Description
POSITION TITLE: Trial Attorney
LOCATION:
Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
Public Advocacy Division
Office of Consumer Protection
400 Sixth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
WORK STATUS: A hybrid remote telework/in-office schedule option is available upon supervisor approval.
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT: The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) is committed to providing the highest quality legal and programmatic services to the District and its residents while ensuring the health and safety of employees, customers, clients, volunteers, contractors, and other visitors.
The District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General values the safety of our employees, our residents, and our visitors. In support of these values, OAG employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates sincerely held religious beliefs. The selected candidate must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative.
JOB REQUISITION NUMBER: #2023-126
NUMBER OF VACANCIES: One (1)OPENING DATE: September 15, 2023CLOSING DATE: October 16 2023SALARY RANGE: $128,824 – $141,715
This salary range is within the Legal Service salary schedule. The salary range is based on a multitude of factors including applicable rules, regulations and guidelines.
PAY PLAN, SERIES AND GRADE: LA-905-14
TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Legal Service (LA) – Permanent
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT: This position is in a collective bargaining unit.
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to the public
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia is seeking an experienced trial attorney for the position of Assistant Attorney general in the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) of the Public Advocacy Division (PAD). The Public Advocacy Division manages the affirmative civil enforcement litigation of OAG to protect the public interest. PAD brings enforcement actions in consumer protection, civil rights, housing, workers’ rights, elder justice, nonprofit, and antitrust.
The largest section in PAD and among the largest sections office-wide, OCP works to protect District consumers by bringing cases against businesses that take advantage of District residents, educating consumers in the District through outreach events and consumer alerts, and receiving and investigating complaints from consumers in the District regarding potential violations of District consumer protection laws. OCP both investigates and brings enforcement actions of high priority to residents and participates in national and multistate actions, with subject matters covering deceptive lending practices, big tech, privacy, scams, addictive and unsafe products, deceptive fees, hyperlocal matters, and more. OCP also regularly proposes legislative solutions to better protect District residents and engages frequent public speaking and consumer education efforts. The Director and Deputy Director oversee the management and operation of OCP, which includes the supervision of 14 Assistant Attorneys General, three paralegals, three investigators, and a staff assistant.
The start date for this position is flexible, and OCP is open to considering candidates who would like to start in early 2024.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: OCP is seeking an experienced litigator who can help lead complex civil investigations and litigation and supervise case teams including more junior attorneys. While experience handling complex litigation matters is required, prior consumer protection experience-though preferred-is not necessary for this role.
This attorney will be responsible for:
- Identifying consumer issues and targets for investigation, including by evaluating consumer complaints, referrals from organizations, agencies, or attorneys, and media coverage;
- Leading investigations, including by conducting legal and factual research, preparing investigative plans, drafting subpoenas, and conducting pre-suit interviews and depositions;
- Drafting complaints, motions, legal briefs, memoranda, and written discovery requests and responses;
- Taking and defending fact and expert depositions, arguing motions, and handling evidentiary hearings;
- Managing productions and reviews of large volumes of documents, including by using electronic document review platforms, and planning and overseeing large-scale document review projects;
- Identification, procurement and preparation of expert services;
- Preparing for and leading matters through trial, including by preparing witnesses and exhibits, collecting and organizing evidence, and conducting witness examinations;
- Conducting settlement negotiations and mediations, and providing recommendations regarding the same to supervisors;
- Regularly updating supervisors, PAD management, and the Immediate Office regarding cases and investigations;
- Preforming all functions related to case and calendar management, such as pretrial, motion and trial scheduling, preparation of case transfer or close-out reports, case file entry updating, documentation of action taken or orders issued, timely preparation and service of filings, timely issuance of subpoenas, and any other administrative functions associated with litigation;
- Drafting and/or providing input and recommendations on proposed legislation relating to consumer protection matters, and potentially providing related testimony to the Council of the District of Columbia;
- Coordinating with other District agencies on consumer protection matters;
- Assisting in consumer education and other related press matters;
- Helping to mentor and train more junior attorneys; and
- Performing other related duties, as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS: The candidate must have at least five (5) years of relevant specialized experience, 1 year of which must have been equivalent to LA-13, or its non-District equivalent gained from either the public or private sector. The candidate should have civil litigation experience sufficient to perform the tasks described above, as well as excellent analytical, writing, and litigation skills.
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS: The incumbent 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.
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.
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A substitution of education for required experience is not allowed per defined in OPM’s Qualification Standards.
TIME-IN-GRADE RESTRICTIONS: Time-in-grade restrictions must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates must apply online by 11:59 pm of the closing date. All applications must be filled in its entirety, along with a cover letter, resume, a writing sample and a list of three professional references including supervisors. Please ensure that all required documents are included prior to submitting the application.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS
GENERAL SUITABILITY SCREENING: The selected candidate will be subject to a general background investigation, including reference checks.
PRIORITY CONSIDERATION: Displaced Employee Priority Placement: Candidates who are eligible for the District of Columbia’s Displaced Employee Program (DEP) and Agency Reemployment Priority Placement Program (ARPP) will be given priority consideration for this position if found qualified.
EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation), and sick leave and will be covered under the District of Columbia government’s retirement plan. However, if the selectee was previously employed in the District of Columbia’s government under an appointment for which he/she was eligible for Civil Service Retirement (CSR), contributions to CSR will resume upon re-employment.
RESIDENCY PREFERENCE: A person applying for a position in the Career Service, Education Service, Management Supervisory Service, an attorney position in the Legal Service (series 905) other than in the Senior Executive Attorney Service (SEAS), or an attorney in the Excepted Service (series 905) who is a bona fide District resident AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for the position, maybe awarded a 10-point residency preference over non-District residents’ applications unless the person declines the preference points. If selected, the person shall be required to present proofs of bona fide District residency and maintain such residency for 7 consecutive years from the effective date of the appointment. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency for the 7-year period will result in forfeiture of employment.
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE: Applicants claiming veterans’ preference must submit official proof at the time of application.
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after the conviction of or a plea of guilty to a violation of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, physical disability, matriculation, genetic information, credit information, or status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived Race, Color, Religion, National Origin, Sex, Age, Marital Status, Personal Appearance, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, Family Responsibilities, Political Affiliation, Disability, Matriculation, Familial Status, Source of Income, Genetic Information, Place of Residence or Business, Status as a Victim of an Intrafamily Offense, Credit Information, or Status as a Victim or Family Member of a Victim of Domestic Violence, a Sexual Offense, or Stalking. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.
OFFICIAL JOB OFFERS ARE TO BE MADE ONLY BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES SECTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Important: Your COMPLETE application is important to OAG hiring process. Please ensure that you have read through the requisition in its entirety. Any REQUIRED document/s i.e. Resume, Cover Letter, DC2000RP, and/or KSAs as applicable, are included BEFORE you SUBMIT the application. You will NOT be able to re-submit. Thank you.