Trial Attorney (Equity Section), Public Interest Division (#19-002, Closing: 11/5/18)

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

*AMENDED*

This announcement has been amended to reflect the position is not in the collective bargaining unit.

This position is outside of the collective bargaining unit.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:   The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia seeks a trial attorney for the Equity Section of its Public Interest Division. The Equity Section defends the District of Columbia in class actions and other major civil lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, particularly those cases that seek declaratory and injunctive relief. 

The successful candidate will defend the District of Columbia and its executive level agencies, officials, and employees in complex constitutional litigation brought against the District challenging its laws, regulations, policies and practices. These cases are high profile and seek injunctive and other declaratory relief, with substantial impact on executive level agencies and their programs and policies. The cases often implicate claims under the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments to the Constitution. The candidate will defend all class action and other systemic challenges to the services, practices, conditions and care provided by District agencies and departments, and challenges to their component operations; civil actions seeking to enjoin enforcement of or otherwise challenge District laws; and civil actions challenging many regulatory actions taken by District agencies. These cases vary from individual to class action complaints and from singular to system-wide challenges. Because the cases often address purported systemic problems with agency programs, practices, and policies, the candidate typically will advise several constituent District agencies on matters related to pending litigation and matters where there are orders awarding permanent injunctive relief. This includes Court oversight of various consent decrees and other ongoing court monitoring of judicial relief. 

The successful candidate will file pleadings, conduct and respond to written and oral discovery, file dispositive motions, negotiate settlements, advise agency personnel on policies and practices challenged in litigation, and conduct trials and contested hearings. There is substantial contact with client agencies. The position requires knowledge of municipal law and significant civil litigation experience. Prior civil litigation experience must include trials or evidentiary hearings, motions and discovery practice, taking and defending depositions, and a thorough knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.                                                                

QUALIFICATIONS:  The successful candidate must possess strong negotiation, litigation, and analytical skills, and excellent legal research, oral and written advocacy skills. The candidate also must have the ability and willingness to manage several complex cases at one time. 

ELIGIBILITY:  The successful candidate must have a law degree and be an active member in good standing of the bar of any jurisdiction.  If not a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the candidate must be sworn into the District of Columbia Bar within 360 days of his/her initial appointment with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. 

OTHER INFORMATION:  The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation including reference checks.

Please see below attachment for details.