[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 28, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 28CFR50.16]

[Page 69-70]
 
                    TITLE 28--JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
 
              CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Continued)
 
PART 50--STATEMENTS OF POLICY--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 50.16  Representation of Federal employees by private counsel at Federal expense.

    (a) Representation by private counsel at federal expense or 
reimbursement of private counsel fees is subject to the availability of 
funds and may be provided to a federal employee only in the instances 
described in Sec. 50.15(a) (4), (7), (10), and (11), and in appropriate 
circumstances, for the purposes set forth in Sec. 50.15(a)(2).
    (b) To ensure uniformity in retention and reimbursement procedures 
among the litigating divisions, the Civil Division shall be responsible 
for establishing procedures for the retention of private counsel and the 
reimbursement to an employee of private counsel fees, including the 
setting of fee schedules. In all instances where a litigating division 
decides to retain private counsel or to provide reimbursement of private 
counsel fees under this section, the Civil Division shall be consulted 
before the retention or reimbursement is undertaken.
    (c) Where private counsel is provided, the following procedures 
shall apply:
    (1) While the Department of Justice will generally defer to the 
employee's choice of counsel, the Department must approve in advance any 
private counsel to be retained under this section. Where national 
security interests may be involved, the Department of Justice will 
consult with the agency employing the federal defendant seeking 
representation.
    (2) Federal payments to private counsel for an employee will cease 
if the private counsel violates any of the terms of the retention 
agreement or the Department of Justice.

[[Page 70]]

    (i) Decides to seek an indictment of, or to file an information 
against, that employee on a federal criminal charge relating to the 
conduct concerning which representation was undertaken;
    (ii) Determines that the employee's actions do not reasonably appear 
to have been performed within the scope of his employment;
    (iii) Resolves any conflict described herein and tenders 
representation by Department of Justice attorneys;
    (iv) Determines that continued representation is not in the interest 
of the United States;
    (v) Terminates the retainer with the concurrence of the employee-
client for any reason.
    (d) Where reimbursement is provided for private counsel fees 
incurred by employees, the following limitations shall apply:
    (1) Reimbursement shall be limited to fees incurred for legal work 
that is determined to be in the interest of the United States. 
Reimbursement is not available for legal work that advances only the 
individual interests of the employee.
    (2) Reimbursement shall not be provided if at any time the Attorney 
General or his designee determines that the employee's actions do not 
reasonably appear to have been performed within the scope of his 
employment or that representation is no longer in the interest of the 
United States.
    (3) Reimbursement shall not be provided for fees incurred during any 
period of time for which representation by Department of Justice 
attorneys was tendered.
    (4) Reimbursement shall not be provided if the United States decides 
to seek an indictment of or to file an information against the employee 
seeking reimbursement, on a criminal charge relating to the conduct 
concerning which representation was undertaken.

[Order No. 970-82, 47 FR 8174, Feb. 25, 1982, as amended by Order No. 
1409-90, 55 FR 13130, Apr. 9, 1990]