Attorney Advisor (Admin Law) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. EX-25-04-MW Department U.S. International Trade Commission
Salary $117,962.00 to $191,900.00 Grade 13 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/30/2024 Close Date 11/19/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This position is located in the U.S. International Trade Commission, Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The incumbent serves as an Attorney Advisor (Administrative Law) in Employment and Labor and is responsible for assisting in the carrying out of functions assigned in support of the Commission mission.

This position is not in the bargaining unit.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This position is in the excepted service and open to all eligible candidates (US Citizens) who meet qualifications of the position.

Duties

The ideal candidate for this position would possess experience in Federal civilian personnel law, employment law, federal-sector labor relations, and administrative litigation before Federal courts or administrative hearing before agencies such as the Merit System Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Office of Special Counsel.

As an Attorney-Advisor for Administrative Law, you would provide:

Oral and written legal advice and legal-sufficiency reviews for the management officials on a wide variety of administrative-law matters that are generally applicable to Executive Branch agencies, including interpretation and application of statutes, executive orders, regulations, guidance, and precedent in Federal civilian personnel law, employment law, and federal-sector labor relations.

Identification of agency interests, legal risks and liabilities, and other issues relevant to advice requests; the provision of sound and thorough legal research; and the ability to timely and effectively respond to complex legal questions in a clear and concise manner.

You may be called upon to represent the Commission in Federal district or appellate courts, and in administrative hearings before agencies such as the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), and the Office of Special Counsel (OSC).

You will work under the supervision of the Assistant General Counsel for Administrative Law.

The ideal candidate is experienced in providing legal advice to Executive Branch officials on a variety of legal matters of general applicability to agencies; has expertise in federal employment law and federal-sector labor relations; experience before Federal courts or administrative hearing before agencies such as the Merit System Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Office of Special Counsel; experience conducting legal-sufficiency reviews and risk-assessments of proposed agency actions; and demonstrates an understanding of and adherence to plain-language principles in written communications.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen.
  • You will be required to successfully complete a background investigation.
  • You will be required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement.
  • You must provide proof of your Bar membership.
  • You are required to register for Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/03/1959.
  • You must provide a Certificate of Good Standing of the bars to which you are admitted, if you are made an offer.
  • You may be required to serve a two-year probationary period.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all of the qualification requirements, including education and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants must have the general and specialized experience outlined below which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

To be hired as an Attorney Advisor (Admin Law) with us, you must:

  • possess at least a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree or a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; AND
  • currently be a member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

AND

Minimum Qualifications:

For the GS-13: In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements above, you must have at least three years of experience which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. This experience must consist of the following: one year of specialized experience which demonstrates the engagement of general law practices; or experience and knowledge of legal theories, or principles, methodologies, and practices of the application of legal skills in a field closely related to the duties to be filled AND at least two years of specific experience defined as professional legal experience in areas such as: Federal civilian personnel law, employment law, federal-sector labor relations, and administrative litigation before Federal courts or administrative hearing before agencies such as the Merit System Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Office of Special Counsel.

For the GS-14: In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements above, you must have at least four years of experience which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. This experience must consist of the following: one year of specialized experience which demonstrates the engagement of general law practices; or experience and knowledge of legal theories, or principles, methodologies, and practices of the application of legal skills in a field closely related to the duties to be filled AND at least three (3) years of specific experience defined as professional legal experience in areas such as: Federal civilian personnel law, employment law, federal-sector labor relations, and administrative litigation before Federal courts or administrative hearing before agencies such as the Merit System Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Office of Special Counsel.

For the GS-15: In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements above, you must have at least five years of experience which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. This experience must consist of the following: one year of specialized experience which demonstrates the engagement of general law practices; or experience and knowledge of legal theories, or principles, methodologies, and practices of the application of legal skills in a field closely related to the duties to be filled AND at least four (4) years of specific experience defined as professional legal experience in areas such as: Federal civilian personnel law, employment law, federal-sector labor relations, and administrative litigation before Federal courts or administrative hearing before agencies such as the Merit System Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Office of Special Counsel.

Education

All applicants must possess a first professional law degree: J.D. or LL.B from an American Bar Association Law School, or equivalent training. Equivalent training is 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. A copy of your transcript(s) is required to show proof that you meet this requirement. Please see the Required Documents section of the announcement for more specific information.

Submit a copy of your transcript(s) or list of courses with credit hours, major(s) and grade-point average or class ranking. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials: http://www.naces.org/members.htm.

