Trial Attorney (T-ASA)
Job Location:
Washington, AR - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
The Aviation Space & Admiralty Litigation Section seeks attorneys to defend the United States Executive Office of the President and agencies in cases challenging the legality of policies and actions brought in federal district courts. The branchs work touches on many areas of government. Well-qualified candidates may be eligible for a signing bonus of up to $25000.
The Aviation Space & Admiralty Litigation Section of the Torts Branch handles aviation space and maritime cases and claims. Client agencies include the Federal Aviation Administration the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers all military services including the Navy and the Coast Guard the Maritime Administration NASA NSA and the Departments of State Interior Transportation and Commerce.
In its aviation practice the Section defends the United States in wrongful death serious personal injury and extensive property damage actions arising from aircraft accidents. Federal activities giving rise to these lawsuits include air traffic control military aviation operations weather dissemination charting of obstacles operation of navigational aids and certification of aircraft airports and air personnel. Since its establishment the Section has litigated all commercial airline accident cases involving the United States including the current litigation arising out of this years D.C. midair tragedy. The Section is also responsible for litigation arising from space launch or space vehicle incidents; the Section handled litigation and claims arising from the Space Shuttle Columbia and Challenger disasters for example.
In its admiralty practice the Section represents the United States in the governments role as ship-owner regulator and protector of the nations waterways and maritime resources. Its admiralty litigation concerns collisions involving U.S. vessels and warships grounding of vessels while using U.S. government-produced charts challenges to the boarding of vessels on the high seas during national security and drug interdiction activities and maritime-based pollution incidents including oil spills. Affirmative admiralty actions seek compensation for damage to maritime infrastructure damage to natural resources and the costs associated with maritime pollution cleanups.
This is not a remote location position. You will be required to work in person five days a week.
- 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.
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 the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected 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.
Preferred qualifications: Applicants should have excellent writing negotiation and interpersonal skills exhibit good judgment and have an interest in trial and appellate work. Aviation space and/or admiralty litigation experience is strongly preferred as well as complex litigation skills including experience with expert witnesses and e-discovery.
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 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.
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 .
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 documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
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 two (2) year service period.
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 order to determine your eligibility you can find additional information at: 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 Veterans Preference and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website a copy of SF 15 which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).
DOJ EEO Statement/Policy: U.S. Department of Justice Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Issued December 31 2025
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: 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.
Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and 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. DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes to and reference Federal Career Opportunities in the subject line. Additional information is found at: .
Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by law the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalffrom inquiring about an applicants 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.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
Required Experience:
IC
