General Attorney Job

Vacancy No. SH12580879 Department Social Security Administration
Salary $122,198.00 to $158,860.00 Grade 14 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/28/2024 Close Date 11/8/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
San Francisco, CADenver, COAtlanta, GAChicago, IL


Summary

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) seeks highly qualified attorneys with extensive experience handling all aspects of federal contracts and procurements, and fiscal and appropriations law. OGC attorneys provide legal guidance on a wide variety of contracts, procurement, and appropriations law issues, including legal advice and guidance regarding federal contracting, proper use of agency funds, federal tort claims, and agreements with other agencies.

Duties

  • Serves as a subject matter expert providing legal services on all legal matters within the incumbent’s area of responsibility in federal contracts and procurements and appropriations law.
  • Analyzes complex statutes, regulations, policies, and decisions, and conducts senior-level research on a variety of subjects. Addresses the ramifications of legal matters regarding federal contracts, procurements, and appropriations law.
  • Responsible for preparing and reviewing legal opinions and memoranda, and Agency materials, as well as applying expert knowledge in accomplishing Agency goals.
  • Develops and implements litigation strategy for complex cases, including challenges to statutes, regulations, and/or administrative policies.
  • Responsible for handling or overseeing litigation in administrative and court tribunals. These cases require considerable factual development and extensive legal research and analysis.
  • Defends the Agency's position in legal matters. Preeminent cases require development of complex strategies, approaches or interpretations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
  • Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results
  • Selectees may be required to serve a 2-year trial period
  • Relocation expenses will not be paid
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
  • Must provide proof of Bar Association Membership.
  • Law school transcript with degree and date conferred required at point of application.

Qualifications

Positions will be filled in the Excepted Service through the use of Schedule A 213.3102(d) appointing authority. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements shown below.

Candidates should have a strong desire to serve the public; have excellent research, writing and communication skills; and have strong litigation experience or aptitude. We encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds, qualities, and experiences to apply.

Applicants must hold a law degree from a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association. Applicants must be a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Applicants must provide one of the following to show that they are a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

1. An original or copy of a Certificate of Good Standing from the clerk of the highest court (e.g., Supreme Court) of the state having authority over admission to practice law in the jurisdiction where the applicant is admitted; or
2. An original or copy of a Certificate of Good Standing from the State Bar Association of the state/jurisdiction where the applicant is admitted; or
3. A copy of a bar membership card or a screenshot from a state bar website with a valid date that shows a current bar membership.

An example of #1 or #2 would be the certificate of admission an applicant received upon his/her swearing-in ceremony from the clerk of the highest court of the state having authority over admission to practice law in the jurisdiction where admitted, or from the State Bar Association of the state where admitted.

For purposes of applying, we only require proof that an applicant is a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Once selected for the position, an applicant must provide proof of an ACTIVE bar membership before he/she can enter on duty. Holding an ACTIVE bar membership is a continuing requirement of the position. You can provide #3 above both as proof of membership in good standing, and as proof of an ACTIVE bar membership.

For GS-14: Requires 4 years of professional legal experience working as an attorney with at least one year of this experience being equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service.

Additionally, applicants should have experience with the following: 1) providing oral and written legal advice to clients on complex fiscal and contracts/procurement issues; 2) handling litigation before administrative tribunals and federal courts, including brief writing and discovery; and 3) reviewing complex legal documents such as contracts, inter-agency agreements, settlement agreements, and terms of service.

Applicants MUST meet all eligibility requirements on or before the closing date of the announcement to be considered for the position.

Education

Submit a copy of your law school transcripts that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. Self-prepared transcripts will not be accepted. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of the personnel action placing you into the new position.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation 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 a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

Rest of the US (RUS) salary range is shown. Actual salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Please view GS pay tables at the link provided for your area: 2024 General Schedule Pay Tables

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant 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. See www.sss.gov.

This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. This is a permanent, excepted service position that is being filled on a full-time basis. Flextime and/or alternate work schedules may be available.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this 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.

