Summary
The Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) of the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking 1 or more experienced litigators for its Wildlife and Marine Resources Section in Washington, DC or Denver, Colorado. The first cut-off date for referral of applicants will be October 7, 2026. The second cut-off date will be on the closing date of October 28, 2026.
Responsibilities
The Wildlife and Marine Resources Section litigates civil defensive cases in federal courts across the country under federal wildlife and marine species statutes, including the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. These are primarily record-review cases challenging agency rulemaking and decisions such as species listing determinations, fishery regulations, and the operation of dams and other federal projects. The Section' s work intersects with critical federal missions such as public lands management, energy production, and national defense as these missions impact wildlife and marine resources. The Wildlife Section also civilly enforces the Animal Welfare Act, often through emergency motions seeking injunctive relief, and pursues civil forfeitures of seized animals. The Section' s docket is varied, fast-paced, and often involves novel issues and matters of national significance. WMRS seeks to hire and cultivate talented attorneys and provides its lawyers with regular and meaningful court experience in a variety of jurisdictions on a broad range of issues. Wildlife Section attorneys are expected to manage their own dockets with first-chair responsibility across all phases of litigation, including strategic planning with agency attorneys and staff, drafting procedural and dispositive motions, handling discovery, negotiating settlements, defending emergency motions, examining witnesses, and presenting oral argument. Attorneys in the Section also are expected to counsel client agencies on their compliance with statutes under the Section's jurisdiction. Applicants should possess strong legal writing, analytical, and strategic thinking abilities and should be comfortable with general principles of federal jurisdiction and civil procedure.
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. Applicants should have a strong interest in federal litigation, trial work and/or appellate work, and an exceptional academic background. Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with defensive civil litigation is highly desirable. Applicants must demonstrate superior research, analytical, and writing abilities. Years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range is: Denver, CO: GS-13 ($118,675 - $154,280) GS-14 ($140,239 - $182,316) GS-15 ($164,956 -$197,200) Washington DC: GS-13 ($121,785 - $158,322) GS-14 ($143,913 - $187,093) GS-15 ($169,279 - $197,200) YOUR RESUME MUST provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement if you are using experience to meet all or part of the qualification requirements. Please ensure that your resume includes the month and year that you began and ended each position held or that position will not be credited toward meeting the experience requirement. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this 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.