GENERAL ATTORNEY Job in Bethesda, MD

Vacancy No. 1330GCFL-2025-0001 Department Consumer Product Safety Commission
Salary $120,579.00 to $185,234.00 Grade 13 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/14/2025 Close Date 1/24/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Bethesda, MD


Summary

Join the team! This position is located in the Headquarters Office of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of the Chairman, Office of the General Counsel, Division of Federal Court Litigation. The Division is responsible for the conduct of all Federal court litigation, final decisions under the Freedom of Information Act, and information disclosure to the public and related statutory provisions, such as section 6 of the Consumer Product Safety Act.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

UNITED STATES CITIZENS MAY APPLY (no prior federal experience is required).

Duties

The incumbent serves as an attorney in the Federal Court Litigation Division and as such is responsible for the following: 

  • Participating in the preparation of and/or prepares, legal opinions, interpretations, policies, regulations, and recommendations with respect to statutes, executive orders, and regulations having application to the Commission.
  • Conducting or participating in the conducting, planning, and preparation of federal court litigation involving actions in federal court.
  • Providing legal advice, guidance and recommendation to the Commissioners and the organizational components of the Commission.
  • Representing the Division in discussions, meetings, and conferences on assigned matters with Commission officials and staff and/or industry and consumer representatives and their attorneys.
  • Coordinating and consulting with other federal agencies on matters under the jurisdiction of the Division.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Must meet education requirements.
  • Must provide proof of current, active bar membership / good standing.

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment.  False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  The system confirms employee’s identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

This appointment requires completion of a two year trial period unless you have previously successfully completed a trial period that meets the following: 1) in the same agency, 2) in the same line of work (determined by the employee’s actual duties and responsibilities) and 3) contains or is followed by no more than a single break in service that does not exceed 30 calendar days. Failure to successfully complete the trial period may result in termination of employment.

Qualifications

In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

GS-13: Experience in 1) litigating cases involving appellate procedure or federal statutes, 2) representing clients or the government in litigation, and 3) examining and/or evaluating legal issues involving regulations and statutes.

GS-14: Experience in 1) ligating complex cases involving appellate procedure or federal statutes, 2) examining and/or evaluating complex legal issues involving regulations and statutes, and 3) acting as a legal advisor to the decision makers or officials.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held.  Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone.  If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Basic Requirement: All applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. All applicants are required to provide proof of current, active bar membership/good standing.  

GS-13: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have three years of experience as a practicing attorney.

GS-14: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have four years of experience as a practicing attorney.

ALL applicants must also submit proof of successful completion of education requirements. This proof may consist of a law school transcript or other documentation which provides clear and specific proof of education, such as a diploma. A copy of an SF-50 only is not adequate proof of meeting the education requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. 

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified. 

There is no substitution for specialized experience at this grade level. 

Additional information

CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking reference and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

As a condition of employment, the selectee must reside in the local commuting area of the duty station listed in this announcement.  Telework schedules (within the local commuting area) are approved on a case-by-case basis.  Employees will have an onsite requirement each week.  Proof of residence may be required. 

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.

CPSC offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes: paid vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays per year, life and health insurance, Long Term Care insurance, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending account program, and retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan). 

CPSC also offers a broad array of work-life flexibilities and services to employees such as, flexible work schedules, teleworking, transit subsidies, fitness center, and employee assistance and wellness programs.

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.

After the vacancy closes, we will review your application package to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your responses to the questionnaire, resume and supporting documentation will then be reviewed.  Your resume must support your responses to the self-assessment questions or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited to an interview.

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference to attorney positions in the excepted service; however, CPSC considers veteran’s preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. 

Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, salary, duties performed for each position, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level/pay band.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Your package must be complete and submitted in the manner specified in this section.  Packages that are submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the agency point of contact will not be considered.

A complete application includes: 1. Resume; 2. Vacancy question responses; and 3. Submission of any required documents (including current, active bar membership/good standing and transcripts). Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

A recent copy of an SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), showing title, series, grade, and current salary. Please note: performance award, details, and realignments are not acceptable SF-50s.

Veterans' Preference (If Applicable) - If claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15, along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. For more information on veterans' preference view FedsHireVets.

ICTAP eligibles must annotate your questionnaire to reflect that you are applying as a ICTAP eligible and you must submit appropriate documentation (such as: a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location).

If you are eligible for special hiring authority, please indicate this when you apply, and submit the supporting documentation for proof of eligibility for the special hiring authority, such as disability, Peace Corps service, Interchange Agreement, etc.

Other documents identified in this announcement.

All supplemental documents must be submitted electronically before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. You have two choices for submitting your supplemental documents:
1. Download from your USAJOBS account; or
2. Upload your file(s).

Failure to submit required documents, based upon how you apply, may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Official documents are not required at the time of application, copies are sufficient. If selected, official documentation must be submitted prior to appointment.

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 apply on-line through USAJOBS. Your application must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. Uploaded resumes must include the following: applicant contact information and educational and professional background information including dates of employment and education, salary (and Federal grade level, if appropriate), and work schedule (i.e., FT/PT). Incomplete applications will not be considered and you will not be contacted to provide any missing information.

To begin the application process, select the "Apply On-line" button to the right on this screen.  Then follow the prompts to login/register, submit all required supplemental documents, and complete the application process.

If you are having trouble with USAJOBS (searching for jobs, account password/profile issues, or Resume Builder): please visit the USAJOBS Resource Center.

If experiencing any difficulties with the online application process (anything after you have clicked the 'Continue to Agency Site' button): please email recruitapps@cpsc.gov between normal business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET; except federal holidays). If receiving any kind of error message, please provide a screenshot or at a minimum, the error message text number.

Agency contact information

HR Specialist
Phone
301-504-7925
TDD
301-504-7925
Email
recruitapps@cpsc.gov
Address
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Human Resources Management Room 523
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After the closing date of the announcement, your package will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Best qualified candidates will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration and may be interviewed.

You may check the status of your application at any time after the announcement closes by logging onto USAJOBS and selecting "Application Status."

You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable.


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


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