Summary
The Law Clerk (Labor) (Litigation Law Clerk) position is in the Contempt, Compliance and Special Litigation Branch of the Division of Legal Counsel. This Branch conducts civil contempt litigation in the U.S. Courts of Appeals to coerce compliance with judgments enforcing orders of the Board and assists the Regions in their compliance work. The Branch also defends the Agency when programs, statutes, or outside proceedings threaten the Agency's ability to carry out its mission.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Veterans
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference
Clarification from the agency
All U.S. Citizens; Federal Employees (status and non-status); Veterans; Schedule A.
Duties
As a Law Clerk (Labor) (Litigation Law Clerk), GS-0904-11, typical work assignments in the General Counsel Headquarters may include:
- Assisting in representing the Agency in litigation before federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts.
- Under supervision, investigating and recommending whether contempt proceedings are warranted for securing compliance with judgments enforcing Board orders and initiates contempt actions.
- Assisting with the development of legal strategies to secure remedies for unfair labor practice cases through active litigation or providing legal advice to Agency stakeholders.
- Assisting with the defense of the Agency against litigation that seeks to enjoin Board proceedings by analyzing the potential impact, and by developing and implementing appropriate legal strategies.
- Under supervision, preparing legal documents necessary for federal court litigation including all pleadings, petitions, motions, briefs, affidavits, proposed orders, replies, responses, etc.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Relocation expenses are not authorized.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- Applicants are subject to complete a two-year trial period.
- Subject to a background investigation prior to appointment.
- This position is part of the Bargaining Unit.
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- This is a positive education position. Transcripts are required to be considered for this position.
- This is not a remote position.
- Must be able to become 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 before the 14-month appointment expiration.
- Submit complete application package online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
Qualifications
All qualifications and eligibility requirements specified in the announcement must be met.
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
The Ideal Candidate for the Law Clerk (Labor) (Litigation Law Clerk) position is a law school graduate - who is not yet barred - with interest regarding the National Labor Relations Act, as well as other statutes such as the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In addition, the Ideal Candidate displays the ability to conduct strong legal research, review and analyze evidence, draft clear legal documents, and assist attorneys in litigation and compliance. Excellent writing, communication, and interpersonal skills are preferred.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Education: To be considered for this position, applicants 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 (LLB or JD) by closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Bar Certification: To be considered for this position, applicants must not be barred/licensed on the closing date of this vacancy announcement but must be able to obtain their Bar/License Certification within 14-months of their appointment. Once obtained, applicants will be converted into a permanent position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
In addition to the education and bar requirements, applicants must also successfully meet the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities listed below:
- Knowledge, skills, or ability to analyze factual and legal issues to make recommendations on the strength of a case; and
- Knowledge, skills, or ability to conduct legal research to uncover relevant precedent; and
- Knowledge, skills, or ability to produce written work products that effectively communicate facts and issues relevant to case matters.
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.
Education
This position has a basic education requirement listed under the Qualifications section of this announcement.
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 criterion, 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/REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
The National Labor Relations Board is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for appointment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
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 Appointment 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 APPLICANT 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:
- Decision Making
- Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence
- Problem Solving
- Strategic Thinking
- 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/12959541
Optional Four Essay Questions
At the time of application, applicants will be provided with four short, free-response essay questions designed to ascertain their dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee) to review. Responses are not required and will not be scored. If applicants choose to provide a response to the essay questions, they 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 resumes and supporting documents are reviewed by Human Resources (HR) to ensure they meet the basic qualification requirements. If applicants meet basic qualifications, they will continue on to the second phase.
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.
THE RULE OF MANY
The NLRB uses the Rule of Many which ranks job applicants numerically and allows for selection from a broader, top-ranked pool. Applications will be evaluated and rated using the Rule of Many procedures under 5 C.F.R. §332.402 based on a set number, score or percentage of highest ranked eligibles. Preference eligibles will receive 5 or 10 points added to their score based on the adjudicated preference. All eligibles at or above the pre-determined number, score or percentage, including any preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more, at any score, will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.
For this job opportunity announcement applicants will be referred to the selecting official using the Rule of Many under 5 C.F.R. §332.402 based on
a predetermined score.
Required Documents
Please submit the supporting documents outlined below for your claimed eligibility status.
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.
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 (i.e., LL. B. or J.D.), 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.
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) (Click link for more information.)
Cover Letter
Applicants are requested to submit a Cover Letter, but it is not a required document.
Most Recent Performance Appraisal (Current/Former Federal Employees)
If performance appraisal is not dated within the last 18 months or if you are unable to provide a performance appraisal, an explanation 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) (Current/Former Federal Employees)
Most recent SF-50 showing current grade and tenure or an SF-50 showing highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. Performance Award, 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, provide an SF-50 or SF-50s that shows the length of time in the current/highest grade (i.e., Promotions, With-in Grade Increase) to support meeting time-in-grade requirements. As an employee in the Excepted Service, 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.
Individuals with Disabilities: Disability Letter
Veterans: DD-214 (member copy-4)
Disabled Veterans: DD-214, SF-15 and VA letter dated 1991 or later (indicating % disability)
Certain Military Spouses: Copy of service member's PCS order authorizing the spouse to accompany the service member AND Proof of marriage to the service member; OR Proof the service member was released or discharged from active duty due to a service-connected disability AND documentation of the service member's 100% disability AND proof of marriage to the service member; OR Proof of the service member's death while on active duty AND proof of marriage to the service member.
Family Member Preference (Derived Preference)
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.
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 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.