Reimbursable Detail Opportunity - Trial Attorney

The Civil Rights Division (CRT or Division) of the Department of Justice, created by the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society.  The Division enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, religion, familial status, national origin, and citizenship status. 

The Special Litigation Section (SPL) protects civil rights in the following areas: 1) the rights of people in state or local institutions, including: jails, prisons, juvenile detention facilities, and health care facilities for persons with disabilities; 2) the rights of individuals with disabilities to receive services in their communities, rather than in institutions; 3) the rights of people who interact with state or local police or sheriffs’ departments; 4) the rights of youth involved in the juvenile justice system; 5) the rights of people to have safe access to reproductive health care clinics; and 6) the rights of people to practice their religion while confined to state and local institutions. We can also act on behalf of people at risk of harm in these areas.

Our office places a high value on diversity of experiences and perspectives and encourages applications from all qualified individuals from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBT individuals, and persons with disabilities.

SPL seeks one or more attorneys to serve a one-year reimbursable detail; the detail may be extended with the mutual consent of all parties.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and consistent with District of Columbia guidance and Department of Justice policy, CRT is in a maximum telework posture with personnel working remotely, with exceptions for mission critical travel or onsite work.  The expectation is that the detailee will work remotely, unless the Section determines the need for business travel or meetings/limited onsite work at SPL’s 4CON building at 150 M Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.

The detailee will work in the Section’s police or corrections practice group:

1. Police Practices Group: works to protect people’s constitutional and other federal rights during law enforcement interactions, including uses of force, and stops, searches, or arrests; or

2. Corrections Practices Group: works to protect people’s constitutional and other federal rights involving conditions and practices in jails and prisons.

The attorney will be responsible for duties such as, but not limited to: (1) handling personally, or as a team member, sensitive and/or complex investigations, litigation, negotiations; monitoring/enforcement of systemic reform; (2) working with the Section’s management team to develop and establish strategies and priorities for police misconduct and corrections enforcement; (3) working with U.S. Attorney’s Offices, DOJ components, and other federal agencies to implement strategies for effective information sharing and case development; and
(4) conducting outreach to witnesses, victims, and those who are affected by the Section’s work.
The attorney will be responsible for screening and developing new matters; conducting comprehensive investigations involving onsite observation and inspection, interviews, and work with experts; analyzing data; drafting written recommendations including legal analyses; litigating all aspects of the Section’s enforcement cases; and negotiating, monitoring, and enforcing settlement agreements. Litigation associated with these investigations is complex, involving extensive discovery, pretrial motions practice, preliminary injunction hearings, trials, and post judgment enforcement and contempt proceedings. Enforcement of agreements in these cases is also complex, involving extensive negotiation of policy and training, onsite inspections and interviews, and collaboration with a variety of external stakeholders.

Applicants are encouraged to review the Section’s website, which contains additional information regarding each practice group.

Candidates must be individuals on a permanent (not time limited) attorney position within the Department of Justice, possess a J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school, be an active member of a bar in good standing (any jurisdiction), and possess five years post-professional law degree experience.  Applicants must have strong, demonstrated qualifications in the following areas: academic achievement; substantive knowledge and expertise in the laws, rules and regulations applicable to the work of the section or substantially similar laws, rules and regulations; written and oral communication skills; the ability to analyze complex issues; skill and experience working collaboratively and productively with others; organizational skills; professional judgment; initiative; and the ability to excel in a fast-paced, demanding environment. In addition, applicants must have outstanding professional references.

Preferred Qualifications: Given the nature and volume of this work, the Section generally seeks candidates with significant litigation and organizational change experience. Applicants with one or more of the following qualifications are preferred: (1) civil or criminal trial experience; (2) federal civil or criminal litigation experience; (3) experience handling complex investigations; (4) demonstrated experience negotiating agreements; (5) demonstrated experience enforcing systemic reform agreements; (6) demonstrated experience working through the process of organizational change; (7) demonstrated sound professional judgment, including the ability to develop and implement effective advocacy strategies and balance competing priorities; (8) substantive knowledge of law enforcement misconduct, corrections, and other applicable laws; and (9) demonstrated experience identifying, developing, and implementing outreach efforts or public presentations.

Judicial clerkships, moot court, clinical experience, and skills and experience working cooperatively and productively with a range of people, such as charging parties, witnesses, respondents, disadvantaged or disenfranchised groups, opposing counsel, judicial or administrative officials, advocacy groups, law enforcement personnel, and the staff of other federal or state governmental agencies are also preferred.
 

This is a reimbursable detail assignment. There will be no change in salary. Positions will be filled at employee’s current salary level.

Some travel is expected

CRT encourages all interested and qualified attorneys to apply for this position.  Individuals interested in this detail opportunity should submit a cover letter, a resume, your most recent performance appraisal, and most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that is not an award to [email protected].  Please indicate in your cover letter a preference for either the police or corrections practice group as described above.  The subject line of your email should include #21-CRT-DTL-004. 

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Not Authorized

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