Closing Date: 10th May, 2024
Description:
Summary:This position is located in A Government Entity, Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Legal Counsel Division (LCD).
The primary purpose of this position is to provide advice and assistance on all aspects of litigation, from pre-filing to trial and appeals and on matters before the United States Supreme Court.
Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.
Duties:
As an Attorney-Advisor (General), GS-0905-14/15, your typical work assignments may include:
- Providing the General Counsel, other senior DHS executives and attorneys, as well as Department of Justice attorneys with oral and written legal advice on issues relating to the conduct of litigation and litigation risk; Providing advice and assistance on all aspects of significant litigation and assist in formulating DHS's position in litigation.
- Performing detailed legal research and draft thorough and well-reasoned memoranda and legal briefs. Issues encountered will include questions of constitutional, statutory, regulatory, and procedural law, and will include issues in the areas of immigration, law enforcement, national security, administrative, civil procedure, tort, privacy, civil rights, FOIA, and employment law, and are often novel, complex, and precedent setting.
- Assisting and coordinating with attorneys within DHS and at the Department of Justice on all phases of trial and appellate litigation, identify potential litigation risks, assist with settlement and mediation, and manage discovery; Ensuring compliance with court orders, judgments, injunctions, and settlements; Directing and overseeing pending litigation, as needed, including advising on litigation strategy.
- Coordinating with the Office of Public Affairs on press coverage of litigation.
- Assisting in matters related to congressional investigations and internal investigations, including inter-branch exchange or discovery of information and the assertion of governmental privileges. Providing assistance and advice on other matters within the LCD's scope of responsibilities, including legislation, civil rights/civil liberties, privacy and FOIA.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- You must successfully pass a background investigation.
- You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
- You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
- You must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
- Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
Qualifications:
Basic Requirements:
GS-14 or GS-15:
Specialized Experience:
The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.
You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal government.
- The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
- Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.
Specialized Experience:
The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.
You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal government.
Specialized experience is experience in litigation at the trial and/or appellate level. Experience as a judicial law clerk is preferred. Applicants must have three or more years of relevant post-JD experience.
Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
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.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education:
Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.
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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.
Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
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.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education:
Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.
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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.
