Duties

Summary

This position is located in Washington, D.C.

The incumbent serves as an attorney providing legal advice, research, analysis and interpretation of federal, state and local laws, as well as oral and written opinions, memoranda, pleadings, briefs and legal support of all USDA programs and litigation, and performs other legal services as assigned.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

• Demonstrated experience in federal sector labor law, including CBA negotiations.
• Defense of federal sector CBA grievances, including arbitrations and mediations.
• Strong legal research skills in area of civil rights, labor and employment law.
• Strong oral and written skills in communicating to diverse clients and stakeholders.
• Attention to detail in work, ability to collaborate, and strong work ethic.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

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
• 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
• May be subject to satisfactory completion of a two year probationary or trial period
• 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.

The duties listed below are described at the FPL GS-14, the GS-13 are developmental leading to such performance.

• Legal and factual Issues: Cases and questions typically involve complex legal and factual issues for which there are few precedents.
• Impact of Cases or Problems: The attorney is considered an authoritative source of information of a law related to a major USDA program area or relevant subject matter expertise, as appropriate.
• Nature and Availability of Precedent Decisions: Decisions frequently involve large sums of money and necessitate a detailed review of complex factual issues and extensive legal research.
• Public Interest and Money: Cases involve the most important programs of the Department and issues that have major impact on the operations of those programs.

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-13: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the (GS-12) 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 an Attorney Advisor. Examples of such experience include: Experience providing professional legal services to an agency/organization. Experience in planning and assigning priorities to tasks and assignments to further develop knowledge of complex assignments. Ability to apply the principles and techniques of legal analysis and practice in order to prepare legal documents. Ability to gain a thorough knowledge of activities and program initiatives to provide timely and relevant legal advice regarding program operations to management officials. Experience in representing clients in negotiations and legal proceedings.

GS-14: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the (GS-13) 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 an Attorney Advisor. Examples of such experience include: Experience providing expert professional legal services to a major agency/organization. Experience developing and recommending litigation strategies and procedures. Working independently to determine methodologies, milestones, goals, and termination points for most assignments. Completes assignments to management requirements with satisfaction of organizational objectives. Expertly represent clients in negotiations and legal proceedings. Mastery of applying principles and techniques of legal analysis and practice to prepare legal documents. Mastery of the principles and techniques of written and oral communication to speak and write with clarity and tact to provide guidance on complex legal issues.

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

Education

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 13 Step 1 to a GS 14 Step 10. Below are the salary ranges for each grade level:

GS-13: $99,172.00 - $128,920.00
GS-14: $117,191.00 - $152,352.00

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.

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
• Mastery of the principles and techniques of legal analysis and practice in order to prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, litigation reports and related documents in connection with suits by and against the government and determine in each case the nature of action or defense, the legal issues and complaints involved, the most effective course of action, and optimal strategies and tactics to be employed.
• Mastery of the principles and techniques of written and oral communication to speak and write with clarity and tact to provide guidance on complex legal issues, secure acceptance of recommendations, prepare complex legal opinions, and effectively represent the Department.
• Mastery of statutes, regulations and precedents related to major USDA program areas or relevant subject matter expertise, as appropriate in order to 1) defend the Secretary in federal sector complaints of employment discrimination or appeals before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); (2) develop litigation strategies and procedures; 3) aid the Department of Justice in the trial of complaints of employment discrimination or involving decisions appealed from the EEOC, and other complaints related to employment matters; and advise the client agency to (4) determination of the strengths and weaknesses of cases in order to determine whether to negotiate or participate in negotiating settlements on behalf of the Department, including those involving large and small sums of money.

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.