About the Office: 

The Civil Rights Division (Division) of the Department of Justice, created by the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Division is primarily responsible for enforcing federal statutes and executive orders that prohibit, among other things, unlawful discrimination in education, employment, housing, police service, public accommodations and facilities, voting, and federally funded and conducted programs. The Division also has jurisdiction to enforce constitutional prohibitions on certain conduct by law enforcement agencies and public residential institutions, such as health care and correctional facilities.

The Criminal Section (CRM or Section) of is seeking Attorney Advisers for its internal Cold Case and Legal Research Unit. The Section investigates and prosecutes federal civil rights offenses, including deprivations of rights under color of law, hate crimes, human trafficking, and interference with reproductive health care services. The Cold Case and Legal Research Unit obtains and reviews records of civil rights murders that occurred before 1980 and makes recommendations about whether such cases are prosecutable. The unit also reviews and redacts cold case files before they are provided to the National Archives for inclusion in a public data base.

 

Our office places a high value on diversity of experiences and perspectives and encourages applications from all qualified individuals from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBT individuals, and persons with disabilities.

Job Description: 

Responsibilities

• Review investigative files, some of which are extensive, relating to civil rights ?cold cases? and evaluate applicable law to analyze whether such cold case files have prosecutive merit.
• Apply applicable law to review and redact cold case files for transfer to the National Archives.
• Conduct legal research and writing to support the Section?s mission.
• Participate in reviewing and recommending comments to legislative proposals or policies to ensure that Section interests are appropriately represented.
• Participate in privilege screening investigative files to ensure that the trial team is not exposed to Fifth-Amendment protected material or Attorney-Client privileged information.

Qualifications: 

Required Qualifications:

Applicants must possess a J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction), and possess the minimum years of post-professional law degree experience commensurate to the grade level of eligibility, as shown below. Applicants also must have strong, demonstrated qualifications in the following areas: academic achievement; substantive knowledge and expertise in law, rules, and regulations pertaining to civil rights and criminal procedure or with substantially similar laws, rules and regulations; written and oral communication skills; the ability to analyze complex issues; skill and experience working collaboratively and productively with others; organizational skills; attention to detail; professional judgment; initiative; and the ability to excel in a fast-paced, demanding environment. In addition, applicants must have outstanding professional references.

Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.

• GS-12 - minimum 1 year post-JD legal experience
• GS-13 - minimum 1.5 years post-JD legal experience
• GS-14 - minimum 3 years post-JD legal experience
• GS-15 - minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience

 

Preferred Qualifications:

The following qualifications are preferred, but not required: (1) experience investigating, prosecuting, or analyzing cold cases; (2) experience writing about complex legal topics; (3) a substantial knowledge of federal constitutional law or federal hate crime law; (4) significant legal research experience; (5) experience writing for or editing law reviews, journals, or similar legal publications; (6) knowledge and experience leading or participating in filter teams; and (7) experience working cooperatively and productively with a range of people. Experience gained from judicial clerkships, law review, moot court, clinical experience, and skills and experience working cooperatively and productively with a range of people, such as charging parties, witnesses, respondents, disadvantaged or disenfranchised groups, opposing counsel, judicial or administrative officials, advocacy groups, law enforcement personnel, and the staff of other federal or state governmental agencies are, also preferred.

Salary: 

$86,335 to $170,800 per year

Travel: 

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Application Process: 

he complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time Zone) on Monday, December 28, 2020.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:

1. Cover Letter

2. Resume

3. A complete Occupational Questionnaire

4. Writing sample of no more than ten pages (a brief or comparable analytic legal exposition that is your work product)

5. Veterans' Preference Documentation, if applicable

6. Sch A documentation, if applicable

To apply for this position, see page at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/586015600

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.

Application Deadline: 

Monday, December 28, 2020

Relocation Expenses: 

Not Authorized

Number of Positions: 

2 - Full Time Excepted Service Positions

For more information and to apply, please click here.