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the occupational questionnaire and how well your resume and supporting documentation meet the qualification requirements described in the Qualifications section above.:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. These competencies include:

  • Ability to independently provide oral and written legal advice and guidance to clients on complex fiscal law and contracting issues.
  • Ability to independently identify and research, using appropriate sources, all laws, caselaw, and government policy including legislation, regulations, Executive Orders, Comptroller General decisions, federal court decisions and Office of Management and Budget and General Services Administration issuances relevant to fiscal law and contracting.
  • Knowledge of federal administrative and federal court system in order to independently litigate cases before administrative bodies and assist Department of Justice attorneys representing the agency before federal courts related to contracts and torts.
Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12580879

Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method, based on your responses to the Assessment Questions. If you meet the basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories:

1 - Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements.
2 - Well Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
3 - Best Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

Required Documents

You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

COVER LETTER

RESUME:
Include the following information:
1) personal information (full name, mailing address, work and home phone numbers);
2) education;
3) work experience (paid and unpaid, including clerkships/internships). Show job title, including series and grade if Federal employment, detailed duties and accomplishments, employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and ending dates (mm/dd/yy), hours per week, and salary;
4) other qualifications (skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses). Please note that providing the mm/dd/yy for all work experience is critical for evaluating your application. If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes. We recommend applicants build a resume using the USAJOBS Resume Builder. Please refer to How to Build a Resume for instructions.

PROOF OF EDUCATION: Submit a copy of your law school transcripts with the course title, number of credits, grade, and date of completion. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application; however, self-prepared transcripts WILL NOT be accepted. The degree must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education completed in a foreign institution must be certified as equivalent to coursework completed at a U.S. college or university. Certification of equivalency must be submitted at the time of application. For a list of Credential Evaluation Services, log on to: Credential Evaluation Services. (See Education section for specific transcript information.)

PROOF OF CURRENT BAR MEMBERSHIP: Proof of active Bar Membership (e.g., screen print of your profile from a bar web site which reflects your name and active status, a letter from the bar certifying that you are licensed and authorized to practice law, OR copy of a recent bar card.) (See Qualifications section for specific Bar Membership information.)

WRITING SAMPLE: One current substantive legal writing sample that reflects your own work and is no more than 15 pages in length. Your sample must be sanitized or redacted to prevent possible Privacy Act violations. Writing samples will be critiqued based on your ability to analyze a legal problem and clearly and concisely articulate legal rationale.

REFERENCES: List of three professional references. (Note: We will not contact references without first obtaining your permission to do so).

SF-50: If applicable, all current excepted service employees and former excepted service employees eligible for reinstatement MUST submit a copy of their last SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing Excepted Service career, career-conditional, or reinstatement eligibility and showing highest grade held.You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.

Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.

For more information visit the Vet Guide.

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

Please note that this announcement is open to attorneys who are members of a bar in good standing only. If you have passed the bar but have not been sworn in or do not have proof of being sworn in, you are not eligible to apply and your application will not be considered.

A complete application consists of the following:

  1. Occupational questionnaire
  2. Cover Letter
  3. Resume
  4. Law school transcript
  5. Proof that you are a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  1. Legal writing sample
  2. List of three professional references
  3. If applicable, all current excepted service employees and former excepted service employees eligible for reinstatement MUST submit a copy of their last SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing Excepted Service career, career-conditional, or reinstatement eligibility and showing highest grade held.
  4. If applicable, proof of veteran's preference (DD-214 member 4 copy). This document MUST show character of service. If you are claiming 10-point preference, you MUST also submit with your DD-214 a completed SF-15 along with the required documentation specified on the reverse side of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.


NOTE: It is your responsibility to include all information needed to evaluate your qualifications and determine if you meet the requirements for the position. If there is insufficient information or if you do not include all of the required documents in #1-6 above (and if applicable, #7 and/or 8), you will be found ineligible. This office will not solicit for additional information.

The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 11/08/2024.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact OPE Staffing OGC at OPE.Staffing.OGC@ssa.gov.

Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories

Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.

To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:

  • proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
  • proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

Agency contact information

OPE Staffing OGC
Address
OGC
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.

Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.


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