Trial Attorney (Employment Law)

The United States Trustee Program (USTP) is a litigating component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders-debtors, creditors, and the public. The USTP is a national program with twenty-one (21) regions consisting of field offices, and has broad administrative, regulatory, and enforcement authorities in bankruptcy cases, including chapter 7 and 13 consumer cases, family farmer chapter 12 cases, small business reorganizations, and complex chapter 11 corporate reorganizations. The USTP is the only participant in the bankruptcy process uniquely positioned to address multi-jurisdictional misconduct or other issues of national scope that give rise to systemic fraud and abuse, while also effectively combatting local matters affecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system.

The Office of the General Counsel, within the Executive Office for United States Trustees, oversees the Program's legal activities. OGC formulates and oversees the Program's national legal policies and litigation strategies before the bankruptcy courts and through the appellate process, implements the Program's legal priorities, resolves significant legal issues, and provides advice to staff on constitutional and administrative law issues.

The Executive Office for United States Trustees (EOUST), Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is seeking an experienced attorney to provide expert legal advice and guidance on employment law matters as well as other areas of administrative law including, ethics, information law, and federal tort claims. The individual selected for this position will be responsible for administrative litigation before the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and will serve as agency experts in personnel and employment law matters, including advising on disciplinary and other adverse actions. The selected individual will join a team of attorneys with subject matter expertise in various administrative law functions.

As a Trial Attorney (Employment Law), GS-0905-14/15, duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Representing the USTP in actions before the MSPB, the EEOC, and other proceedings before an administrative body or a person having quasi-judicial power and providing litigation support to Department of Justice counsel who represent the USTP and its personnel in employment law matters before the federal District Court.

Serving as a legal consultant and an expert on employment law issues concerning USTP operations.

Providing senior management with expert legal advice and substantive recommendations regarding hiring, relocations, terminations, leave, employee conduct standards, and proposed disciplinary and corrective actions.

Providing legal review of grievances and other employee complaints, claims, allegations and issues of entitlement.

Providing advice and guidance on reasonable accommodations in compliance with federal disability and accommodation laws and regulations.

Representing the USTP in EEO investigations and providing support and guidance to internal investigations involving employee complaints, whistleblower claims, and workplace misconduct.

Reviewing for legal sufficiency proposed adverse actions, other disciplinary measures, and other personnel actions based on misconduct and performance and ensuring actions are supported by admissible evidence or documentation and that the action is in full compliance with personnel laws, regulations, and applicable case law.

Providing advice and training on all aspects of employee relations and employment law.

Formulating legal policies, procedures, and objectives related to employee relations and employment law.

Proactively recommending improvements to the USTP's employee relations and equal employment opportunity programs, in compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and Department and USTP policies.

Providing legal assistance and advice in other areas of law including ethics, the Privacy Act, and the Freedom of Information Act.

Performing other duties as assigned.

Required

Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic and professional credentials; superior oral and written communication; outstanding legal research, analytical and legal reasoning; outstanding judgment; and the ability to function with minimal guidance in a demanding legal environment. Further, an applicant must have a J.D. degree from an accredited law school and have at least four (4) years post-J.D. professional legal or other relevant experience advocating on behalf of clients, experience interpreting or applying provisions of Title VII, the Rehabilitation Act, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, and other federal employment statutes, familiarity with administrative law, particularly the Administrative Procedure Act and how it intersects with employment decisions, and experience preparing for and representing agencies before administrative bodies such as the MSPB and the EEOC.

Applicants must be an active member of a state bar in good standing. Please note, in a select few jurisdictions, federal attorneys are required to be active members of the jurisdiction’s state bar.

Preferred

A record of analyzing complex legal problems, interpreting statutory, rule, and regulatory provisions, developing litigation strategies, and demonstrating superior trial practice skills;

A record of litigating complex matters including taking depositions, examining witnesses under oath, and propounding formal written discovery;

Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to address a broad array of issues arising in a large volume of cases;

The ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical issues in a wide variety of cases and projects;

The ability to set, manage, and balance diverse, evolving, and challenging projects and priorities;

Demonstrated initiative and creativity;

Strong interpersonal communication skills;

Strong information technology skills, including using databases and IT systems to manage and track work;

Experience providing advice and guidance in information law and/or ethics;

Experience working with or for federal agencies; and,

A commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.

This vacancy announcement is open to all U.S. CITIZENS.

To apply, interested candidates must submit ONE (1) PDF document containing the following:

A cover letter that highlights the applicant’s interest in the position and details how all qualifications are met;

A current resume (not to exceed TWO (2) pages) that details months and years of education, employment, and earliest bar admission; IMPORTANT: Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.

A short writing sample, or an excerpt from a longer writing sample (under ten pages), that is exclusively or primarily the applicant’s work and includes legal analysis;

DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Member 4 copy (if applicable); and

CTAP/ICTAP documentation (if applicable).

Email your PDF application package to ustp.employment@usdoj.gov with the subject line Trial Attorney-OGC-02-2026.

Evaluation Process

A panel of subject matter experts will review applications to determine how well a candidate meets the minimum position qualifications outlined above. If a candidate is deemed qualified, they will be contacted via email or telephone to schedule an interview. Interviews will be scored by a selecting committee and those who fall into the best-qualified category will be considered for the position.

Conditions of Employment

The possible salary range is on the General Schedule from GS-14 to GS-15. The annual salary will depend on the applicant’s qualifications, experience, and the locality pay adjustment for the duty station.