Summary
This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC).
The position is responsible for conducting a variety of basic and advanced legal training courses for law enforcement personnel. The
position may also export training courses to off-site locations.
This is a non-bargaining unit position.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens
Duties
This position is located in the Office of Chief Counsel, within the Legal Training Division in the Field Legal Branch. As an Attorney - Advisor (Instructor) , GS-0905-13/14, your typical work assignments may include:
- Serving as a senior instructor, subject-matter expert, and program/course developer in the assigned legal program/course areas of law enforcement. Students in these courses are routinely from the most high-profile law enforcement agencies in the world, including the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshal's Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Immigration Customs Enforcement, and many others. The program/courses taught cover subject-matter that involves highly specialized knowledge of complex and difficult legal areas that impact close to 90 Federal agencies that train at the FLETC.
- Providing expert training in areas such as: Constitutional Law; Fourth Amendment; Self-Incrimination; Use of Force; Federal Court Procedures; Authority and Jurisdiction; Federal Fraud Statutes; Federal Firearms Violations; Rules of Evidence; Military law; Electronic Law and Evidence; Officer Liability; Criminal Law; Administrative Law; Obstruction of Justice; Terrorism and National Security Law; False Statements; Indian Law; Courtroom Testimony; Assault; Bribery; other emerging areas of the law.
- Planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing a legal training program, while balancing the needs and concerns of the DHS training mission.
- Working with other attorneys, managers and supervisory Federal law enforcement personnel to identify objectives to be met by a specific class.
- Selecting appropriate methods, equipment and materials, and developing the courses and providing instruction, guidance and direction to the class in accomplishing specific learning objectives.
- Keeping abreast of developing training goals and objectives, and continually restructuring the courses to reflect the current laws, identifying specific areas where study and research is required, searching literature for existing documentation, gathering and analyzing data, producing papers for publication and disseminating for internal use.
- Conducting extensive advanced export training (off-site) at other Federal, state, and municipal facilities around the country.
- Monitoring progress of students, documenting results, and/or recommending remedial and corrective action to include additional training and changes in training and/or operational procedures and instructions. Evaluates both individual and group performance in various training settings.
- Overseeing and participating in developing course and program material on the legal aspects of law enforcement. Initiating content changes and developing different approaches and methods of instruction and recommending any other changes needed to improve the course/program and achieve course/program objectives.
View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- You must successfully pass a background investigation.
- You must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
- This position is eligible for situational-only telework based on agency policy.
- Occasional travel may be required.
- Overtime may be required.
- Position is Emergency Essential and required to sustain FLETC’s operations under all conditions.
- Mission Essential Functions or Primary Mission Essential Functions in the event of an emergent disruption of operations locally or DHS-wide (such as
Devolution and/or reconstitution).
- This position is subject to Lautenberg Amendment. Persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence are prohibited from occupying this position.
- Must possess and maintain a valid state issued driver's license to conduct official government business.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification within 12 months of employment.
- Must be able to pass and maintain FLETC Law Enforcement Instructor certification within 12 months of employment.
- Requires a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Must maintain admission to a State Bar, Certificate of Good Standing, and an active license to practice law.
Qualifications
Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Please visit www.fletc.gov/site-page/employment-faqs website for further guidance regarding this page limit.
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Selective placement factor (screen-out): To be considered for this position, all applicants must be an active member of a state bar in good standing in every jurisdiction in which you are licensed of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and have a license to practice law. Provide a copy of your Bar memberships.
Basic Educational Requirements: All applicants must possess one of the following law degrees. Please provide a copy of your transcripts.
The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD); OR the second professional law degree (LL.M)
Specialized experience GS-14: In addition to the requirements listed above; to qualify at the GS-14 level, applicants must possess specialized professional legal experience in excess of three years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.
Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three years equivalent to the GS-13 or higher demonstrated by substantial legal writing and communication skills; conducting original legal research and legal analysis; providing instruction in legal subjects related to the criminal justice system or for a law enforcement audience for a period of at least one year; authoring and publishing articles on substantive legal matters; experience presenting substantive material at nationally recognized conferences; and demonstrated expertise in a significant field of law related to law enforcement.
Specialized Experience GS-13: In addition to the requirements listed above; to qualify at the GS-13 level, applicants must possess specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position or two years of judicial clerkship.
Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years equivalent to the GS-12 or higher demonstrated by substantial legal writing and communication skills; conducting original legal research and legal analysis; providing instruction in legal subjects related to the criminal justice system or for a law enforcement audience for a period of at least one year; authoring and publishing articles on substantive legal matters; experience presenting substantive material at nationally recognized conferences; and demonstrated expertise in a significant field of law related to law enforcement.
This position may be filled at the GS-13 or GS-14 level. If selection is made at the GS-13 level, promotion to the GS-14 level may occur without further competition.
Writing Sample: All applicants must submit a recent (within last 2 years) legal writing sample, such as a legal brief, a legal memorandum, or a legal article of law journal quality, or a legal training course curriculum development document/presentation.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). 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.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education
Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.
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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of 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.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job:
- Oral Communication
- Technical Credibility
- Writing
If you are the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire and application, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12543808
The Division Chief will evaluate qualified applicants by comparing each candidate's qualifications to those pertinent to the position. Relevant skills and experience, education and training, performance, and awards will be considered.
If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be removed from consideration, or your score may be lowered.
Application of Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Homeland Security considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD form 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
Consideration may be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience.
Required Documents
- Your resume (click the link for information on what to include). If you are a current or former Federal employee, your resume must indicate the GS or pay band level for each position held.
- Your responses to the job questionnaire. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12543808
- A copy of your law school transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an institution accredited by the American Bar Association. In addition, a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable). Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official transcript for both college and law school.
- All applicants must submit a recent (within last 2 years) legal writing sample, such as a legal brief, a legal memorandum, or a legal article of law journal quality, or a legal training course curriculum development document/presentation.
- Proof that you are 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.
- Are you a current or former Federal employee? Submit your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows competitive or excepted service appointment, tenure group, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please submit the SF-50 showing the highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. Please note: Performance award, Details, and Realignments are not acceptable SF-50s.
- Are you a veteran? You should provide the member 4 copy of your DD214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
- Are you a current or former Federal employee? Submit your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows competitive or excepted service appointment, tenure group, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please submit the SF-50 showing the highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. Please note: Performance award, Details, and Realignments are not acceptable SF-50s.
- Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
- Position title,
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee),
- Agency
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
- If you are referred, you may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.
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 begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. If you are unable to apply online or need to submit a document you do not have in electronic form, visit this link for more information regarding an alternate application process.
Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on the day the announcement closes.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
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.
Applicants must submit all required documentation to properly qualify for this position.
Next steps
Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within several weeks after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.
DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about
e-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
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