Trial Attorney - Wildlife and Marine Resources Section

The Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) of the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking 1 or more experienced litigators for its Wildlife and Marine Resources Section in Washington, DC or Denver, Colorado. The first cut-off date for referral of applicants will be October 7, 2026. The second cut-off date will be on the closing date of October 28, 2026. Duties The Wildlife and Marine Resources Section litigates civil defensive cases in federal courts across the country under federal wildlife and marine species statutes, including the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson‑Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Wild and Free‑Roaming Horses and Burros Act. These are primarily record‑review cases challenging agency rulemaking and decisions such as species listing determinations, fishery regulations, and the operation of dams and other federal projects. The Section's work intersects with critical federal missions such as public lands management, energy production, and national defense as these missions impact wildlife and marine resources. The Wildlife Section also civilly enforces the Animal Welfare Act, often through emergency motions seeking injunctive relief, and pursues civil forfeitures of seized animals. The Section's docket is varied, fast‑paced, and often involves novel issues and matters of national significance. WMRS seeks to hire and cultivate talented attorneys and provides its lawyers with regular and meaningful court experience in a variety of jurisdictions on a broad range of issues. Wildlife Section attorneys are expected to manage their own dockets with first‑chair responsibility across all phases of litigation, including strategic planning with agency attorneys and staff, drafting procedural and dispositive motions, handling discovery, negotiating settlements, defending emergency motions, examining witnesses, and presenting oral argument. Attorneys in the Section also are expected to counsel client agencies on their compliance with statutes under the Section's jurisdiction. Applicants should possess strong legal writing, analytical, and strategic thinking abilities and should be comfortable with general principles of federal jurisdiction and civil procedure. Requirements You must be a U.S. citizen or national. You must complete a background investigation to include pre-employment drug testing. Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable. You must maintain a bank account for direct deposit of salary. J.D. degree required, must be an active member of the bar, any jurisdiction. Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines. 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 the years of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal experience for the specific grade level requirements listed below: At least 1.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS‑13 grade level. At least 2.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS‑14 grade level. At least 4 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS‑15 grade level. Applicants should have a strong interest in federal litigation, trial work and/or appellate work, and an exceptional academic background. Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with defensive civil litigation is highly desirable. Applicants must demonstrate superior research, analytical, and writing abilities. Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. Denver, CO GS-13 ($118,675 - $154,280) GS-14 ($140,239 - $182,316) GS-15 ($164,956 -$197,200) Washington DC GS-13 ($121,785 - $158,322) GS-14 ($143,913 - $187,093) GS-15 ($169,279 - $197,200) 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. 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 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 All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Additional information Veterans Preference : If you are entitled to or claim veteran 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 Suitability and Citizenship : 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. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys' Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non‑U.S. Citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non‑U.S. Citizens are extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non‑merit factor. More information can be found here: DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case‑by‑case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: Selective Service: If you were born male, on or after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non‑compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement. Please Note: Additional candidates may be selected if more positions become available in the Division within 90 days after HR office issues the certificate of eligibles. 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. 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. 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. Agency contact information Carmen Browne Phone Email Address Wildlife and Marine Resources Section 150 M Street NE Washington, DC 20002 US #J-18808-Ljbffr