Legal Careers
Trial Attorney (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit)
The Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking qualified, experienced attorneys in the Fraud Section’s FCPA Unit located in Washington, DC. This announcement is for one (1) two-year term position and/or one (1) reimbursable detail position for the period of one year. The incumbents will serve as Trial Attorneys in the FCPA Unit and, as such, will independently direct, conduct, and monitor investigations, prepare for and conduct trials, and advise on court filings.
The Fraud Section, comprising over 180 federal prosecutors, investigates and prosecutes complex, multi-district and international white-collar criminal cases throughout the country and implements and coordinates the Department’s fraud enforcement policy. Fraud Section cases include foreign bribery (the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act), corporate, securities and investment fraud; mass marketing fraud; mortgage fraud; procurement and government program fraud; health care fraud; and other complex white-collar criminal schemes. The Fraud Section is composed of four subject matter units: Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; Health Care Fraud; Market Integrity and Major Frauds; and Corporate Enforcement, Compliance, & Policy.
Open positions are located in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Unit. The FCPA Unit has primary jurisdiction among the Department components in prosecuting FCPA matters. The FCPA Unit and the SEC share FCPA enforcement authority and are committed to fighting foreign bribery through robust enforcement. Upon accepting an offer of employment for the term position, applicants must make a three-year commitment to the Fraud Section.
If selected for the term position, the duty location will be Washington, DC. For the detail position, the duty location may be negotiable after selection.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
Generally, as a Trial Attorney in the FCPA Unit, the incumbent:
- In collaboration with unit managers, carries out and fosters effective investigations and prosecutions, including advising on strategy and legal complexities, and developing litigation priorities, policy, and legislative recommendations. Recommends charging decisions and proposes dispositions with regard to assigned cases.
- Partners with and leads Assistant U.S. Attorneys and attorneys in other federal law enforcement agencies in the development, management, and trial of complex white collar and corporate investigations and prosecutions. Engages in all phases of investigation and litigation, including, but not limited to, using the grand jury, using federal investigative tools and handling electronic evidence, advising federal law enforcement agents, using international evidence collection tools, preparing appropriate pleadings, appearing for hearings at all phases of criminal proceedings, and litigating motions and trials before U.S. District Courts across the country.
- Collaborates with foreign prosecutors and foreign law enforcement officers on international investigations.
- Evaluates reports of potential violations of the FCPA and other criminal statutes from both internal and outside sources to determine whether investigation is warranted.
- Advises and instructs Assistant U.S. Attorneys on complicated questions of law and Departmental policy with respect to the FCPA.
- Represents the United States in direct negotiations and discussions with corporate counsel and high-level officials. Participates in discussions with opposing counsel for defendants and in the formulation of settlements often having far-reaching legal consequences.
- Advises and consults with the Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Section Chief, et al., reporting on the status of all cases and matters related to criminal remedies.
- Serves as an expert, providing advice and policy determinations in matters involving the planning, discussion, and coordination of the activities related to the investigation and litigation of FCPA cases. Oversees the preparation and litigation assignments of lower graded attorneys, paralegals, and clerical personnel.
Required 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-15 grade level, applicants must have at least four (4) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff.
Preferred Qualifications: Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies:
- Experience in supporting, litigating, and supervising federal criminal cases.
- Experience handling complex white-collar and corporate criminal cases, including bribery and corruption, and/or international criminal matters.
- Experience conducting investigations of organizations and entities, including corporations, as well as individuals.
- Trial experience.
- Experience in U.S. District Court.
The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.
Any applicant who has, in the previous 24 months, applied for a position with the Fraud Section must note the date of any such application and position applied for in the applicant’s cover letter. Please highlight recent relevant experience gained since the time of any previous application.
Please submit your application through USAJOBS. The list of required documents can be found in the USAJobs announcement.
- If you do not already have an account, please create a USAjobs account before applying Create an Account. You will be able to upload your resume and supporting documents and complete your profile prior to applying.
- Once you have an account, apply to the USAjobs vacancy:
The salary range for this position is $163,964.00 to $191,900.00 per annum. Under a term appointment, you will likely start at step 1 of the pay scale for Washington, D.C. which is $163,964.00. Under a detail appointment, there is no change to base pay. This is a two-year term position and a one-year detail position. To qualify for the detail, you must be at the GS-15 grade level. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2024/DCB.pdf
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Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.
Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.
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. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is 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. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: 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 eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
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