Trial Attorney - Land Acquisition Section (Open Continuous)

The Energy and Natural Resources Division is seeking experienced civil litigators for the Land Acquisition Section. This Section is responsible for acquiring real property on behalf of the United States through litigation, title review, and collaboration with agencies for purposes ranging from establishing national parks, expanding military installations, rebuilding energy and transportation systems, and facilitating border security.

Duties

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT that will remain open until September 30, 2027. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, and positions will be filled when the need arises or as vacancies occur to meet immediate and future hiring needs. It will also allow the organization to maintain a standing pool of qualified applicants for Fiscal Year 2027.

Management may terminate this vacancy announcement early and without notice once a sufficient talent pool is established or authorized positions have been successfully filled.

The Land Acquisition Section (LAS) represents virtually every federal agency, in federal district court across the United States and its territories, tackling novel and complex civil litigation arising under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. LAS litigates condemnation cases to acquire real property for the United States for public uses including taking land into trust for tribes, expanding military installations, rebuilding federal courthouses, establishing national monuments, constructing border and immigration security infrastructure and land ports of entry, and maintaining the air traffic safety network throughout the United States. Our work safeguards the protection of the Fifth Amendment so that the amount of compensation for condemned property is fair to both property owners and taxpayers.

LAS also is responsible for ensuring the sufficiency of title for all real property that federal agencies acquire by direct purchase. For both litigation and title matters, the legal and factual issues are often complex and intellectually challenging and may include: the power of the United States to acquire land; ascertainment of the market value of property; and the physical, legal or financial feasibility of the potential uses of property. LAS also provides agencies with training and consultation during the planning process for major federal land acquisition projects.

Section attorneys are actively involved in every facet of our title work and cases from pre-filing consultation with client-agencies to discovery, motion practice, negotiations, and trial. On a day-to-day basis, our attorneys address case management issues, engage in case development, negotiate with opposing counsel, draft substantive motions and briefs, take depositions, present oral arguments, and conduct trials before juries, judges, and land commissions. Our attorneys work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment, and consult closely with our client counsel as well as expert witnesses. LAS attorneys work in teams alongside our in-house consulting appraisers and paralegals to develop successful and fair litigation positions.

The ideal candidates will bring a strong interest in federal litigation and trial work, and at least 2 years of post-JD experience. LAS seeks to hire and cultivate talented trial attorneys and provides its lawyers with frequent and meaningful court experience in a variety of jurisdictions. Because of the nature of our docket, the ideal candidate should be comfortable in "first-chair" and supporting roles in multiple complex cases, and have demonstrated and substantial experience in civil litigation, including pre-trial discovery, motion practice, oral argument, and examination of fact and expert witnesses. The cases handled by the Section require attorneys to achieve intellectual command of complicated facts, real estate and appraisal principles, and legal issues. Successful candidates will be hard-working, intellectually curious, enjoy having primary responsibilities in sophisticated litigation, and proficiency in working with a wide range of experts. Creative thinking and talent in problem-solving-whether in a litigation or settlement context-are critical. Collegiality is fundamental to our Section. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working collaboratively with other attorneys and providing support and mentorship to less experienced attorneys.

In staffing our cases, we strive to create opportunities for our attorneys to constantly learn and grow. New attorneys will soon handle their own cases but will also be teamed with experienced co-counsel on more complex matters, and will have access to substantive, on-going training in every aspect of civil litigation and real estate law. In short order, attorneys author substantive motions and pleadings, argue in federal district court, take depositions, and conduct negotiations. The opportunity to participate in a trial typically occurs within the first two years of employment.

LAS is composed of exceptionally talented attorneys who enjoy a team-oriented, collaborative work environment. The appraisers and paralegals we have are valuable resources, offering reliable help with a can-do attitude. The Section cultivates an atmosphere of respect among colleagues who work together to advocate for the United States.

Salary

• $121,785 - $197,200/year

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen or national.
• You must complete a background investigation to include pre-employment drug testing.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
• You must maintain a bank account for direct deposit of salary.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants must have the years of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal experience for the specific grade level requirements listed below:

• At least 1.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-13 grade level.
• At least 2.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level.
• At least 4 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level.

Experience in litigation, administrative law, and/or environmental law is highly desirable.

Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range for Washington D.C.:

• GS-13 ($121,785 - $158,322)
• GS-14 ($143,913 - $187,093)
• GS-15 ($169,279 - $197,200)

Education 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 www.ed.gov 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 https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Other Information Attorney positions within the U.S. Department of Justice are in the Excepted Service. Vacancies are filled using an alternative hiring process through an open continuous announcement. Appointments under this authority do not confer competitive status for transfer to the competitive service. Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however the Energy and Natural Resources Division considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in the hiring process. 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. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline. DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. 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. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy Selective Service: If you were born male, on or after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: www.sss.gov. 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 behalf from inquiring about an applicant's 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. Please Note: Additional candidates may be selected if more positions become available in the Division within 90 days after HR office issues the certificate of eligibles. Required Documents To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes the following: Cover Letter Resume Veteran Status: Applicants wishing to claim veteran's preference must indicate their status in their cover letter and attach a DD-214 (Member 4 copy) to the submission email. Your resume MUST include full employment information such as periods of employment with month/year started and ended, title of position(s), FT or PT hours worked, and description of duties. If you have Federal employment, you must include the grade of the positions(s). Do not include the following types of information in your profile or resume: Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate content, you may not be considered for this vacancy. How to Apply

This is an open continuous announcement to fill current and future vacancies. Applications will be reviewed beginning October 7, 2026, and continue on an as-needed basis as specific vacancies and operational needs arise, but no later than September 30, 2027. You may only apply to this vacancy once. No updates will be permitted. We will review applications, interview candidates, and make selections continuously as they arrive.

Please email a cover letter, your resume, and DD-214 (if applicable) to:

ATTYAPPLY-LAS.ENRD@USDOJ.GOV
Subject Line: ENRD-27-004-EXC

No telephone calls or status inquiries please. We will reach out should there be an interest.

Note: While law school transcripts, writing samples, and related documents are not required to apply, candidates selected to move forward must provide them upon request.

Internet Sites: For more information about the Energy and Natural Resources Division, visit the web site at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd; for more information about the Land Acquisition Section, visit the web site at: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/land-acquisition-section.

This and selected other legal position announcements can be found on the Internet at: https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers.