Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. citizens.

This vacancy announcement will close  at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date.

As a General Attorney (Civil Right), GS-0905-13, you will be responsible for:
•    Ensuring that complaints and proactive enforcement activities are processed in accordance with the Assistant Secretary's directives, regulations, policies, case law and conform to established case-processing procedures. Ensures that appropriate remedies are obtained.
•    Conducting legal research and provides legal and policy advice to team members on matters of considerable complexity relating to the investigation, negotiation, resolution of complaints, and compliance reviews 
•    Preparing and presenting training to team members on complex issues, complex statutory and regulatory standards, changes in case law, new policy decisions, investigatory techniques, negotiation skills and other case development issues 
•    Providing legal advice in the development of technical assistance materials (i.e., responses to recipient inquiries) and reviews such materials to ensure conformity with established legal and policy standards. Provides technical assistance to stakeholders.

As a General Attorney (Civil Right), GS-0905-12,you will be responsible for

•   Making civil rights compliance determinations and ensures that complaints and proactive enforcement activities are processed in accordance with the Assistant Secretary's directives, regulations, policies, case law and conform to established case-processing procedures. Ensures that appropriate remedies are obtained.

•   Participating in all aspects of complaint and proactive enforcement investigations including on-site investigations. Duties include: evaluating complaints; planning investigations; determining legal issues; determining investigation and legal strategy; conducting legal research; collecting/analyzing/interpreting investigation data/information and conducting necessary interviews; implementing approaches to organizing and conducting evaluation, planning, investigation, resolution and/or enforcement activities.

•   Drafting letters (e.g., dismissal letters, notification letters, administrative closures, data requests, letters of finding) and other documents (e.g., statements of the case, legal memoranda, resolution agreements).

As a General Attorney (Civil Right), GS-0905-11, you will be responsible for

•   Evaluating complaints; planning investigations; determining legal issues; determining investigation and legal strategy; conducting legal research; providing legal/policy advice; collecting/analyzing/interpreting investigation data/information and conducting necessary interviews;

•   Implementing approaches to organizing and conducting evaluation, planning, investigation, resolution and/or enforcement activities; drafting letters (e.g., dismissal letters, notification letters, administrative closures data requests, letters of finding) and other documents (e.g. statements of the case, legal memoranda, resolution agreements)

•   Conducting legal research and provides legal advice to team members on matters of routine complexity relating to the investigation, negotiation, resolution of complaints and compliance reviews and directed investigations and the monitoring of corrective action agreements.

Conditions of employment

• Relocation will not be paid.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• You may be subject to serve a one to two-year trial period.
• Must be a US Citizen
• Must complete a background investigation and fingerprint check

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a  1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of
the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the
Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-11:

Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

One year of professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility at the next lower grade level or equivalent.

Specialized Experience for the GS-11

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-09 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience in assisting with legal compliance or the enforcement of state or federal laws, regulations, or policies that apply to public entities including but not limited to elementary, secondary, or post-secondary education programs. 
2. Experience conducting legal research and drafting legal documents or portions of legal opinions.
3. Experience communication information through written memoranda and oral briefings to staff and supervisors.

OR

EDUCATION (see Education Requirement section of the announcement)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1.    Knowledge of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
2.    Knowledge of basic principles of research and data gathering.
3.    Ability to identify pertinent information relative to the issues.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-12:

A. Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

B. Has obtained the first professional law degree or training which is permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at the law school.

AND

Two years of professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility at the next lower grade level or equivalent.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-12

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-11 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience in analyzing legal compliance or the enforcement of state or federal laws, regulations, or policies that apply to public entities including but not limited to elementary, secondary, or post-secondary education programs. 
2. Experience with investigative, analytical, and evaluative techniques to support or lead compliance-driven casework.
3. Experience communicating complex legal information clearly and effectively through written memoranda and oral briefings to staff and supervisors.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1.    Ability to apply laws and regulations of the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
2.    Knowledge of investigative, analytical, negotiation, mediation, and resolution techniques.
3.    Skills in oral and written communications and ability to analyze and resolve legal problem using civil rights legal research.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-13:

A. Has obtained the first professional law degree or training which is permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at the law school AND

B. Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-13

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience in leading legal compliance or the enforcement of state or federal laws, regulations, or policies that apply to public entities including but not limited to elementary, secondary, or post-secondary education programs. 
2. Experience with serving as a technical authority or subject matter expert civil rights laws, administrative law, or some other comparatively complex body of law.
3. Experience providing legal advice and developing legal strategies, opinions, and guidance on complex civil rights law, administrative law, or some other comparatively complex body of law.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1.    Ability to review complaints, apply regulations and case law, and determine appropriate remedies, including systemic corrective actions.
2.    Ability to research complex legal issues and provide clear legal and policy guidance to support investigations, negotiations, complaint resolutions, and compliance reviews.
3.    Ability to review complaints, apply regulations and case law, and determine appropriate remedies, including systemic corrective actions.

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 application and documentation submitted to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications and competencies listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the Monster Competency Based Assessment(s) required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Non-Supervisory: Oral Communications, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management

Supervisory: Oral Communications, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Customer Service, Leadership, Planning and Evaluating, Influencing/Negotiating, Strategic Thinking and Human Capital Management

We will refer the best qualified candidates to the Selecting Official of the job for further review and consideration. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet qualifications required, and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with this position as defined below. Please be sure to give examples in your resume and explain how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possessed, the level of people you interacted with, and the complexity and sensitivity of the issues you handled.

• Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.

You must submit (REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS):

•A resume demonstrating your education, experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiating your responses to the occupational questionnaire. Please limit your resume to 2 pages with the font size no smaller than 10 points. If your resume is more than 2 pages, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed and considered for the qualifications determination.. 

Cover letter if applicable. You are not required to submit bar card or transcripts to apply to the vacancy announcement, but you will be required to submit them upon request from hiring panel or the HR Specialist.  Writing sample and/or list of references may be required of selected applicants at later stages in the selection process.

If you are claiming Veterans’ Preference you must submit: •A copy of your DD-214 that shows active service and character of discharge, member copy 4 (Separated Members only); OR •A certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days from the date of application (Current Active Duty Members only); AND/OR •The Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (SF-15) AND all documents indicated on the form as proof of type of preference; AND/OR •Proof of Sole Survivorship Preference (e.g., certificate of death or 100% disability as a result of serving in the armed forces). Veteran's Preference: Department of the Education attorney positions are in the excepted service, not the competitive civil service. There is no formal system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the Education considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor consideration in the attorney hiring process. If you are eligible for veterans' preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with the supporting documentation, e.g., SF-15, DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation. 

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