Trial Attorney (Environmental Torts Litigation).

Overview The Environmental Torts Section, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for the defense of matters in complex, high stakes civil litigation in federal courts nationwide. Its attorneys directly handle all aspects of wrongful death, personal injury, and property damage cases that often involve hundreds or thousands of plaintiffs. The cases typically stem from alleged exposure to environmental contaminants, such as biological agents, chemicals, and other substances. They also involve complex issues of causation, novel issues of federal and state law, and numerous expert witnesses. The section has primary litigation responsibility for all suits brought against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act where the alleged injuries or damages are attributed to an environmental contaminant. Many of the section\'s cases are litigated as mass torts or multidistrict litigation matters. Responsibilities Mass tort cases handled by the section relate to: alleged damage to water systems and personal injury claims due to the military\'s use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in firefighting; personal injury claims stemming from EPA\'s oversight of state and local entities involved in the Flint water crisis; damages and personal injury claims related to a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio; damages alleged to be caused by a jet fuel leak from the Navy\'s underground Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility near Pearl Harbor, HI; and damages from alleged contamination and remediation at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. The work includes handling complex jurisdictional questions, devising creative case-management solutions, and analyzing overlapping issues of history, law, and science. Requirements 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 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 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. Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee selection at that grade level. 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. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Preferred qualifications: Applicants should have experience in mass tort or multidistrict litigation, environmental law or toxic tort background, negotiation, federal tort claims act knowledge, expert witness management, and complex federal court litigation. Trial Period Statement Required. 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. 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 Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited U.S. institution. It is your responsibility to provide evidence by submitting proof of credibility of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. 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. Submitting a completed application earlier is encouraged. 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 experience. Applicants currently employed by the federal government are not eligible for a recruitment incentive. Veteran Preference information is provided for eligible applicants, including required documentation. DOJ also provides reasonable accommodation information and encourages Schedule A applications from persons with disabilities. A federal benefits package is available to eligible employees. #J-18808-Ljbffr Offices-to-go