Attorney Advisor (ELR) Job in Falls Church, VA

Vacancy No. DE-12737238-25-RP Department Executive Office for Immigration Review
Salary $120,579.00 to $185,234.00 Grade 13 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/21/2025 Close Date 6/5/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Falls Church, VA


Summary

This position is located in the Office of the General Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Department of Justice. The Attorney Advisor (ELR) provides legal advice and representation, in formal and informal settings, for EOIR management on various legal matters relating to employment laws and regulations including labor and employee relations, equal employment opportunity, discipline, performance management and related actions.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

  • 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), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), and federal courts.
  • Provides advice on sensitive and intricate legal issues that often present novel issues and complex factual scenarios in an area with evolving case law and the absence of clearly applicable precedents.
  • Establishes case strategy and tactics from the initial complaint or charge through the conclusion of the administrative hearing and appeals processes.
  • Develops guidance and advice on the interpretation and application of employment law decisions for consistent application and implementation throughout EOIR.
  • Provides and prepares oral and written advice and technical legal guidance to management officials, including opinions on extremely complex legal issues or factual questions, often involving conflicting interests.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • You must complete a background investigation, credit check, and drug test.
  • Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
  • A two-year trial period may be required.
  • You must file a Financial Disclosure.
  • Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Attorney Advisor (ELR) position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
  • Education: Applicants must possess a LL.B. or a J.D. degree.
AND
  • Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) in good standing, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any U.S. 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-13: Applicants must have two (2) full years (24 months) of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience.

For GS-14: Applicants must have three (3) full years (36 months) of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience.

Qualifying professional legal experience includes:
1) Significant knowledge of federal employment law, including federal employee relations (Title V) and EEO (Title VII); 2) Significant knowledge of federal labor law and procedures; 3) Ability to handle all aspects of representing an Agency in federal litigation (administrative and/or court proceedings), including experience serving as lead attorney (or equivalent) in administrative or judicial hearings; 4) Significant experience with litigation, including handling witness preparation, depositions, and discovery; preparing affidavits; developing trial strategies; conducting direct and cross examination; and aspects of motion practice; 5) Experience advising or representing an agency in collective bargaining and all matters related to federal labor relations; 6) Advising management officials on legal issues surrounding employee performance and conduct; 7) Proven ability to manage complex legal tasks, including litigation, independently or with minimal supervision; 8) Ability to relate well to clients and work collaboratively in a fast-paced legal environment; 9) A customer-service oriented approach to legal practice; 10) Ability to think outside of the box on legal questions; 11) Ability and willingness to lead legal tasks and take on new tasks and responsibilities.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

Preferred Experience:

The ideal candidate will have experience with the following:
  • Experience delivering training sessions to management officials on principles of employment and labor law.
  • Experience advising Senior Agency Officials on litigation risk and settlement options.
  • Experience mentoring/training junior attorneys and other professional staff.
NOTE: Qualifying experience is calculated only after receipt of J.D. or LL.B.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your assessment questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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.

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 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.

Education

ARE YOU USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation by clicking here. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in 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 interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Translated transcripts are required. For further information, click here.

Additional information

Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact EOIR.HR_Application_Review@usdoj.gov
You must submit a complete application by the close of the announcement.

Additional positions maybe filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.

Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the 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.

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.

Required Documents

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
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: 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.

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 submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.
* 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, which can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12737238.
* 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, 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 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.

Agency contact information

EOIR HR Services
Address
Office of the General Counsel
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
US

Next steps

You will be notified of your application status during the hiring process, as applicable. You may check your application status by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking "Application Status". The process may take up to 6 weeks.

The four points of notification are:

  • Application Received or Application Incomplete
  • Minimum Qualification Requirement Met/Not Met
  • Eligible (Application Referred) or Ineligible (Application Not referred)
  • Selected or Not Selected
If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview.


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


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