General Attorney Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. OS-OGC-PNF-25-12580173 Department Office of the Secretary
Salary $82,764.00 to $191,900.00 Grade 11 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/18/2024 Close Date 10/17/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This vacancy is for a General Attorney in the Office of the Secretary within the Department of Commerce. The Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security, Technology Security Division, is seeking an Attorney-Advisor to provide legal counsel to the Department in support of its mission to advance U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives by securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) supply chain.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

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

Duties

The Attorney-Advisor supports the Department's efforts to implement its ICTS supply chain authorities under Executive Orders (EOs) 13873, 13984, and 14034.

EO 13873 delegated authority to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to review and possibly prohibit or impose mitigation measures on ICTS transactions involving a foreign adversary and that pose certain undue or unacceptable risks to national security. EO 13984 requires the Secretary to develop regulations requiring United States Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) providers to verify the identity of their foreign customers and authorizing the Secretary to use special measures to deter foreign malicious cyber actors' use of United States IaaS products. EO 14034 directs the Department to develop rules to add the term "connected software applications" to the definition of ICTS transactions, and to establish criteria for evaluating ICTS transactions involving connected software applications in its rules implementing EO 13873. The Department is developing and implementing an ICTS transaction review process under these authorities and is also engaged in multiple rulemaking efforts in support of this process.

The Attorney-Advisor will provide legal advice regarding, and perform functions related to, ongoing and anticipated ICTS transaction reviews as well as related regulatory matters. This includes formulating an investigative strategy, drafting legal memoranda and legal recommendations, drafting administrative subpoenas, reviewing subpoena responses and responsive documents, interacting with outside counsel, assessing evidence, advising and preparing risk assessments, developing measures to resolve any risks, including through mitigation agreements, and making recommendations to the Secretary concerning initial and final determinations.

The Attorney-Advisor will also perform rulemaking and other legal duties related to ICTS work, as assigned. Additional duties include: providing technical legal advice, particularly in connection with the Department's ICTS authorities; drafting and reviewing statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders that include Department equities as they pertain to ICTS; reviewing compliance with statutory, regulatory, and executive order requirements, and coordinating with other Departmental and interagency offices, as necessary; counseling and bringing to the attention of office and Department leadership matters within the purview of the office; and briefing Department leadership on these matters. In addition, the Attorney-Advisor will be required to carry out duties with minimal preliminary instruction and review, often requiring independent legal research, approach planning, and the development of legal recommendations related to the Department's ICTS responsibilities.

PAY SCALE & GRADE: GS 11 - 15. This position will be filled at a grade and step level commensurate with the applicant's experience. The promotion potential of this position is up to GS-15. Promotion to GS-15 is neither guaranteed nor implied.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must me suitable for Federal employment.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET clearance. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs..
  • Must complete a two-year trial period.
  • 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
  • Pre-employment physical required: No
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will not be paid

Qualifications

Basic qualifications for all grade levels:

  • Must be a graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school; and
  • You must have bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

GS-11: Applicants applying at the GS-11 grade level must have a J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

GS-12: Applicants applying at the GS-12 grade level must meet GS-11 qualifications plus one year of legal experience, or additional relevant experience that distinguishes an entry-level attorney from the GS-11. This may include: a superior academic record; specific course work or
an internship in the relevant legal area; another graduate or doctoral degree.

GS-13: Applicants applying at the GS-13 grade level must have two years of legal experience or
relevant experience.

GS-14: Applicants applying at the GS-14 grade level requires at least three years of legal
experience.

GS-15: Applicants applying at the GS-15 grade level requires at least four years of legal
experience.

Note: The General Counsel or designee retains the discretion to waive minimum qualifications as described above, as necessary.

The ideal candidate would have one or more of the following:

  • Experience in international law and/or national security law;
  • Experience promulgating rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act;
  • Experience investigating matters, whether in the criminal or civil context;
  • Experience litigating matters before a Federal or state court;
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze complex and novel legal issues and developing strategies to deal with those issues, often within short deadlines; and
  • Strong writing and organizational skills.

Education

Applicants must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school. Official or unofficial transcripts must be submitted with your application..

Additional information

Department Attorney-Advisor positions are in the Excepted Service. As such, these positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedure. Additionally, this position does not confer noncompetitive conversion to the competitive services. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment
from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding.

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 above qualifications. Applicants will be related based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities; and performance during the interview process. If the candidate is eligible and meets basic qualifications, the candidate's application package will be evaluated in conjunction with submitted documents, including resume, based on the following
attributes:

  1. Knowledge of research strategies and techniques sufficient to research complex legal issues. The issues researched are almost always factually complex and are in areas of law which are in continual state of growth and evolution, thus requiring atypical and innovative research;
  2. Knowledge of and experience in litigation techniques and strategies, as well as of conducting investigations or drafting and reviewing Federal regulations;
  3. Ability to effectively communicate with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics;
  4. Ability to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively, with particular emphasis on the ability to analyze and explain complex legal issues;
  5. Ability to communicate effectively orally with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics;
  6. Ability to maintain effective working and reporting relationships with interagency peers, subject-matter experts, support staff, and management officials;
  7. Ability to organize work effectively to meet established deadlines and priorities.
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; and
  • Writing sample not to exceed 10 pages.

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 ICTSattorneys@doc.gov with the subject line OS-OGC-PNF-25-12580173 for GS-11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, 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]

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. The first cutoff for applications will be two weeks after the opening date of this announcement and every two weeks thereafter. This announcement may be extended or closed prior to the current closing date.

Agency contact information

Amber McNeill
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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