TRAVEL REQUIRED:

Not required

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED:
Relocation expenses reimbursed No

KEY REQUIREMENTS:
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You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job

Designated and/or random drug testing may be required

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

You may be required to serve a probationary period

Subject to background/security investigation

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/01/2019.

BAR MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS: Currently an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

CITIZENSHIP: Be citizens of, or owe allegiance to, the United States.

EDUCATION: Successful completion of a full course of study (JD) in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

EXPERIENCE: In one or any combination of the following types in the amounts indicated for each grade following:
a. Practice of law.
b. Other legal experience of a responsible nature in any or a combination of the following: As a law clerk; in legal research; in analysis of statutes; or in examination, investigation, or adjustment of claims arising under law, contract, or governmental order
c. In the military, naval, or other Federal service in the disposition of legal problems, as a reviewing officer, as a member of courts or boards, or investigation activities

For the Grade of GS-11:

a. One year of experience as described above, OR

b. Graduation in the upper one-third of his/her law class or one of the six alternate options of the Superior Law Student Program:
(1) Work or achievement of significance on his/her school's Official Law Review;
(2) Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif;
(3) Winning a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team which represents the law school in competition with other law schools;
(4) Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program as opposed to one-shot, intermittent or casual participation;
(5) Significant summer law-office clerk experience; or
(6) Other equivalent evidence of superior achievement. Candidates applying under this option will be required to furnish certification from the registrar of ranking and other attainments in law school; OR

c. Possession of the LL.M. or JD degree.

For the grade of GS-12:

a. Two years of progressively responsible experience as described above, or

b. Graduation in the upper 15% of his/her law class and possess the LL.M. or JD degree in a field of law directly pertinent to the work of the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience: Providing legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters; Conducting legal research and citing to relevant legal authority; Drafting and reviewing decisions for consideration and adoption by agency officials.

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

ORAL INTERVIEW: Applicants must successfully pass an oral interview before appointment is made. The factors to be considered in this interview will be ability to express one's self, aptitude and interest in Federal legal work as a career, and the ability to answer technical questions of law.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, but requires periods of walking, standing, bending, or climbing, and employees may carry light items such as books, instruments, laptops, and other similar materials.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Transcripts- Please ensure your law transcripts indicate the type of degree awarded and the date it was awarded.


Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Read more Security clearance Other

Drug test required No