General Attorney
- Employer
- USAJobs
- Location
- Washington, D.C
- Posted
- Mar 30, 2023
- Closes
- Apr 04, 2023
- Function
- Lawyer and Attorney
- Industry
- Government and Public Services, Federal
- Career Level
- Experienced (Non-Manager)
- Hours
- Full Time
Duties
Litigation Division attorneys represent the Commission in the courts of appeals and provide legal counsel to the Commission, its operating bureaus, and other offices within the agency. Division attorneys also represent the agency in some district court cases and serve as the agency's point of contact with the Department of Justice in Supreme Court litigation, joint amicus pleadings, and matters in which the United States represents the FTC. The position requires a creative legal analyst with exceptional writing skills and sound judgment, who is articulate, rigorous, and can work independently with minimal oversight on issues of the highest complexity.
As a member of the Litigation Division, you will
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must have attained the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory. Applicants must demonstrate excellent writing skills and be able to work effectively with other people, exercise sound judgment, and exhibit a strong interest in the work of the agency.
Additional Requirements
GS-14 Positions
For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 42 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.
For the GS-14 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 42 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 18 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-13 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-13 level includes examples such as independently plan, organize and conduct analysis of the matters on which you are working, based on preliminary background and policy information provided by the supervisor. Written work is expected to be technically correct and not require detailed review. At this level, attorneys are journeymen attorneys whose work entails demanding legal research and analysis; drafting and reviewing motions, subpoenas, complaints, orders, rule proposals, and memoranda; and, where appropriate to the office, participating in investigational hearings, negotiating settlements, and trials. Such attorneys contribute to the tactical and policy decisions inherent in various matters and, where appropriate, they should be able to assist in the trial of these matters. Attorneys at this level take charge of basic matters, moderately complex and novel matters, and make substantial contributions to the most complex, novel, or significant matters.
GS-15 Positions
For attorney appointments: active member of the bar in good standing and 60 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.
For the GS-15 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 60 months of legal experience after graduation from law school to qualify for the GS-15 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-15 level includes examples such as being an outstanding writer and highly effective oral advocate. You must also exercise sound judgment, supervise, work well with, and motivate others, and make decided contributions to the work of the office. You must function independently and your work should not require close supervision or substantive review. Your supervisor(s) must have complete confidence in your judgment. At this level, you should be recognized for your competence. These attorneys should be able to represent the agency before any group or in any setting, and to effectively manage the preparation and trial of virtually any major case, all stages in the appeal of such a case, or conduct evaluation and analysis of the most complex cases of major significance for which little if any precedent exists.
Note: Legal and nonlegal experience gained in the Federal Government before completing law school does not satisfy post law school experience.
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
Education
This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official offer.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION
Additional information
This position is in the Excepted Service (Schedule A).
Individuals applying for this announcement are required to complete and submit an online application and all supporting documentation through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. Traditional rating and ranking procedures do not apply.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply.
Litigation Division attorneys represent the Commission in the courts of appeals and provide legal counsel to the Commission, its operating bureaus, and other offices within the agency. Division attorneys also represent the agency in some district court cases and serve as the agency's point of contact with the Department of Justice in Supreme Court litigation, joint amicus pleadings, and matters in which the United States represents the FTC. The position requires a creative legal analyst with exceptional writing skills and sound judgment, who is articulate, rigorous, and can work independently with minimal oversight on issues of the highest complexity.
As a member of the Litigation Division, you will
- represent the Commission in all phases of judicial proceedings, including review of the agency's decisions in the federal courts of appeals, appellate cases in which the Commission participates as amicus curiae, and district court proceedings to defend the agency or to enforce agency investigative document demands;
- work with the Bureaus of Competition and Consumer Protection in developing and litigating Commission lawsuits for injunctive relief and consumer redress under the FTC Act, and represent the Commission in all appeals in such cases;
- coordinate with and provide assistance to the Department of Justice in litigating suits challenging Commission action, preparing amicus briefs, and developing litigating positions in the Supreme Court; and
- provide legal counsel to the Commission and its officers, including litigation assessments of proposed cases and advice on legal questions of all stripes.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
- This position is subject to a background investigation.
- Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
- Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school.
- Member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory - US, PR, DC.
- The position may be subject to completion of a two-year trial period.
- This is not a bargaining unit position.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must have attained the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory. Applicants must demonstrate excellent writing skills and be able to work effectively with other people, exercise sound judgment, and exhibit a strong interest in the work of the agency.
Additional Requirements
GS-14 Positions
For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 42 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.
For the GS-14 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 42 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 18 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-13 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-13 level includes examples such as independently plan, organize and conduct analysis of the matters on which you are working, based on preliminary background and policy information provided by the supervisor. Written work is expected to be technically correct and not require detailed review. At this level, attorneys are journeymen attorneys whose work entails demanding legal research and analysis; drafting and reviewing motions, subpoenas, complaints, orders, rule proposals, and memoranda; and, where appropriate to the office, participating in investigational hearings, negotiating settlements, and trials. Such attorneys contribute to the tactical and policy decisions inherent in various matters and, where appropriate, they should be able to assist in the trial of these matters. Attorneys at this level take charge of basic matters, moderately complex and novel matters, and make substantial contributions to the most complex, novel, or significant matters.
GS-15 Positions
For attorney appointments: active member of the bar in good standing and 60 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.
For the GS-15 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 60 months of legal experience after graduation from law school to qualify for the GS-15 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-15 level includes examples such as being an outstanding writer and highly effective oral advocate. You must also exercise sound judgment, supervise, work well with, and motivate others, and make decided contributions to the work of the office. You must function independently and your work should not require close supervision or substantive review. Your supervisor(s) must have complete confidence in your judgment. At this level, you should be recognized for your competence. These attorneys should be able to represent the agency before any group or in any setting, and to effectively manage the preparation and trial of virtually any major case, all stages in the appeal of such a case, or conduct evaluation and analysis of the most complex cases of major significance for which little if any precedent exists.
Note: Legal and nonlegal experience gained in the Federal Government before completing law school does not satisfy post law school experience.
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
Education
This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official offer.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION
Additional information
This position is in the Excepted Service (Schedule A).
Individuals applying for this announcement are required to complete and submit an online application and all supporting documentation through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. Traditional rating and ranking procedures do not apply.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply.