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Supervisory General Attorney (Deputy Assistant General Counsel)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Jun 22, 2019
Duties

Summary

These positions are located in Washington, D.C. and any USDA/OGC Regional or Field Office.

The incumbent serves as a Supervisory General Attorney (Deputy Assistant General Counsel) who supervises and manages a Branch or Regional Office, which under the direct supervision of the Regional Attorney provides legal services to field offices of USDA agencies administering programs within a geographical area assigned to the office.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

  • Supervising teams of attorneys who defend the Secretary in civil rights, labor and employment law complaints.
  • Compiling reports and information to client agencies on civil rights issues and litigation statuses.
  • Providing training on civil rights, labor and employment law issues.
  • Reporting to and working with the Assistant and Associate General Counsel on all aspects of defensive civil rights, labor and employment law litigation.
  • Team-building and best practices development.


Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check
  • May be subject to satisfactory completion of a two year probationary or trial period
  • Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period
  • Direct Deposit ? Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • Must submit Cover Letter, Resume, Proof of Bar membership, Law School Transcripts, and Narrative
  • Review of the OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) entries have been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory
  • Requires a favorable credit check as part of the background investigation
  • Additional selections may be made from this announcement
  • Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance
  • Obtain and use a Government issued charge card for business-related travel
  • Subject to limited telework after six months completed and only by managerial approval and subject to change at any time from the Agency or Department


Qualifications

For consideration, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for attorney positions:
  • Successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the America Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) (Law School transcript required) and
  • Currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
Applicants should have demonstrated specialized experience in legal research, have excellent writing and communication skills, and a strong academic record. This experience should be clearly documented in the cover letter and resume.

GS-15: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the (GS-14) level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped me with the particular competencies to successfully perform as a General Attorney Assistant General Counsel. Examples of such experience include: Experience demonstrating team-leading or supervisory experience in groups addressing issues of federal sector civil rights, labor, and employment law, preferably ones who litigate federal sector claims of discrimination. Experience in interpreting, applying, implementing, and resolution of legal issues and office policies. Experience providing oral and written advice including preparing and reviewing documents. Experience researching and analyzing pertinent law including developing legal theories, tactics, and procedures in areas for example, civil rights, labor, and employment law. Experience advising client agencies on dealing with special interest groups and assisting client agencies in negotiations. Significant experience in conducting litigation and litigation activities such as federal sector administrative claims of discrimination including complex cases and class actions. Experience in developing and presenting training programs such as civil rights, labor, and employment law issues.

NOTE: This experience must be demonstrated on your resume/supporting documents.

Education

Law Degree: Applicant must provide a Law School transcript which shows successful completion of afull course of study in a school of law accredited by the America Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD).

Bar Membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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.

Narrative: You must submit a written statement, in your cover letter or in a separate document, explaining your interest in working for USDA's Office of the General Counsel, and noting any relevant course work, training, or prior experience that you believe should be considered in evaluating your application.

It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above requirements(education and bar membership). Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: You MUST submit a copy of your transcript if you want to substitute your education for experience. If you claim qualifications based on education, and do not submit a transcript, your education will not be used in making a qualification determination and you may be found "not qualified".

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.

Additional information

Pay Scale: The below salary reflects the pay range from GS 15 Step 1 to a GS 15 Step 10. This position is at the full performance level is a GS-15. Specific salary rate will vary by location and may be higher or lower than the amount shown on the vacancy announcement.

GS-15: $123,298.00 - $166,500.00

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

This is a bargaining unit designated position.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

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

Attorney positions are in the excepted service, not the competitive civil service. There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service.

However, if you are eligible for veterans' preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with the supporting documentation, e.g., SF-15, DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Proof of Bar Membership or other supporting documentation.

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:
  • Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Attention to detail
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from Federal service.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

You must submit a complete Application Package prior to 11:59 ET on the closing date of this announcement. The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

All applicants must submit:
  • Resume that includes the following information: 1) job information for which you are applying; 2) personal information; 3) education; 4) work experience including the work schedule and hours worked per week as well as dates of employment; and title, series and grade if applicable; 5) supervisors phone number and e-mail address for each work period listed and whether or not we may contact them for reference checks; and, 6) other qualifications.
  • Law School Transcript: An official copy is sufficient with the application; however, if selected, an official law school transcript will be required prior to entering on duty
  • Bar Membership: Proof of Bar Membership
  • Written Narrative: In order for your application to be considered, you must submit a written narrative not to exceed 1,200 words, showing you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies listed in this announcement.
  • DD-214 (Member 4 Copy): If claiming veteran's preference, you must submit a DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
Other required documents may include:
  • If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD-214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference. For more information on veterans' preference visit FEDSHIREVETS
  • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
  • Worker's Compensation Separation: Agency certification of inability to place employee AND Notification of Separation OR Separation SF-50.
  • Disability Annuity Termination: Notification from OPM of disability annuity termination AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held. Military Reserve or National Guard Technician Special Disability Retirement Annuity under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456: Certification of special disability retirement annuity from a military department or National Guard Bureau AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held.
No Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as social security number or date of birth, should be provided in your application package

NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. Please verify that documents you are uploading from USAJOBs transfer into the Agency,s staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency,s staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Uploaded resumes must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOCor DOCX).Your application package may be reviewed and screened at any time during the announcement period. If you decide to submit a revised application package during the announcement period, please notify the Agency contact person listed below.

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.

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