Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Researches, analyzes, and provides legal interpretation on a wide range of federal statutes, including, but not limited to, the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the U.S. Constitution, and other applicable laws, to provide counsel to senior officials regarding immigration proceedings and/or operating procedures.
• Provides counsel and guidance to explain legal considerations and analysis affecting component program operations, as required for compliance with federal law, including but not limited to the Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
• Determines requirements for compliance with these statutes and regulations and disseminates guidance to agency officials.
• Develops and recommends agency position on immigration litigation matters.
• Reviews proposed changes in applicable laws and regulations, solicits comments, and formulates proposed EOIR positions for presentations to senior agency officials, Congress, the Executive, and/or regulatory agencies
• Represents EOIR as a trial attorney in complex and sensitive cases concerning all facets of federal labor and employment laws before Administrative Judges of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merits Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), and federal courts. Coordinates the development and presentation of agency representation from initial complaint or charge until conclusion of the administrative process.
• Provides advice and legal guidance to management officials, and opinions on extremely complex legal issues of factual questions, often involving conflicting interest, including employee disciplinary actions, performance management, grievances, equal employment opportunity issues and labor relations matters.
• Reviews available evidence, determining whether attorney complaints have prima facie merit and identifying the rules of professional conduct that may have been violated. Drafts written inquiries to the subject practitioners regarding prima facie meritorious complaints to obtain the practitioner's response to the allegations.
• Evaluates a practitioner's response to the allegations, if any, and recommending the appropriate course of action to resolve a complaint. Resolutions may include dismissing the complaint, issuing confidential discipline in the form of warning letter or informal admonition, or initiating formal disciplinary proceedings. Drafting disposition letters for dismissals or confidential discipline.
• Engages in litigation related to summary disciplinary proceedings for practitioners who have been convicted of certain criminal offenses or who have been suspended or disbarred, or while a disciplinary investigation or proceeding is pending, have resigned from a Federal court or the highest court of any state, possession, or territory, or commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Litigation-related work includes drafting or reviewing petitions for immediate suspension or notices of intent to discipline to be filed with the BIA, and when necessary, drafting responses to pleadings filed by subject practitioners.
• Performs other related ad hoc duties as assigned, including matters relating to ethics, FOIA, privacy, fraud, and employee relations.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
• A two year trial period will be required.
• Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Employment is contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Security clearance may be required.
• Moving and Relocation Expenses are not authorized.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Attorney Advisor position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Education: Applicants must possess an LL.B. or a J.D. degree. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.)

AND

• Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your first license and the State from which it was issued.)

AND

Required Experience:

For GS-12: Applicants must have one (1) full year (12 months/52 weeks) of post J.D. or LL.B professional legal experience that includes the following:

• Monitoring and examining formal filings for legal sufficiency and reviewing submissions from party representatives to ensure procedural requirements are met;
• Developing and preparing interpretive and administrative documents under relevant statutes and regulations; AND
• Demonstrating a commitment to personal and organizational success.

For GS-13: Applicants must have two (2) full years (24 months) of post J.D. or LL.B professional legal experience that includes the following:

• Drafting legal memoranda, opinions, decisions, briefs, or other legal documents issues with other components;
• Providing legal advice, analysis, and recommendations on complex legal matters;
• Reviewing and evaluating cases, records, or legal documents for legal sufficiency; AND
• Researching, analyzing, and interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, and agency policies

For GS-14: Applicants must have three (3) full years (36 months) of post J.D. or LL.B professional legal experience that includes the following:

• Managing litigation matters, including developing litigation strategy, coordinating agency resources, drafting pleadings, responding to discovery, and negotiating settlements;
• Researching, analyzing, and interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, and policy with significant programmatic or legal impact;
• Preparing oral and written legal opinions and analysis responding to the legal and policy questions raised and emphasizing key legal issues; AND
• Representing or serving as lead counsel for the agency or program in legal proceedings, hearings, appeals, or negotiations.

Writing Sample: In addition to the above-stated qualifications, applicants must submit a writing sample that demonstrates their ability to author legal documents to be considered for this position. Only the first 10 (ten pages) pages will be reviewed. This document cannot exceed10 (ten pages).

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

If it is determined that you meet the minimum qualification requirement, your application will be identified for referral to the hiring manager for further review and consideration. There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g. the DD214, 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 From SF-15, Application for 10- Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of the SF-15, which list the types of 10- point preferences and the required supporting document (s). Applicants should note that SF-15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of non-service connected disabilities pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch or Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retirement list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more.)

In order to be rated as meeting the minimum qualifications, we must be able to determine from your application package that you have the education and experience that is required. Applicants who have qualifying experience performed on less than a full-time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement, which includes:

1. Your Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional.

You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) containing the following information for each job entry listed in your employment history:
-Official position title,
-Employer name and contact information,
-Start and end dates (including month and year),
-Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
-A list of duties performed and accomplishments.
2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
3. 3. Writing Sample (only the first 10 pages will be reviewed. Not to exceed ten (10) pages)
4. Other supporting documents (submit if applicable to you):

• Veterans' documentation (DD-214 (Member 4 copy), dated VA Letter, SF-15)
• Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.

Note: If selected for an interview, you may be asked to provide SF-50 and most recent performance appraisal, if applicable. Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your Resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name, position title, grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

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.

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