Summary
The FRTIB is looking for a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve as an Attorney-Adviser (General).
This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) may be used to fill other Attorney-Adviser (General), GS-0905-11/12/13/14 positions within the FRTIB in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Excepted service
Duties
The incumbent serves as an Attorney-Adviser and provides expert advice and consultation on a broad range of complex legal issues pertaining to Agency programs and operations. At the GS-11 level, incumbent will function at a junior level progressing to the role of senior Attorney-Advisor at the higher grade levels. The major duties and responsibilities of the position include:
Serves as legal counsel to the General Counsel and other senior Agency officials with responsibility for rendering expert legal advice and counsel on various programs, issues, and associated legal matters. Advice and assistance encompass all aspects of Agency and TSP policies and directives and matters of unusual complexity or without precedent.
Applies comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of Agency programs and applicable laws, regulations, and administrative decisions. Handles extremely complex and difficult legal questions and factual issues involving the interpretation and application of legislation, regulations, court or board rulings, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requirements, federal best practices, and legal documents. Solving these problems often requires a high degree of original and creative legal analysis.
Acts as an attorney for the development and presentation of cases involving Agency programs and issues before court and administrative hearing officers.
Actively assists Government trial attorneys during preparation and presentation of cases involving Agency programs and issues. Prepares litigation reports and provides legal advice regarding litigation in U.S. Federal courts. Deals directly with the U.S. Attorney, contractors, and government officials regarding the legal problems and possible solutions relating to Agency programs and administration of the TSP.
Researches and interprets legal sources, including Federal court decisions, Comptroller General decisions, other administrative venues, and various laws, regulations, and policies, and renders formal and informal legal opinions to Agency officials and staff on difficult legal or factual matters. If proposed actions are determined to be legally insufficient, assists in revising proposals to comply with law.
Provides expert advice and guidance on questions of law and administrative policy in the operation of the Agency's programs and mission responsibilities. Assists in reviewing, writing, and revising FRTIB policies and directives.
Attends or represents the Office of General Counsel and the FRTIB at meetings, conferences and events that relate to areas of responsibility.
Performs other duties and responsibilities as needed to accomplish the work activities of the position.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
U.S. citizenship is required.
Must be an active member of the bar.
All qualification requirements must be met by 07/15/2024. Your application package will not be considered if it is missing any of the required documents listed under the "Required Documents" tab.
Trial Period. Two-year trial period may be required.
Selective Service. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
Background Suitability Investigation. Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a federal suitability or security clearance. If selected, you may be offered tentative employment until the background investigation has been fully adjudicated.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position applicants must meet the education requirement, professional certification, and specialized experience requirement as described below.
Education Requirement
Possess a law degree (LL.B or J.D.) and be a graduate from a full course of study in a school of Law accredited by the American Bar Association, or equivalent training. Equivalent training is that training permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at a law school. To be acceptable, this training must be of the kind and nature required by the state in which the bar exam is taken or is to be taken; and
Professional Certification
Be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia; and
Specialized Experience
GS-11: In addition to having the above education and certification, applicants must have at least 3 months of internships or post-J.D./LL.B. work experience.
GS-12: In addition to having the above education and certification, applicants must have either: (1) two years of experience rendering legal advice on laws governing tax-qualified retirement plans, or (2) LL.M. specialized post-J.D. education in the field of tax/employee benefits.
GS-13: In addition to having the above education and certification, applicants must have either: (1) three years of experience rendering legal advice on laws governing tax-qualified retirement plans, or (2) LL.M. specialized post-J.D. education in the field of tax/employee benefits and at least one year of experience rending legal advice on laws governing tax-qualified retirement plans.
GS-14: In addition to having the above education and certification, applicants must have either: (1) four years of experience rendering legal advice on laws governing tax-qualified retirement plans, or (2) LL.M. specialized post-J.D. education in the field of tax/employee benefits and at least two years of experience rending legal advice on laws governing tax-qualified retirement plans.
*Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Education
You must provide your transcripts to support your educational claims. Transcripts may be unofficial copies, but they must come from an accredited college or university, and they also must include course names and the number of credit / semester hours. Click here to search the database of accredited institutions.
Foreign Education. If you are using education completed at foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs. Foreign education must be deemed equivalent to that gained at an accredited U.S. education program. For further information visit the U.S. Department of Education's website concerning foreign qualifications.
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.
To preview the occupational questionnaire, click on the following link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12440513.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the above qualifications.
Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
NOTE TO APPLICANTS: A writing sample consisting of 2 - 7 pages and dated within the last five years must be submitted. Failure to include the writing sample will result in elimination from further consideration.
Required Documents
Please be advised, the following documents are required even if you are already a current federal employee or employee of the FRTIB:
1. Resume (please include on your resume the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month, day and year, and hours worked per week). Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.
2. Responses to the occupational questionnaire.
3. Law school transcripts. Transcripts must be legible and possess the school name imprinted on the transcript or be on school letterhead; you may be asked to submit official transcripts upon selection. Failure to supply such a transcript will result in an incomplete application package.
4. Bar membership. Applicant must provide evidence of current, active membership in good standing of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Failure to supply evidence of membership in good standing of a bar association will result in an incomplete application package.
5. Writing Sample. Applicant must submit a writing sample consisting of 2 - 7 pages and dated within the last five years, with their application. Failure to supply a writing sample will result in an incomplete application package and elimination from further consideration.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
You must apply through the USAJOBS online job application system. Complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section, below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/15/2024 to receive consideration.
*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 are submitted prior to 07/15/2024.
*To return to an incomplete application, 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.
*To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, 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.
NOTE TO APPLICANTS: To assist us with an expeditious application review process, please do not submit additional documentation from what is being requested in the announcement. The following documents are not required and do not need to be submitted with your application:
- Diplomas of any type (when education documents are required, you must submit unofficial transcripts, not diplomas)
- Letters of recommendation, reference, or congratulations, etc.
- Any documents with a picture of the applicant
- Awards documentation, including SF-50's for awards
- Performance appraisals
- Evaluations of any type
This and other positions announced by the FRTIB may be filled under Schedule A, 5 CFR 213.3102(u). Schedule A is an excepted service hiring authority used to appoint persons with severe physical, psychiatric, and/or intellectual disabilities. Such individuals may qualify for conversion to permanent status after two years of satisfactory service. Documentation of disability is required, e.g., Schedule A letter. Such documentation is used to verify the individual being hired is indeed a person with a severe physical, psychiatric, and/or intellectual disability. This documentation must be provided to the hiring agency at the time of application, before an individual can be hired. Documentation of eligibility for employment under Schedule A can be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (e.g., state or private); or any federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. Submission of a VA letter does not automatically qualify as a Schedule A letter. The vacancy announcement you are viewing is a competitive announcement, therefore, any Schedule A documentation submitted will be kept on file, however, noncompetitive hiring authority will not apply.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.
Next steps
Once your application package is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. If your final rating places you among the top candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for further review. If your name is referred to the selecting official, you may be contacted directly by the office for a possible interview. You may also check the status of your application through your USAJOBS profile.
When the entire vacancy announcement process has been completed you will receive notice via email (or by mail if no email address was provided during the application process). Please allow at least 4-6 weeks after the vacancy has closed to inquire about the status of your application.
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