Attorney-Advisor

• Analyze cases to define the legal and factual issues.
• Examine the pleadings, transcript or testimony, documentary exhibits, and briefs of the attorneys in connection with the issues of fact and law presented.
• Search relative statutory provisions and legislative history, applicable regulations of the DOL and the Review Commission, and relevant court and Commission precedent on points of law.
• Prepare memoranda, digesting, and analyzing the factual and legal issues that are presented including, in some lengthy cases, an indexing or summarizing of testimony or exhibits.
• Draft decisions and orders for the presiding ALJ addressing the factual and legal issues that have been assigned.
• Respond, at the request of the presiding judge, to inquiries by telephone or mail.
• Investigate the facts, research legal precedents, define the legal and factual issues, reading, and analyze the record and arguments, develop conclusions and recommendations, and draft orders in consultation with ALJs.
• Attend a formal hearing presided over by an ALJ.
• Utilize available technology to effectively identify and manage cases. This includes using Westlaw's computerized research system and keeping abreast of changes in information technology.
• Examine the motion for its legal sufficiency which includes study and analyze the citation, proposed penalty, notice of contest, complaint, answer, other motions, orders, and pleadings.
• Conduct a detailed analysis of the factual and legal issues presented.
• Conduct legal research and analyzing and studying the statutes, regulations, and legal precedents, as well as the Commission's rules, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• This is not a remote position. The incumbent is expected to report to OSHRC Denver office located at the U.S. Custom House, 721 19th Street, Denver, CO 80202. However, situational telework may be available as determined by the agency's policy.
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.
• This position is in the excepted service. New excepted service employees are required to complete a one-year trial period. For more information on the Excepted Service appointments, please visit: Excepted Service Appointing Authorities at guidance-on-schedule-a-authority-for-attorney-hiring.pdf
• This position is excluded from provisions of the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP).
• All employees are required to participate in direct deposit/electronic funds transfer for salary payments.
• A preliminary security background check is required for this position.
• Applications will not be accepted in postage paid Government envelopes.
• The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires employers to hire only individuals who are eligible to work in the U.S. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires, and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess at least three years of professional legal experience following law school. Current Federal employees must have one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level of GS-12 to qualify.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing of this vacancy announcement, which is Friday, October 16, 2026.

Your qualifications will be evaluated in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics). These competencies may be demonstrated by experiences you had during law school (e.g. moot court, internships involving in-depth legal analysis, legal journal) and/or during your three years of professional legal experience following law school.

NOTE: We do not require a separate statement responding to the required competencies, also referred to as KSAs. However, your resume should clearly show possession of these competencies:

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Demonstrated ability to conduct legal research, engage in sound legal analysis and orally explain and discuss legal issues logically, concisely, and effectively.
2. Demonstrated excellence in writing, including the ability to draft legal analyses in a clear, precise, and cogent manner.
3. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments, negotiate solutions to problems, apply initiative and good judgment, and work effectively in a team-oriented setting.
4. Knowledge of, or experience in one or more of the following areas of law; regulatory enforcement (i.e., occupational safety and health law, environmental law, labor law, etc.), employment law, information disclosure law or ethics and conflict of interest law.
5. Experience in appellate and/or motions practice.

• To receive consideration, you must submit the following documents:
• Resume: Your resume cannot be longer than two pages and must accurately reflect the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending date of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week).
• Vacancy Announcement: Your application package must identify the vacancy announcement number, position title, and grade of the position for which you are applying.
• Personal Information: Your application package must include your full name, your mailing address with zip code, email address, telephone numbers, country of citizenship, and highest Federal civilian grade you held (if any). If you are or have been a Federal employee, please provide a copy of your most recent standard form 50, Notification of Personnel Action.
• Education: You must list all colleges/universities/law schools you have attended, the city and state of such institutions, and specify the type and year you obtained your degrees.
• Cover Letter: If you provide a cover letter, we suggest that you describe how your experience, education, knowledge and/or awards relate to this position.
• Other Qualifications: Job-related training courses (title and year), job-related skills, job-related certificates and licenses, job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments.
• Bar membership: State the jurisdiction(s) and date(s) of admission.
• Performance appraisal: If you are or were a Federal employee, please provide a copy of your latest performance appraisal. If unavailable, please provide an explanation as to why it is unavailable.
• Law School Transcript: You must provide a copy of your law school transcript.
• Writing Sample: You must provide a writing sample (no more than ten pages).

Essay Questions:
Applicants are encouraged but not required to submit responses to the five essay questions (not to exceed 200 words per question) listed below.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic, or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.
5. This position supports the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission's mission and current priorities, including (1) resolving pending cases fairly and promptly; (2) enhancing the transparency of its operations, consistent with the public's interest in efficiency, the agency's statutory authority and responsibilities, and due process requirements; (3) promoting organizational excellence, including a culture of professionalism, mutual respect, organizational pride, and ensuring that staff members are adequately trained and developed; and (4) managing agency resources in a manner that instills public trust, including using information and technology to monitor, evaluate, and improve programs and processes in order to better accomplish the agency's mission. Describe how your skills and experience would help the agency advance those priorities in this role.

All application materials must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit these documents will result in your application being removed from consideration. Please do not submit additional, unsolicited materials, or original documents that you may need in the future. Applications will become part of the recruitment case file and will not be returned.

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