Summary
This position is at Headquarters in the General Counsel's Office and reports directly to the senior executive service (SES) decision maker or to his/her designee. The General Counsel staff of the Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Branch performs an array of functional legal responsibilities to assist the General Counsel with making legal decisions, enforcing Board and court orders, and administering the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the federal labor law enacted by Congress in 1935.
This job is open to
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
Clarification from the agency
Current NLRB employees serving in the Excepted Service (Internal Employees Only). You must submit an SF-50 that shows you currently work for the NLRB.
Duties
As a General Attorney (Labor) (General Counsel Senior Attorney), GS-0905-15, your typical work assignments may include:
- Acts as a legal expert and technical advisor regarding the application of controlling statutes, regulations, case law, court rules, and procedures pertaining to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), as well as the Administrative Procedure Act, and other federal laws.
- Prepares and orally presents facts and law clearly and logically and presents oral arguments in court.
- Prepares and presents facts and law clearly and logically in writing.
- Uses independent judgment to resolve key issues arising in connection with high-level decisions affecting
efficient case processing and successful litigation strategy.
- Handles numerous assignments that require close attention to complex legal or factual issues, and that have a significant impact on the Agency and its practice.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- U. S. Citizenship Required.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- This is not a remote position.
- Relocation expenses are not authorized.
- This position is in the Excepted Service.
- This position is part of the Bargaining Unit.
- Applicants may be subject to complete a two-year trial period.
- May be subject to a background investigation prior to appointment.
- Active Bar license is required for verification. Bar license must reference Bar number and indicate the status of good standing. A Self-Certification Form is not acceptable verification.
- This is a positive education position. Current NLRB attorneys are not required to submit a copy of their transcripts. However, if attorneys are within 3 years from receiving their JD, a transcript must be provided with their application package.
- Submit complete application package online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
Qualifications
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
The Ideal Candidate for the General Attorney (Labor) (General Counsel Senior Attorney) position will have experience providing expert guidance and advice in extremely intricate legal cases relative to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and other federal statutes, such as the Administrative Procedure Act. The Ideal Candidate will possess strong research and analytical skills, excellent written and oral communication abilities, will have demonstrated independent judgment in resolving tough legal issues, and excel at managing multiple priorities and meeting difficult deadlines. The Ideal Candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills for interacting with co-workers, senior-level management, and agency leadership, and for collaborating on teams and mentoring junior colleagues.
BASIC REQUIREMENT
Education: Must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.). Law school transcripts must be submitted at the time of application.
Bar Membership and Certification: Must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Your active Bar license must reference Bar number and indicate the status of good standing. Agency Internal Self-Certification Forms are not acceptable for verification.
In addition to the BASIC REQUIREMENT, applicants must also meet the following:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level, which has provided them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the General Attorney (Labor) (General Counsel Senior Attorney) GS-15 grade level.
Specialized experience includes:
- Experience making recommendations to superiors on technical issues and cases involving various acts, procedures, rules, and regulations; and
- Experience preparing memoranda and briefs that contain extensive legal analysis of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and/or the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Boards procedures, rules and regulations; and
- Experience serving as lead attorney and presenting oral presentations to courts and/or colleagues in litigation and legal issues concerning the branch.
This experience must be fully supported and articulated in your resume to receive consideration. Please do not cut and paste the specialized experience from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
NOTE: 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.
(NOTE: All agency employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Excepted). As an employee, you may determine your status by checking block 24 on your SF-50. The block must reflect "1" or "2". Also, block 34 must reflect "2").
Education
This position has a basic education requirement listed under the Qualifications section of this announcement.
(NOTE: Current NLRB Attorneys may not be required to submit a copy of their transcripts. However, NLRB employees within 3 years from receiving their Juris Doctorate degree, must provide a transcript with their application package.)
You must meet all qualification requirements. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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 accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education.
Additional information
SUPPLEMENTARY VACANCIES
Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/REASONSBLE ACCOMMODATIONS
The National Labor Relations Board is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for appointment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, genetic information, political affiliations, or any other non-merit factor. Applicants with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Agency's Selective Placement Coordinator by email here. NLRB offers a wide array of reasonable accommodations and programs for individuals with disabilities. (Note: for additional information for job seekers with disabilities, please click on the following website here.)
PLACEMENT POLICY
The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by Promotion or Reassignment. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
TRIAL PERIOD
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 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; and
- The needs and interests of the agency; and
- 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
ALTERNATE APPLICATION INFORMATION
Applicants may contact the
Office of Human Resources.
The National Labor Relations Board offers career opportunities that feature competitive starting salaries and the potential for performance-based increases, flexible hours, and the ability to achieve and maintain a balanced lifestyle. You will enjoy a range of comprehensive and competitive employment benefits that include Work/Life Balance Programs (Alternative Work Schedules, Telework, Employee Assistance Program, and the Child Care Subsidy Program), the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Flexible Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance, Thrift Savings Plan, and the Transit Benefit Program.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
Once the application process is complete, your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
You will be assessed on the following competencies:
- Attention to Detail
- Decision Making
- Legal, Government and Jurisprudence
- Oral Communication
- Written Communication
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12956089
Optional Four Essay Questions
At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions.
1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3.How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.
Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question.
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
For evaluating the quality of applicants for referral to the selecting official, a four-phased process will be used.
Phase 1: Applicants resume and supporting documents are reviewed by Human Resources (HR) to ensure they meet the basic qualification requirements.
Phase 2: Applicants who are minimally qualified will be advanced to a Structured Resume Review assessment conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SME will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience.
Phase 3: Applicants passing the Structured Resume Review assessment will be advanced to a Structured Writing Sample Review conducted by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel. SMEs will review your writing sample to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies.
Phase 4: A final score which combines the scores from all assessments will be determined. The scores will be used to identify the top-rated applicants. The top-rated applicants will be referred to the selecting official for consideration and may be required to participate in one or more interviews as part of the hiring process.
Required Documents
RESUME
In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pages in length. The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement. If the two-page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met, candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.
Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below:
Contact Information: Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.
Relevant Work Experience
- Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
- Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 -08/2022 or present)
- The number of hours you worked per week
Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.
MOST RECENT PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL
If performance appraisal is not dated within the last
18 months, or if you are unable to provide a performance appraisal, an explanation of why
must be provided. Please include a document in your application package explaining why the performance appraisal is not available.
NOTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL ACTION (SF-50)
Most recent SF-50 showing your current grade and tenure (you may be removed from consideration if not submitted). An SF-50 showing highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. (
NOTE: Performance Award, Realignment/Reassignment, Name Change and Detail SF-50s will not be accepted as proof of grade and tenure.) If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide an SF-50 or SF-50s which show the length of time in the current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with dates that show proof of you holding the grade for at least a year) to support meeting time in grade requirements.
As an employee in the Excepted Service, you may determine your status by checking block 24 on your SF-50. The block must reflect "1" or "2". Also, block 34 must reflect "2". A copy of your SF-50 must be provided for verification.
PROOF of BAR CERTIFICATION
A copy of your Bar License that certifies you are an active member of the Bar in good standing of any state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any Territorial Court under the U.S. Constitution.
Your active Bar license must reference Bar number and indicate the status of good standing. An Agency's Internal or a Self-Certification Form is not acceptable for verification.
WRITING SAMPLE
Applicants are required to submit a legal document of their choice (not edited by anyone other than the applicant and preferably no more than
five pages).
OTHER DOCUMENTS (if applicable)
COVER LETTER
Applicants are
requested to submit a Cover Letter, but it is not a required document.
TRANSCRIPT
An unofficial copy of your transcripts is sufficient for this application package. The unofficial transcripts must be verifiable; contain the name of the institution, applicant's name, list of completed courses (with grades), semester hours, and GPA. If the position has a positive education requirement as indicated under the "Education" section, the unofficial transcripts must show type of degree and degree date received (conferred). If selected, an official copy of the transcripts is required and must be received before employment.
(NOTE: Current NLRB Attorneys may not be required to submit a copy of their transcripts. However, NLRB employees within 3 years from receiving their Juris Doctorate degree, must provide a transcript with their application package.)
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJOBS does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.
All materials must be received by
05/21/2026 to be considered for this announcement.
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
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:
- Resume; and
- Any other documents needed to verify your qualifications or eligibility (see the Required Documents section).
Please follow the instructions listed below for submitting your complete application package. Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all instructions before you begin.
To begin the process, click the
APPLY ONLINE button at the right side of this screen to create an account or log into your existing
USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire. Please ensure you click the
SUBMIT MY ANSWERS button at the end of the process.
If you have never applied through USAJOBS for a position with the Federal Civil Service, you will need to create a
USAJOBS account.
To change or update your application, simply reapply through My
USAJOBS, before the closing date. New or updated resumes are considered "incomplete" applications until the required virus scan is cleared.
To check the status of your application, log into your
USAJOBS account, select Application Status and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
Next steps
Once your application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application, and a final notice once a selection has been made.