The Appellate Section is responsible for handling most Environmental and Natural Resources Division cases in federal and state appellate courts, for preparing appeal and amicus recommendations for the Solicitor General, and for preparing drafts for the Office of the Solicitor General of petitions and briefs in these cases if they go the U.S. Supreme Court. The incumbent will serve as one of three Assistant Section Chiefs within the Appellate Section.

Duties

The Appellate Section management consists of a Chief, a Deputy Section Chief, and three Assistant Section Chiefs. The Deputy and Assistant Chiefs divide management of the work of the Section by subject matter. The Section is responsible for civil and criminal appeals in all cases handled by an ENRD trial section in federal or state trial courts. It also handles directly, or coordinates with the United States Attorney offices (USAO), on civil and criminal appeals in cases involving Division subject matters that were handled by a USAO in the trial court. In addition, the Appellate Section has responsibility for certain petitions for review filed directly in the court of appeals that seek review of decisions of the Energy and Interior Departments and of the FAA, NRC, STB, and in some instances FERC. The Appellate Section works closely with the Office of the Solicitor General in determining whether to appeal adverse district court decisions to the court of appeals, to seek further review of adverse court of appeals decisions, and to participate as amicus in federal and state courts of appeals and the Supreme Court. The Section writes initial drafts of briefs filed in the Supreme Court in Division cases handled by the Appellate Section. Assistant Section Chiefs have direct supervisory responsibility for all aspects of this work in their respective subject areas. This supervision involves, among other things, assigning legal casework to attorneys, ensuring appropriate staffing on each matter, providing strategy and other guidance as needed, ensuring compliance with all relevant DOJ guidance and policies, reviewing all written briefs, memos, and other written work product for substantive accuracy and for consistency with positions in other litigation, coordinating with counterparts at client agencies and with the Office of the Solicitor General as well as other DOJ and ENRD components, briefing agency and DOJ leadership as necessary, determining settlement positions, and preparing attorneys for oral argument. The Assistant Section Chiefs also are responsible for performance management and serve as the rating official for attorneys. The Assistant Section Chiefs also assist the Section Chief and Deputy Chief on non-litigation and administrative matters, and with overall management of the Section.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You must complete a background investigation including pre-employment drug testing.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
• A supervisory probationary period is required, if not already served.
• J.D. and active bar required.

Qualifications

Applicants should possess the following qualifications: a minimum of 7 years post-J.D. or post clerkship litigation experience and significant litigation experience, or substantive familiarity with the Administrative Procedure Act or other statutes within the Appellate Section's jurisdiction; a demonstrated record of analysis of complex or novel legal problems; outstanding legal writing and editing skills; excellent judgment; the ability to mentor and manage attorneys and administrative staff to produce high quality work under tight time frames; the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously and to adjust to meet new priorities; initiative and creativity; the ability to work cooperatively and effectively with client agencies and other Division and Department of Justice components; and a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards. In addition to the above qualifications, applicants must possess a J.D. degree; be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction); and be a U.S. citizen or national. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of the announcement will be considered.

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.

Contacts

• Address Appellate Section 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20530 US
• Name: Carmen Browne
• Phone: (202) 616-3127
• Email: [email protected]