General Attorney

Closing Date: 16th May, 2024

Description:

Summary:
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) is seeking an energetic and dedicated attorney to serve as an Associate Legal Advisor with the Human Rights Violator Law Division (HRVLD) in Washington, D.C.

One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement.

General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

Duties:
ICE OPLA HRVLD is seeking an attorney for an Associate Legal Advisor position in Washington, D.C. to handle legal matters for a wide range of human rights related issues, such as pursuing the criminal or civil prosecution of individuals seeking U.S. immigration benefits who have been involved in persecution, genocide, extrajudicial killing, torture, severe violations of religious freedom, female genital mutilation, use or recruitment of child soldiers, or other human rights violations; human smuggling; human trafficking; federal criminal victim assistance; law enforcement parole into the United States; specialized visas for those assisting law enforcement; and witness security. Additionally, when needed, the attorney will assist with agency-wide discovery obligations as well as immigration court coverage. At a minimum, duties will include:

• Advise on a day-to-day basis the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, and/or the Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance Program, coordinating additional legal support from other relevant OPLA divisions, in addition to HSI Special Agents engaged in criminal investigations;
• Provide support and training to HSI embedded OPLA attorneys who are advising HSI Special Agents conducting criminal investigations related to human rights abuses, human trafficking or human smuggling;
• Provide support and training to designated OPLA attorneys in field locations who are handling human rights related cases;
• Prepare and deliver briefings to assist Department of Homeland Security, ICE, HSI, and OPLA leadership;
• Review related legislation, external communications, federal interagency documents, and policies;
• Provide well-reasoned legal and policy advice including immigration and criminal law issues;
• Conduct necessary, agency-wide, civil discovery;
• Represent the government in immigration court proceedings when needed; and
• Develop and present trainings on substantive areas of law.

HRVLD attorneys work closely with a wide range of ICE program offices. They also work with DHS component agencies and offices, and other federal agencies and departments.

The selected attorney will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft legally supportable policies to address the needs of agency operational components. The attorney will be expected to routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, HRVLD management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the General Counsel Headquarters. The selected attorney will be required to assess litigation risk and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice.

OPLA is the largest legal program in DHS, employing over 1,200 attorneys nationwide. In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 25 OPLA field locations in more than 60 cities throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, litigating cases involving criminal noncitizens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority noncitizens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.

OPLA provides legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal and employment law. OPLA represents the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals. OPLA attorneys support DOJ in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE.

OPLA fosters an environment in which all voices are heard and values the unique perspectives and opinions that inhere among a talented, diverse, and inclusive workforce. Comprising a far more diverse workforce than its private sector counterparts, OPLA is proud to strive to further diversify the experiences, perspectives, and characteristics of its workforce. It is committed to celebrating our differences and embracing practices that foster a fair, safe, and inclusive workplace by promoting equitable access to opportunities. In keeping with this commitment, OPLA will ensure that qualified applicants with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If accommodations is required for any part of the application process, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

• You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug test for federal employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs).
• You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• You may be required to serve a two-year trial period if the requirement has not been met.
• Current OPLA attorneys must have completed two years of service with OPLA by the announcement closeout to be considered for this position.
• You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Qualifications:
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Applicants should be able to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, prioritize competing assignments, and work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units. Applicants should be detail-oriented and have a strong interest in supporting and providing stellar client services to diverse program offices, including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership, and must be able to tailor communications to a particular audience. Applicants should be able to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner. Applicants should possess the following characteristics and competencies: integrity, sound professional judgment, organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, stellar client services, the ability to function independently and cooperatively, and superior written and oral advocacy skills.

In addition, applicants for this position should have substantial demonstrated experience in human rights work, including knowledge of topics such as genocide, extrajudicial killing, torture, severe violations of religious freedom, female genital mutilation, use or recruitment of child soldiers, or other human rights violations, anti-human trafficking work, Victim protection generally; training development and delivery; legal resources development; and/or working with or for law enforcement.

Bar Membership: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

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 five 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.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u), and Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Education:
Applicants must be a graduate of an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Please see Required Documents for more information.

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