Duties

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) seeks attorneys to join its dynamic, high-performing team. Attorneys will provide legal advice and representation to OPM leaders responsible for governmentwide leadership and direction in the strategic management of the Federal workforce. Attorneys have a varied and interesting portfolio of work, with duties that may include, but are not limited to: advising and counseling OPM offices on a range of policy and legal issues; "first chairing" litigation before administrative agencies such as the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; working closely with the Department of Justice on litigation affecting OPM; and reviewing and commenting on a wide variety of existing and proposed legislative and regulatory proposals. Attorneys provide legal advice and assistance in support of a diverse array of internal OPM operations, including on sensitive and complex personnel, ethics, access to records, and procurement matters. Attorneys also support OPM in fulfilling several unique policy and legal roles with governmentwide impact, such as: overseeing merit-based and inclusive hiring into the Federal government; determining which MSPB and arbitral decisions are erroneous and have a substantial impact on civil service law warranting judicial review; promulgating governmentwide Hatch Act regulations; advising on certain suitability and security matters within OPM's sole authority; advising on governmentwide labor relations matters; and supporting Federal employee insurance, compensation, retirement, and other programs that serve more than 5 million Federal employees, annuitants, survivors, and family members across the country.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Must be a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Appointments made from this announcement are exempt from competitive service.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications
At the GS-12 level and above: Applicants with one or more years of post Juris Doctorate (J.D.) legal work experience as a practicing attorney, such as a judicial clerkship or in general law practice, must have:

• A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association;
• Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and
• At least one year of experience to qualify at the GS-12 level; at least two years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; and at least three years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-14 level.

At the GS-11 level: Applicants with less than one year of post J.D. legal work experience as a practicing attorney, such as a judicial clerkship or in general law practice, must have:

• A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association;
• Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia;
• Academic standing in the upper third of the attorney's law school graduating class (to the extent an applicant's law school has class rank); and
• Advanced educational attainment that indicates the ability to independently perform legal work, such as work or achievement of significance on a law school's official law reviews or journals; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school (e.g., membership in the Order of the Coif or winning a moot court competition); full-time or continuous participation in a legal clinic program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation; significant summer clerk experience; or other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement.

Preferred Qualifications

• The ability to provide excellent customer service and to exercise sound judgment and decision making in challenging situations;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• High competence in legal research and analysis, including the ability to effectively integrate and synthesize facts and law to make legally sound decisions, including in compressed timeframes;
• The ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment;
• Willingness to consider diverse perspectives and ability to navigate changing circumstances;
• Ability to effectively manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently;
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships, both within and outside OGC;
• Experience in one or more of the following areas of law is desired (but not required): principles of administrative law such as drafting proposed regulations; equal employment opportunity; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); labor law; civilian pay law; suitability; government ethics; the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act; healthcare and insurance programs; and administrative litigation.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

If you are applying at the GS-11 level, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated, official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable. All materials must be submitted before your application will be considered complete.

Additional information

Relocation: Relocation expenses will not be paid. Current OPM employees may qualify as an exception.

Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration ).