These requests for international judicial assistance are generally based upon, and require knowledge of, various treaties, including the Hague Evidence Convention, the Hague Service Convention, and the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and Additional Protocol.
In addition to its Washington, D.C. office, OFL maintains field offices in London and Rome that are responsible for litigation in European countries and a field office in Panama that is responsible for litigation in Latin America because OFL attorneys are not licensed to practice law in foreign jurisdictions, they do not appear in foreign courts. Instead, OFL handles litigation through the retention of foreign counsel who represent the interests of the United States in foreign proceedings. OFL attorneys closely supervise and instruct the foreign counsel with regard to litigation positions taken on behalf of the United States. The litigation handled by the office may involve issues of foreign law, as well as public and private international law, and covers the broad range of federal programs under which the United States operates abroad.
This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Preferred qualifications: Applicants with proven advocacy and legal writing skills preferred. Experience drafting and arguing motions, handling discovery, taking, and defending depositions, developing expert witness testimony, and trying cases are highly 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:
The Division Plans to Onboard New Attorneys by September 6, 2026, with Recruitment Incentives Contingent upon The Availability of Funding. Because the Onboarding Process Can Be Lengthy and Funding Is Limited, Applicants Are Strongly Encouraged to Submit Their Completed Application as Soon as Possible for Consideration.
Applicants Approved for A Signing Bonus Must Sign a Service Agreement Prior to Onboarding, Committing to A Service Period of Two Years or Longer, Depending on The Candidate's Experience.
Applicants Who Are Currently Employed by The Federal Government Are Not Eligible for A Recruitment Incentive.
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 El
In addition, the incumbent will provide legal advice to other DOJ components, federal agencies, and U.S. embassies on a wide variety of issues involving current or potential foreign litigation, foreign and international law, and the impact of foreign and international law programs or activities undertaken abroad. Because foreign litigation impacts the foreign policy of the United States as well as other U.S. government policies and activities, the incumbent will closely coordinate with other agencies, including the Department of State and U.S. embassies abroad, regarding pending or potential foreign litigation.
Defensive cases handled by the office include employment, property, contract or tort litigation; criminal actions against U.S. officials acting within the scope of their duties; and other lawsuits challenging U.S. activities abroad. In addition to defensive matters, OFL conducts affirmative litigation, including civil litigation aimed at combatting fraud perpetrated against the United States, contract and other commercial claims, debt collection matters, and fighting cross-border fraud that targets American citizens, as well as affirmative criminal suits when the United States is a victim of a criminal act abroad. OFL has litigated in the courts of over 100 countries.
The Office of International Judicial Assistance (OIJA), which sits within OFL, acts as the U.S. Central Authority for incoming requests for international judicial assistance to serve judicial documents or obtain evidence in civil or commercial matters. These requests for international judicial assistance are generally based upon, and require knowledge of, various treaties, including the Hague Evidence Convention, the Hague Service Convention, and the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and Additional Protocol.
In addition to its Washington, D.C. office, OFL maintains field offices in London and Rome that are responsible for litigation in European countries and a field office in Panama that is responsible for litigation in Latin America because OFL attorneys are not licensed to practice law in foreign jurisdictions, they do not appear in foreign courts. Instead, OFL handles litigation through the retention of foreign counsel who represent the interests of the United States in foreign proceedings. OFL attorneys closely supervise and instruct the foreign counsel with regard to litigation positions taken on behalf of the United States. The litigation handled by the office may involve issues of foreign law, as well as public and private international law, and covers the broad range of federal programs under which the United States operates abroad.
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
- All male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the selective service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
- May require completion of a 2-year trial period. (Please refer to the trial period statement under Qualifications.)
- May be required 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:
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
- To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, applicants must have up to one (1) year of legal experience.
- To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, applicants must have minimum (1) or more years post-J.D. legal experience
- To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, applicants must possess at least one and one-half (1.5) years of post-J.D. legal experience.
- To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, applicants must possess at least two and one-half (2.5) years of post-J.D. legal experience.
- To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must possess at least four (4) years of post-J.D. legal experience.
Preferred qualifications: Applicants with proven advocacy and legal writing skills preferred. Experience drafting and arguing motions, handling discovery, taking, and defending depositions, developing expert witness testimony, and trying cases are highly 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:
The Division Plans to Onboard New Attorneys by September 6, 2026, with Recruitment Incentives Contingent upon The Availability of Funding. Because the Onboarding Process Can Be Lengthy and Funding Is Limited, Applicants Are Strongly Encouraged to Submit Their Completed Application as Soon as Possible for Consideration.
Applicants Approved for A Signing Bonus Must Sign a Service Agreement Prior to Onboarding, Committing to A Service Period of Two Years or Longer, Depending on The Candidate's Experience.
Applicants Who Are Currently Employed by The Federal Government Are Not Eligible for A Recruitment Incentive.
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 El
