Trial Attorney

Capital Case Section (CCS) attorneys advise and participate in capital prosecutions with the United States Attorney's Offices, including acting as co-counsel. CCS provides guidance and training on all death penalty matters including appeals, and the pre-trial and trial process. CCS attorneys also advise the Attorney General's Review Committee on Capital Cases on recommending whether to seek the death penalty in eligible cases and provide advice to senior DOJ staff on policy matters.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: Interested applicants must possess a J.D. 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:

• Experience in supporting, litigating, and supervising criminal cases in federal or state courts;
• Experience handling violent crime cases;
• Experience handling federal criminal prosecutions on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice;
• Experience in preparing and submitting cases pursuant to the U.S. Department of Justice's death penalty protocol; and
• Experience trying capital cases.

Responsibilities:

The Criminal Division, United States Department of Justice is seeking qualified, experienced trial attorneys in the Capital Case Section (CCS) located in Washington, DC.

As a Trial Attorney, the incumbent:

• Conducts analysis of new cases received from the United States Attorneys' Offices and Department components charging a crime punishable by death. Section attorneys advise the Attorney General's Capital Case Review Committee in its factual and legal evaluation of cases submitted to the Department for review regarding whether the death penalty should be sought in each capital-eligible case.
• Litigates all phases of federal capital cases, including pre-trial litigation, guidance in selecting death qualified juries, and helps construct penalty phase evidentiary presentations. Section attorneys act as co-counsel in federal capital trials, assisting with the preparation of capital-eligible cases for Department review, providing guidance on death penalty related aspects of the pre-trial and trial process.
• Provides training on the Department's capital case litigation. Section attorneys provide legal, procedural, and policy guidance to United States Attorneys' Offices and Department components handling capital investigations and prosecutions.
• In collaboration with United States Attorneys' Offices, Section attorneys advise in the preparation of legal memoranda, such as proposed legislation, amendments, regulations, testimony, briefing materials, public statements, and correspondence on capital punishment issues.
• Collects and maintains trial and appellate materials related to federal capital prosecutions. Section attorneys partner with USAOs in the development and management of current information and materials which act as a resources center for capital prosecutors.
• Assists in the development of Department policies and procedures related to federal capital prosecutions.

Salary : $169,279