Additional information

Surplus or Displaced Federal Employees: The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Programs are available to federal employees that qualify. Those eligible for these programs are granted special priority selection rights. To be considered, you must be deemed well-qualified by receiving a score of 85 or higher. If you are a federal employee claiming CTAP/ICTAP, you must provide the documents listed under the Required Documents section to verify your eligibility. Also, you must indicate in your application that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible. For additional information regarding CTAP/ICTAP, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Excepted service appointments: This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer rights to permanent Civil Service status.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you are registered with the Selective Service or are exempt under Selective Service regulations. For additional information concerning Selective Service requirements, please visit http://www.sss.gov/.

Cover page to fax paper application - OPM Form 1203fx: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/opm1203fx.pdf

Assessment Questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12582213

Vacancy ID number: 12582213

Reasonable accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact listed on the vacancy announcement. The decision to grant a reasonable accommodation is made on a case-by-case basis.

Verification of information: Any information claimed on your resume and in application materials, such as education, credentials, employment history, etc., will be verified as part of the security clearance process.

Time period to meet qualifications: All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

  1. Legal Analysis
  2. Legal Knowledge
  3. Oral and Written Communication

Your resume, and supporting documentation for education, should contain sufficient information for us to make a valid determination that you fully meet the qualification requirements for this vacancy. We do not make inferences and can only consider the information you provide to us. Insufficient resumes and application packages will result in loss of consideration.

Your experience and education is also evaluated using an assessment questionnaire, which is available at the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12582213

Required Documents

To receive consideration, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified below by 11:59 PM ET 11/19/2024.

1. Resume: Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience(s) and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. In order to fully evaluate your application and receive proper credit, your resume should include: (1) paid and non-paid experience, job title, dates held (month and year for qualifying purposes to receive credit), number of hours worked per week, and salary (2) knowledge of the subject matter and technical skills pertinent to this position; (3) specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work; and (4) names and phone numbers of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic/specialized experience requirements as stated in this job opportunity announcement for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.

2. Occupational questionnaire: A completed job-specific occupational questionnaire should be submitted through your Application Manager account.

3. Proof of Bar Membership: Documentation must show that you are a member of the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. If you are made an offer, you must submit a Certificate of Good Standing dated within 30 days of the offer.

4. Transcripts: You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts for verification of the education requirements. Unofficial copies are acceptable, however, if selected you will be required to furnish official transcripts. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above educational requirements. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that an perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

5. Cover Letter: This is optional.

6. SF-50: Current and former federal employees must submit a copy of an SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action," which documents your highest permanent grade/step/salary held. Award SF-50s typically do not contain your grade/step/salary.

7. Performance Appraisal: Current or former federal employees must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal dated within 18 months. If you do not have one, you must submit a statement.

8. Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney positions, which are in the excepted service; however, the Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor in the hiring of all positions. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include such information in their cover letter, or resume, and submit supporting documents (e.g. DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active duty) as part of their application package. Although the point preference system is not used as in the competitive service, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15), and documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed, as listed on the SF-15. Specific information is available on the Office of Personnel Management website at: http://www.opm.gov.

9. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles. You must submit the following documents:

  • a copy of your agency notice;
  • a copy of your most recent performance rating; and
  • a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.

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

To apply for this position, you must 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 11/19/2024 to receive consideration.

1. 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.

2. 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 the closing date.

3. To verify that 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.

4. 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.

The Vacancy ID is 12582213

Agency contact information

Melanie West
Address
Office of the General Counsel
500 E St SW
Washington, DC 20436
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You will receive an auto-generated e-mail from USAJOBS informing you of the receipt of your application. After the closing date of the announcement, your application package will be reviewed by the Human Resources Office for completeness and satisfaction of the basic qualification requirements for this position. Applicants who have complete applications and meet the qualification requirement are referred to the hiring official in accordance with the process outlined in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement.

Your application may also be reviewed by Subject Matter Expert(s). If you are selected for an interview, you can expect a structured interview process, which may include a meeting with 2 to 4 Commission staff members. You may also be subject to additional assessments during the selection process (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, etc.).We appreciate your interest in the Commission and commit to keeping you informed on the status of your application. You will be notified of the following major milestones:

  • Receipt of your application;
  • Determination whether your application shows you meet the minimum qualifications for the position;
  • Determination whether your application was in the group for referral to the hiring official; and
  • The final outcome of the vacancy.
These notices will be emailed and posted directly on your USAJOBS account.

You can always check the status of your application as the recruitment process moves along by:
1. Logging into your USAJOBS account;
2. Selecting Application Status; and
3. Reviewing the Status column.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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