Trial Attorney – Immigration Litigation

About the role

The Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) seeks a Trial Attorney to lead and support high‑stakes immigration litigation on behalf of the federal government. This position involves both district‑court and appellate work, often under tight deadlines and with significant policy impact.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate with agency clients and develop comprehensive litigation strategies.
• Conduct pre‑trial preparation, including discovery, motions, and case management.
• Draft complaints, motions, answers, briefs, and other court filings.
• Participate in hearings, oral arguments, and court‑ordered discussions.
• Engage in settlement negotiations to advance government interests.
• Decide on appellate routes, including petitions for panel, en banc, or Supreme Court review, and prepare related briefing and arguments.
• Handle attorney‑fees litigation and serve as expert consultant on immigration‑related congressional and departmental inquiries.
• Manage emergency temporary restraining order matters and complex appellate motions such as stays of removal and summary affirmance.
• Defend challenges to immigration policies, executive orders, and statutes, including habeas petitions and mandamus actions.

Required profile

• Bar admission and eligibility to practice law in the United States.
• Substantial experience in federal immigration litigation, including district‑court and appellate practice.
• Proven ability to draft high‑quality legal documents and present oral arguments before judges.
• Strong analytical skills for complex statutory, constitutional, and administrative law issues.
• Capacity to work under pressure on fast‑paced, high‑profile cases.

Required skills