Duties

Summary

This position will be located in the Division of General Law (GCGL), in the Office of General Counsel. GCGL is responsible for providing legal advice and recommendations regarding many areas of law including: ethics (Standards of Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch), fiscal law, procurement, labor & employment, intellectual property and numerous other areas. The incumbent of this position will be required to work effectively in all areas.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of this position include:

• Preparing legal opinions, interpretations, and recommendations with respect to statutes, executive orders, and regulations.
• Providing legal advice and recommendations to the Commission and other organizational components of the commission.
• Reviewing certain documents prepared by operating staff for legal sufficiency, e.g. contracts, procurement solicitations, interagency agreements, proposed Commission regulations and directives, etc.
• Drafting and preparing certain Commission policies and regulations (e.g., government ethics).
• Representing the Commission before administrative law judge and administrative boards.
• Participating in discussions, meetings, and conferences with Commission staff and officials in proposing policy and implementation of statutes and regulations.
• Coordinating and consulting with the Department of Justice, Office of Government Ethics, the Comptroller General, the office of Management and Budget, the General Services Administration, and other federal agencies.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor's recommendation to the next grade.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Proof of current, active bar membership/good standing.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment. False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form (http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf).

Compare employment eligibility verification from information provided on the I-9 Form to records available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

This appointment requires completion of a two year trial period unless you have previously successfully completed a trial period that meets the following: 1) in the same agency, 2) in the same line of work (determined by the employee's actual duties and responsibilities) and 3) contains or is followed by no more than a single break in service that does not exceed 30 calendar days. Failure to successfully complete the trial period may result in termination of employment.

Qualifications

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position within thirty (30) days of the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

GS11: Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Completing research, analysis and persuasive writing (which may include opinions, briefs, pleadings, or motions) relating to difficult legal questions involving one or more of the following legal areas of expertise: ethics, procurement, fiscal law, intellectual property, or negotiating settlement agreements.

GS12: Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Completing research, analysis and persuasive writing (which may include opinions, briefs, pleadings, or motions) relating to difficult legal questions involving two or more of the following legal areas of expertise: ethics, procurement, fiscal law, intellectual property, or negotiating settlement agreements.

GS13: Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Completing research, analysis and persuasive writing (which may include opinions, briefs, pleadings, or motions) relating to difficult legal questions involving the following legal areas of expertise: 1) labor and employment law (including human resources matters); and 2) ethics, procurement, fiscal law, intellectual property, and negotiating settlement agreements.

GS14: Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Completing research, analysis and persuasive writing (which may include opinions, briefs, pleadings, or motions) relating to difficult legal questions involving 1) labor and employment law (including human resources matters and representing clients before EEOC and MSPB); and 2) ethics, procurement, fiscal law, intellectual property, and negotiating settlement agreements.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.

Education

Basic Requirement: All applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

GS-11: In addition to the basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either: (1) one year of experience as a practicing attorney); OR (2) a second professional law degree (LL.M) OR (3) .D. or LL.B degree with superior law student work or activities.

GS-12: In addition to the basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either: (1) two years of experience as a practicing attorney); OR (2) one year of experience as a practicing attorney (see the specialized experience requirement) and a second professional law degree (LL.M).

GS-13: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either (1) three years of professional legal experience; or (2) two years of professional legal experience in addition to a second professional law degree (LL.M.).

GS-14: In addition to basic requirement and qualifying specialized experience, applicants must have either (1) four years of professional legal experience; or (2) three years of professional legal experience in addition to a second professional law degree (LL.M.).

All applicants are required to provide proof of current, active bar membership/good standing.

ALL applicants must also submit proof of successful completion of education requirements. This proof may consist of a law school transcript or other documentation which provides clear and specific proof of education, such as a diploma. A copy of an SF-50 only is not adequate proof of meeting the education requirements.

You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

The education must be from an accredited school. For a list of schools, http://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=rn

Foreign Education: Education completed outside the United States must have been evaluated by an accredited organization. For a list of organizations, http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

All education claimed by applicants will be verified.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking reference and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

After the vacancy closes, we will review your application package to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your responses to the questionnaire, resume and supporting documentation will then be reviewed. Your resume must support your responses to the self-assessment questions or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited to an interview.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Your package must be complete and submitted in the manner specified in this section. Packages that are submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the agency point of contact will not be considered.

A complete application includes: 1. Resume; 2. vacancy question responses; 3. law school transcripts; 4. proof of active bar membership/good standing.

Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

All supplemental documents must be submitted electronically before the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

You have three choices for submitting your supplemental documents:
1. Download from your USAJOBS account; or
2. Upload your file(s)

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.