Summary
The Senate Office of the Legislative Counsel is responsible for drafting and editing nearly all legislation considered by the Senate. The SOLC is a nonpartisan and nonpolitical office of the Senate, with 45 attorneys and 6 members of the support staff who serve all Members, committees, and staff of the Senate.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Duties
A Legislative Assistant in the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the United States Senate (SOLC) works as part of a team of Legislative Assistants who provide administrative support to the attorneys in the Office of the Legislative Counsel in drafting bills, resolutions, and amendments for committees, Members, and staff of the Senate.
The position of Legislative Assistant is full-time with weekly early morning or late-night coverage, and with the possibility of evening and weekend overtime occasionally required to serve the needs of the Senate. A Legislative Assistant must be available to work in person in our office in Washington, DC, during the core hours of 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and must be willing to adapt to changes due to the unpredictability of the Senate schedule.
The responsibilities of an SOLC Legislative Assistant include:
- Preparing, editing, and proofreading bills, resolutions, and amendments for the attorneys using legislative drafting software.
- Providing general administrative support as needed, such as answering phones, assigning incoming requests to the appropriate attorney, and maintaining office files, equipment, and the law library.
- Conducting legislative research and providing legislative support if promoted to Senior Legislative Assistant.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
Pursuant to Federal law, an individual may not be hired for a paid Senate position in the continental United States unless the individual
- is a United States citizen;
- is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in section 274B(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B));
- admitted as a refugee under section 207 of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) or is granted asylum under section 208 of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1158); and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; or
- owes allegiance to the United States. (Note: To meet this requirement, an individual must be (1) a noncitizen United States national born in or having ties to American Samoa or Swains Island (as outlined in section 308 of that Act (8 U.S.C. 1408)), or (2) a noncitizen United States national pursuant to section 302 of the Joint Resolution entitled Joint Resolution to approve the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, and for other purposes, approved March 24, 1976 (Public Law 94-241; 90 Stat. 263)).
Qualifications
A Legislative Assistant applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Demonstrated attention to detail, an ability to write clearly, and proficiency in English usage, grammar, and spelling.
- A commitment to confidentiality and a professional and collegial approach, including an ability to work well under pressure, as a team member.
- Strong computer skills and demonstrated word-processing skills.
- Prior experience in an administrative role with a demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
- No substantial participation with any political party or cause.
Education
A Bachelor of Arts or Science degree is preferred but not required.
Additional information
- You must submit all documents and required information by the closing date. Applications that are incomplete or submitted after the closing date will not be considered.
- Preference given to individuals open to providing at least 2 years of service due to the extensive training provided to newly hired Legislative Assistants.
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 Legislative Assistant receives a starting salary of $47,500, with competitive increases in salary.
The SOLC is committed to furthering the professional development of its employees throughout their careers with the Office and to providing a positive work-life balance. To the extent funding and the needs of the Senate allow, the SOLC offers its employees the following:
- Participation in the Senate Federal student loan tuition repayment benefit program. SOLC employment qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program offered by the Department of Education.
- Options for occasional telework and flextime (subject to current Office policies) and public transit subsidies.
- An annual allotment of paid leave (including annual leave, health leave, and Federal holidays) and a paid gender-neutral family and medical leave program.
- Access to retirement and insurance programs, including Federal Employees Retirement System coverage, group life insurance coverage, and matching funds for contributions under the Thrift Savings Plan.
- Access to benefit programs for employees and their families, including coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and dental and vision plans, health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts, and an onsite fitness facility for employees, and priority access for admission to the Senate Employees Child Care Center.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
This position is nonpartisan and nonpolitical and is filled on the basis of demonstrated achievement, writing ability, work experience, and a personal interview.
Required Documents
Please submit the following documents to apply for this position:
- A cover letter.
- A current resume that includes all experience, education, training, outside activities, and other information relevant to the position.
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
- Applications must be submitted at the following website: https://careers.employment.senate.gov.
- All required documents must be submitted as PDF files or Word documents. Applications submitted in any other format will not be reviewed.
We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible. Applicants should be available to start by early February at the latest.
Next steps
Once your completed application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. The most highly qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.
The Senate Office of the Legislative Counsel is an equal opportunity employer. The Office reserves the right to conduct a background check before final selection, including a reference check, Internet name searches, and a criminal background check.