Clarification from the agency

Open to the public

Job Summary:

The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) provides operations support services and business solutions to the community of 10,000 House Members, Officers and staff. The CAO organization comprises more than 800 technical and administrative staff working in a variety of areas, including information technology, finance, budget management, human resources, payroll, child care, food and vending, procurement, logistics and administrative counsel.

The hired candidate will serve in the Office of Employee Advocacy as complainant-side counsel. Attorneys in this position provide legal assistance, consultation and, when applicable, representation to covered employees of the House of Representatives on matters covered by the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and its 2018 Reform Act. The basis for the office and the attorneys in this position was established by House Resolution 724 of the 115th Congress (February 2018).

This non-partisan legal position requires skilled and motivated professionals who are adept at identifying key issues, analyzing complex fact patterns, developing keen strategy, and applying the wide range of laws that are made applicable to the House of Representatives by the Congressional Accountability Act.  In their legal role, professionals in this position must interact well with their clients, the public, their colleagues, adjudicators, and opposing counsel.  Further, attorneys in this position must have the ability to collaborate well with other legal and non-legal offices of the House whose functions relate to the mission of providing sound legal guidance and representation to House employees. 

Retention in this position is subject to demonstrated proficiency during a probationary period consisting of six months' work with the Office. The probationary period begins upon the candidate's official start date with the Office.

This position does not have day-to-day supervisory/managerial responsibilities.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

The duties for Senior Associate Counsel with the Office of Employee Advocacy, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, U.S. House or Representatives include:

• Providing information and assistance to House employees who have questions about their workplace rights and/or seek help with securing workplace benefits or attributes to which they are entitled under applicable laws.
• Serving as a legal advisor and litigation attorney on behalf of House employees who believe they have been subjected to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or another violation of their employee rights.  
• Handling litigation and advising as complainant’s counsel in matters under the statutes made applicable to House employees under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, and the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act.
• Representing House employees in counseling, mediation, hearings and other litigation before the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, Committee on Ethics, Office of Congressional Ethics, and other administrative bodies.  Such representation includes conducting fact-finding interviews; preparing, claims, motions, memoranda, and briefs; eliciting testimony at evidentiary and fact-finding hearings; and filing hearing submissions. 
• Providing superior oral advocacy at hearings and well organized and well researched written products under deadlines.
• Providing input on training, policy, and regulatory initiatives.
• Comprehensively researching and staying abreast of developing law.
• Performs other official duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• USAJobs Conditions of Employment

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a graduate of an accredited college or university
• Be a graduate of an accredited law school with a J.D., LLM, or LL.B degree
• Be an active member in good standing of a state, United States territory, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar
• Possess at least eight (8) years of professional legal experience following law school graduation
• Possess litigation and counseling experience in labor and employment law
• Upon hire, an applicant must demonstrate proficiency during a probationary period of six months' work with the Office for retention in the position.

**Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactorily completing a criminal history records check (or other applicable security clearance) and a pre-employment drug-test (pre-identified position only).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated using a structured interview process.

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample.

Next steps