Attorney Advisor Public Notice Flyer Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. OS-OGC-PNF-25-12667282 Department Office of the Secretary
Salary $101,401.00 to $131,826.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/15/2025 Close Date 2/4/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the General Counsel is seeking one or more attorneys to join the Office of the Chief Counsel for International Commerce. OCCIC identifies legal solutions that enable the International Trade Administration (ITA) to carry out its mission of advancing U.S. economic growth and strengthening U.S. industry's global competitiveness.

Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. Citizens.

Duties

The Attorney Advisor position at the entry-level is GS-12 and the duties may vary with increasing responsibilities and promotion potential to the GS-15 level. As an Attorney Advisor in OCCIC, you will perform the following duties:

  • Serve as a legal advisor to ITA concerning the interpretation and application of U.S. and international law and international trade and investment agreements.
  • Support ITA in working with other U.S. Government agencies on trade and investment policy, trade negotiations, monitoring compliance by foreign trading partners, and trade compliance and enforcement actions.
  • Advise on matters relating to export and inward investment promotion programs and activities.
  • Analyze U.S. law, U.S. trade and investment agreements, and foreign trade agreements, laws, regulations, and policies.
  • Coordinate with legal offices in other parts of the Department of Commerce and in other U.S. Government agencies.
  • Perform duties on a range of legal issues that will vary in legal and factual complexity, often of a novel nature, and with limited if any applicable precedents.
  • With supervision, conduct research, develop legal strategies, and develop and present recommendations to policy officials.
  • Work on matters that can have an important impact on a major U.S. industry or industries whose economic position affects the health and stability of the general economy.
  • Thoroughly and thoughtfully research and develop legal options in a fast-paced environment with short deadlines.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance. (For more information, please see https://www.commerce.gov/osy/programs/personnel-security/backgroundinvestigation-
    requests    ).
  • A trial period may be required.
  • Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/)
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Drug Test Required: Yes - Applicants may be required to undergo drug testing prior to selection (For more
    information, please see: https://www.commerce.gov/hr/employees/drug-free-workplace)
  • License required: Yes
  • Pre-employment physical required: No
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes - Selectees will be required to submit a Financial Disclosure, OGE Form 450, on an annual basis (For more information, please see https://www.oge.gov/Web/oge.nsf/Resources/OGE+Form+450.
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will Not be paid

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the Department of Commerce Attorneys and Law Clerks standards for Hiring and Advancement guidelines. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has no Group Coverage Qualification Standard for this series.

Basic requirements:

  1. You must be a graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or Master of Laws (L.L.M.) degree from an ABA accredited law school; AND
  2. You must have bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Minimum Requirements:
A minimum of one year of specialized professional legal experience interpreting and advising on U.S. and international law, ideally as these impact U.S. international trade, commercial, and investment policy and ideally as relating to intellectual property or competition issues.

For purposes of this position, specialized professional legal experience may consist of paid or unpaid experience post bar-admission, including Federal or State Government experience, law firm or legal practice, judicial clerkship, and/or unpaid or volunteer legal work.
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.

GS-12 Level:

Performs a variety of legal duties such as interpreting and advising on U.S. and international law as these impact U.S. international trade and investment; researching legal issues which are often factually complex; handling and being responsible for a variety of assignments with short, time-critical deadlines; reflecting excellent interpersonal skills suitable for successfully working on a team on projects that require legal analysis; and analyzing legal risks and development of recommendations to minimize these risks.

We are seeking a candidate with the following additional qualifications: strong research, editing, and writing skills; effective analytical and reasoning skills with respect to identification and recommended minimization of legal risk; professional communication skills needed to successfully engage with peers, colleagues, supervisors, and clients; ability to handle and be responsible for a variety of assignments with short, time-critical deadlines; and interpersonal communication skills suitable for successfully working on a team on projects that require legal analysis. We are also seeking a candidate with familiarity or experience with Government work, or other demonstrated interest in public service, and a demonstrated ability to meaningfully contribute to OCCIC's workplace culture. Ideally, the candidate will also have knowledge or experience in intellectual property and/or competition law, but such background is not required.

Education

See Qualifications Above.

Additional information

This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.

Under applicable Department of Commerce policies, this position is eligible for up to two days per week (four days per pay period) of routine telework, as well as for situational, unscheduled, and continuity of operations (COOP)/emergency purposes telework as appropriate.

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.

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.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process. Basis for evaluation: If eligible and meeting basic qualifications, your application package will be evaluated in conjunction with your resume and supporting documents for the below required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position:

  • KSA 1 - Knowledge and/or experience with international trade and investment agreements and relevant federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures in research, analysis, and effectively advising regarding complex areas of Federal law such as: negotiation and implementation of international trade and investment agreements; compliance with international trade and investment agreements; international trade and investment law; International Trade Administration trade and investment programs; and U.S. laws relating to international trade and investment.
  • KSA 2 - Knowledge relevant to work as counsel for a government agency, including knowledge relating to administrative law.
  • KSA 3 - Demonstrated ability to perform moderately complex legal research and analysis on domestic and international legal issues, including analyzing problems, documents and proposed sources of action; identify client objectives and legal issues involved; research and interpret pertinent laws, regulations, and precedents; and formulate well-researched and well-reasoned advice that is responsive to client needs.
  • KSA 4 - Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics in writing clearly, concisely and persuasively, with particular emphasis on the ability to analyze and explain complex legal issues.
  • KSA 5 - Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics.
  • KSA 6 - Ability to organize work effectively to meet established deadlines and priorities.
Please be advised that Department of Commerce Attorney positions are in the Excepted Service. As such, these positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures. You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications stated herein. We will perform an initial review of applications to determine basic eligibility and minimum qualifications for the position and numeric scores will not be assigned. There are no numerical rating systems through which to apply veterans' preference; however, the Office of the General Counsel favorably considers veterans preference eligibility in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume. If selected, additional information may be required.

Required Documents

A complete application consists of the following:

  • Cover letter. Address demonstrated interests and qualifications as it relates to the position.
  • Resume showing relevant experience. Your resume should list your educational and work experience, including the dates (mm/dd/yyyy) and provide the hours per week, if less than 40. For work in the Federal Service, please include the pay plan and grade level for the position(s).
  • Copy of law school transcript. (Unofficial copy is sufficient, but official copy must be submitted before appointment). You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
  • Certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing. Prior to receiving an offer, you will be asked to provide a certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing.

Failure to provide documents, if selected, may result in lost consideration.

Please DO NOT put your SSN on pages within your application package. Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

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

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING RESUMES AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Submit required documents email to OClearances@doc.gov with the subject line OS-OGC-PNF-25-12667282 for GS-12, and including at least the following information in the email's body:

[PERSON'S NAME]

[PERSONS' ADDRESS]

[PERSON'S PHONE NUMBER]

[PERSON'S EMAIL ADDRESS]

Agency contact information

Edward Rivera
Address
Office of the Secretary
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once your application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. You will only be contacted if you are found eligible and if you are selected for an interview. Applicants selected for interviews may be requested to provide a legal writing sample.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for OGC to share your application with others in OGC for similar positions.

By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed.

After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).


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


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