Duties

The selectee will serve as an Attorney-Advisor in the Office of the Chief Counsel. Typical work assignments include:

• Performing legal research and providing oral and written advice and, counsel related to legal issues involving or impacting Secret Service protective, investigative, and administrative responsibilities.
• Representing the Secret Service in administrative forums such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and Government Accountability Office.
• Providing litigation support to the U.S. Department of Justice and United States Attorney's Offices, to include support regarding discovery matters in federal civil litigation.
• Conducting training in various areas of the law that impact the Secret Service's mission.
• Providing legal services and advice in the areas of fiscal law, personnel law, procurement, ethics, Federal Tort Claims Act claims, garnishments, Equal Employment Opportunity issues, employee disciplinary matters, Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act appeals, electronic surveillance laws, investigative and protective technologies, computer searches and seizures, and privacy and constitutional laws that pertain to criminal and protection related investigations.

Apply for this exciting opportunity to impact the agency's mission through your legal advice, counsel, and representation. This Attorney-Advisor position starts at a salary of $74,950 (GS-11, Step 1), with promotion potential to $164,102 (GS-14, Step 10). View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. citizenship is required.

Conditions of Employment:

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Obtain and maintain a top-secret Tier 5 clearance. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster page.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Males born prior to December 31, 1959, must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• The person selected for this position may be subject to a one-year trial period.
• May require occasional travel.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have a first professional law degree (Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.)) obtained from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association at the time the degree was obtained.

Licensure: Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. Supporting documentation must be included with the application package.

In addition to applicants meeting the minimum education and licensure requirement, you must meet the below grade-level requirement of the Attorney position:

To qualify for the GS-11 level, with a starting salary of $74,950, applicants should possess one of the following:

Superior achievement as a law student that indicates the ability to independently perform legal work, as demonstrated by at least one of the following:

• Law school transcript that demonstrates successful mastery of law school curriculum.
• Work or achievement of significance on one of the Attorney's 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, Latin Honors ( summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude ))
• Significant involvement in a moot court competition (e.g., winning a moot court competition, or membership on the moot court team that represents the Attorney's law school in competition with other law schools).
• Full-time or continuous participation in a legal services program while in law school (one-time, intermittent, or casual participation on its own would not demonstrate superior achievement).
• Significant law office clerk experience while in law school (involving legal or quasi-legal, not clerical, work).
• Other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement while in law school. OR

A second professional law degree (Master of Law (LL.M)) obtained from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association at the time the degree was obtained, if at least one full year of graduate study was required to obtain the degree.

To qualify for the GS-12 level, with a starting salary of $89,834, applicants should possess one of the following:

One year of professional legal experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, following obtaining first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), that has equipped the applicant with the particular skills and experience to perform successfully the duties of the position (generally, the experience is in or related to the work of the position to be filled). OR

One year of experience in judicial clerkship(s).

To qualify for the GS-13 level, with a starting salary of $106,823, applicants should possess one of the following:

Two years of specialized professional legal experience, following obtaining first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), that has equipped the applicant with the particular skills and experience to perform successfully the duties of the position (generally, the experience is in or related to the work of the position to be filled). OR

Two years of experience in judicial clerkship(s).

To qualify for the GS-14 level, with a starting salary of $126,233, applicants should possess the following:

Three years of specialized professional legal experience, following obtaining first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), that has equipped the applicant with the particular skills and experience to perform successfully the duties of the position (generally, the experience is in or related to the work of the position to be filled)

Applicant must have demonstrated writing, editing, and oral communication skills.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer 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.

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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

Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.

Additional information

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Click here to learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment , and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

This position will require a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.