Summary
The incumbent works as an Attorney-Advisor in the Office of the Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) and provides a full range of legal advice to the Commission's Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and Small Claims Officer (SCO) on issues arising under the Shipping Act.
Duties
Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate for this position will have experience with: (1) civil litigation including discovery and trial practice; and (2) providing legal guidance to judges, hearing officers, or similar professionals.
The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13 level. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
The incumbent functions as attorney-advisor to the Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and Small Claims Officer (SCO). The incumbent provides a full range of legal advice to the Commission's ALJs and SCO on issues arising under the Shipping Act. Preference is for someone experienced in conducting discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including litigating or resolving discovery motions.
- Conducts comprehensive legal research with minimal guidance, including examination of applicable laws, statutes, regulations, administrative and court decisions, and other materials necessary for ensuring and supporting sound decisions resolving factual and legal issues that may impact consumers and the shipping industry. Able to resolve complex legal issues where there are no directly relevant guiding documents by exercising sound legal judgement.
- Reviews and analyzes extensive factual records, often consisting of thousands of pages of exhibits. Independently evaluates the factual basis for allegations of Shipping Act violations and communicates this evaluation to an ALJ or SCO in oral or written form with attention to detail. Identifies additional information that may be necessary to make a legal determination of the merits of the claim. Recommends disposition of discovery disputes that arise between the parties. Summarizes and makes recommendations regarding expert witness testimony.
- Applies knowledge and experience to analyze complex legal issues presented in proceedings by evaluating the factual basis and applying legal principles derived from rules, regulations, and case law precedent where there is limited existing guidance. Communicates reasons for proposed disposition of cases to ALJs or SCO both orally and in writing. Provides justifications for recommended decisions with citations to relevant facts in evidence and sound legal authorities.
- Drafts standard orders for review by the ALJs and SCO that can be issued without any changes. Drafts complex orders, including orders resolving time- and fact-sensitive discovery disputes, that require only minimal editing and guidance from the ALJ or SCO. Manage multiple competing assignments with tight timelines independently and appropriately plan, organize, and prioritize those assignments.
- Develops policies and procedures for hearings and conferences with multiple attendees, ensuring that proper notice is provided. Independently communicates office policies to potentially challenging or distressed parties (including unrepresented pro se parties) and attorneys, either orally or in writing, ensuring that all applicable rules are followed. Represents the office at staff meetings and works with peers in other offices. Occasional interaction with high-level officials on routine matters.
- Provide data necessary and assist with preparation of caseload and budget reports. Develop and maintain system to monitor caseload and applicable case management systems. Ensures that parties are properly served with orders issued by the ALJs and SCO. Research and provide recommendations on service issues.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- A 2-year trial period may be required.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a background investigation.
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
- FMC participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
- May be required to obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
- May be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
Qualifications
You must meet the following by the close of the announcement:
- Minimum educational requirements include a professional law degree (LLB or J.D.) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school. NOTE: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. An ABA-approved law school may allow students to receive credit for law study or activities at a foreign institution and grant credit for the J.D. degree if those studies or activities are approved in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Criteria adopted by the ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.
- Current active membership in a bar of any State, territory, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia. Active bar association and a certificate that the member is in good standing will be verified prior to appointment and employees must maintain active bar membership in good standing while employed as an attorney with the FMC.
- Applicants must possess excellent research and oral and written communication skills. Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:
- Experience in conducting discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including litigating or resolving discovery motions.
AND
Qualifications for the GS-11: You must meet one of the following and submit all relevant transcripts:
- First professional law degree and one year of professional specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level. Experience is described in the "How You will be Evaluated" section; OR
- Meet the GS-09 experience requirement plus possess the second professional law degree that requires one full year of graduate study; OR
- Possess the first professional law degree provided the applicant's record shows superior law student work or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:
- Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class;
- Work or achievement of significance on the law school's official law review;
- Special high level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif;
- Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools; OR
- Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation.
Recent Graduates: An interim appointment of 14 months may be made pending the selectees admission to the bar. The selectee will be required to provide admittance and standing to the Bar and possibly a copy of their official law school transcripts.
Qualifications for the GS-12 and GS-13: In addition to meeting the education requirements, applicants applying for the one or more of these grade level(s) must possess professional law experience and specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11 or GS-12 respectively), outlined under the " How You Will Be Evaluated" section.
Education
Please refer to the qualifications and required documents for applicable education requirements.
Benefits
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine that you possess at least one year of professional, specialized law experience relative to the grade you are applying. Please ensure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position.
Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position being filled. Law clerk experience (post J.D.) can be considered professional law experience if the candidate performed attorney duties.
Specialized experience is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and performed at level equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service:
For the GS-11: Conducting legal research with guidance from supervisor; drafting factual summaries; recommending disposition of legal issues; drafting orders with supervisory guidance; coordinating hearings and conferences; monitoring caseload and utilizing case management systems.
For the GS-12: Conducting comprehensive legal research and recommending resolution of complex issues for which there is minimal precedent; evaluating factual records, including expert testimony, and summarizing arguments; drafting orders with moderate level of supervisory guidance; coordinating hearings and conferences, including independently communicating office policies to parties; monitoring caseload and recommending improvements to case management systems.
For the GS-13: Conducting comprehensive legal research with minimal guidance and resolving complex and novel legal issues by exercising sound judgment; independently evaluating factual records including expert testimony; recommending disposition of discovery disputes; drafting orders that can be issued with minimal editing and guidance; developing procedures for hearings and conferences; interacting with high-level officials; providing data for and assisting with creation of caseload and budget reports.
The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.
It is your responsibility to ensure your resume states complete information for each job entry. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year (MM/YYYY), and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume. If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.
Required Documents
Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you will not be considered for this position (or will not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
A complete application includes:
- A resume (of no more than 2 pages).
- Cover letter (of no more than 2 pages) that tells us how you will add value to the FMC and that clearly indicates your relevant experience in rulemaking, litigation, and/or antitrust matters.
- Law School Transcript (official or unofficial).
- SF-50 that shows your title, series, grade/step/salary (if applicable).
- A copy of the most recent final performance appraisal (elements and standards for achievement, if not indicated clearly on the annual performance appraisal) if applicable.
- A recent writing sample of no more than 10 pages reflecting your ability to clearly state, analyze, and discuss complex factual and legal issues.
Education Documentation:
- An official transcript may be required if you are selected.
- A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation website.
- If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.
Notice of Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Federal Maritime Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
- The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon EST on the announcement's closing date.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
- It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
- To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- To return to saved application at a later date, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS My Account tab and clicking on Application Status. For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on more information.
Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
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