Summary
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia prosecutes federal criminal offenses and defends the interests of the United States in civil cases. The office seeks to maintain the highest standards of excellence in the enforcement of federal laws and the representation of the United States.https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is located in Charleston, WV
Duties
Duties The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia is seeking two Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) to serve in the Civil Division. Civil AUSAs represent the United States, its agencies, and its employees in federal court and are committed to justice, excellence, fairness, and service to the public. AUSAs handle all phases of civil litigation and investigations, including legal research, discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiations, trial, and appeal. The positions require the ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively, analyze complex legal and factual issues, work effectively both independently and collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, and manage a varied caseload with integrity on behalf of the United States. Position 1: Assistant United States Attorney - Bankruptcy Litigation The attorney selected for this position will be primarily responsible for litigation before federal bankruptcy courts in the district. This litigation generally involves representation of federal agency creditors in Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 proceedings under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and in adversary proceedings. Creditor agencies include the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Education. The Bankruptcy AUSA is assigned cases to litigate from inception to completion as the sole attorney representing those federal agencies in bankruptcy court, to preserve said agencies' claims to payment from the bankruptcy estate. Job duties may include conducting legal research, drafting legal memoranda, preparing and answering discovery, taking and defending depositions or examinations, representing the United States in judicial proceedings. The AUSA may also be assigned other civil defensive or affirmative cases as the need arises. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Position 2: Assistant United States Attorney - General Civil Litigation The attorney selected for this position will be responsible for a wide variety of civil matters, including, but not limited to, defensive litigation (such as personal injury, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, and challenges to agency action), constitutional claims against federal employees, and/or affirmative civil enforcement (including healthcare fraud, procurement fraud, financial fraud, pharmaceutical diversion, and violations of civil rights statutes). The selected candidate will also defend immigration cases, including cases brought by detainees challenging their continued detention and cases challenging the government's denial of immigration benefits applications. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Residency Requirements: Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which he or she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district-specific information. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born 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. See www.sss.gov. Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
Education
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree by Enter on Duty (EOD) date.
How you will be evaluated
Evaluation Method: Once your complete application package is received, it will be reviewed to ensure you meet all job requirements. An attorney interview panel will then review all qualified applicants and make recommendations for invitation to interview. You will be notified if selected for an interview. The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete. Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must indicate their preference in response to the appropriate question in their assessment questionnaire (it is also recommended that information is included in their cover letter or resume) and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more). Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.