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GENERAL ATTORNEY

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Jul 6, 2019
Duties

Summary

The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition enforces the nation's antitrust laws, which form the foundation of our free market economy. The antitrust laws promote the interests of consumers; they support unfettered markets and result in lower prices and more choices. The Bureau of Competition is comprised of six Litigation Divisions, the Technology Task Force, three Regional Offices, the Premerger Notification Office, the Compliance Division, and the Office of Policy and Coordination.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As an attorney in the Bureau of Competition, you will perform a variety of legal duties relative to cases or legal issues of extreme difficulty. Often the work of the staff includes advisory functions related to antitrust enforcement policy under the various statutes enforced by the Commission.

More specifically, incumbents of this position will:
  • Prepare for trial and litigate or negotiate settlements in antitrust matters. Make initial determinations as to whether cases should be investigated; identify legal theories and plans for preliminary investigations; obtain evidence from a variety of sources.
  • Confer with government agencies, public authorities, attorneys, businesspersons and other members of the public in order to obtain information relevant to Commission investigations and to provide them with information on matters of law, Commission procedures and policy.
  • Prepare antitrust cases for trial by securing and preparing evidence, conferring with witnesses, participating in pretrial conferences, examining and cross-examining witnesses, and drafting legal documents needed during the various stages of litigation.
  • Assist higher-grade attorneys in preparing and prosecuting the most complex cases.
  • Prepare internal documents for review by the Commission and perform special assignments as directed.


Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

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.


Qualifications

The ideal candidate has experience relating to intellectual property rights (including patent and copyright law and related issues, such as standard setting; distribution and licensing arrangements; cross-licensing and patent pool arrangements; or patent misuse) in markets in which digital technology is an import dimension of competition (such as online platforms, digital advertising, social networking, software, operating systems, and streaming services). Litigation and antitrust experience involving intellectual property rights in markets in which digital technology is an important dimension of competition is also highly desirable.

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-13 Positions

For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 24 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.

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.

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.

Please note that prior experience, whether legal and non-legal experience, gained before completing law school cannot be used to satisfy the post law school experience requirements.

Optional Documents:
In addition to the required documents, you may submit the following:
  • Cover letter
  • Writing sample


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.

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 based on the overall strength of your credentials as demonstrated by your cover letter, resume, writing sample, and experience. The most qualified candidates will be selected for interviews, which will also be considered in making the final decision. Application of Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Federal Trade Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. If you are eligible for veterans' preference, you are encouraged to include that information in your cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214 or other substantiating documents) to your submission.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your résumé showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • Writing Sample, optional
  • Copies of scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals, optional
  • Graduate Transcript(s), if the position has an education requirement - REQUIRED
  • Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF- 15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.) Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)


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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