Patent Attorney.

Duties

The Intellectual Property Section primarily defends the United States against allegations of patent and copyright infringement in the United States Court of Federal Claims and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Section also represents the United States in a variety of proceedings before the district courts, other courts of appeals, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The majority of the Section's cases are patent infringement cases, although the Section frequently handles copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and misappropriation of trade secrets cases.

Intellectual Property Section trial attorneys are personally responsible for the conduct of all phases of litigation, including case development, written discovery, expert discovery, depositions, motions practice, trial, and appeals. Section trial attorneys regularly coordinate with client agencies, technical and damages experts, opposing counsel, counsel for third-party litigants, and others. In patent cases, Section trial attorneys are responsible for developing an understanding of the technology at issue and working with highly skilled experts in the development of legal positions. Section trial attorneys work on both individual and team cases in support of the Department's mission of defending the public fisc and intellectual property interests of the United States.

Requirements
Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National


• Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing


• All male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the selective service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.


• May require completion of a 2-year trial period. (Please refer to the trial period statement under Qualifications.)


• Must successfully complete a background investigation and may be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance depending on the organizational assignment, duty location, or other factors.


• It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment.


• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you will be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.

Qualifications
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing. Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree in science, mathematics, engineering, or other training sufficient to qualify for admission to the patent bar.

• To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, applicants must have up to one (1) year of legal experience.


• To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, applicants must have minimum (1) or more years post-J.D. legal experience


• To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, applicants must possess at least one and one-half (1.5) years of post-J.D. legal experience.


• To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, applicants must possess at least two and one-half (2.5) years of post-J.D. legal experience.


• To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must possess at least four (4) years of post-J.D. legal experience.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Trial Period Statement
Required
As a condition of employment for accepting this position in accordance with section 11.5 of Executive Order 14284, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;


• the needs and interests of the agency;


• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and


• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

OR

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

All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

The Division plans to onboard new attorneys by September 6, 2026, with recruitment incentives contingent upon the availability of funding. Because the onboarding process can be lengthy and funding is limited, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their completed application as soon as possible for consideration.

Applicants approved for a signing bonus must sign a service agreement prior to onboarding, committing to a two (2) year service period.

Applicants who are currently employed by the federal government are not eligible for a recruitment incentive.
Veteran Preference:
If you are entitled to or claim veterans' preference (VP), you should indicate the type of veteran preference (5 or 10 points) you are claiming on your resume. In order to determine your eligibility, you can find additional information at:

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 include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (
*e.g.*
, the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. 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 Veterans' Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website,

DOJ EEO Statement/Policy
Reasonable Accommodation Statement:
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Schedule A:
DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department. DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes to resume@benderconsult.com, and reference "Federal Career Opportunities" in the subject line. Additional information is found at:

*Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs:*
*Unless otherwise required by*
*from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally,
before
that individual*
*receives a conditional*
*offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.*
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.