Duties

Summary

This position is a developmental position in the Department of Energy (DOE) Honors Attorney Program (HAP). This program provides an opportunity for high-caliber law school graduates to gain exposure and experience in a broad range of legal practice areas within DOE through rotations to the various legal offices within the Office of the General Counsel. Upon completion of the 3 year program, participants may be converted to permanent attorney positions to continue their legal careers with DOE.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Honors Attorney Program participants will be cross-trained in a number of legal practice areas falling under the purview of the Office of the General Counsel, which provides legal advice, counsel, and support to DOE leadership and program offices to further the Department's mission of advancing the national, economic, and energy security of the United States through scientific and technological innovation and the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.

As an Honors Attorney Program Law Clerk, you will:

• Review and become familiar with legal processes, statutes, regulations, office procedures, and policies that affect your assigned area.
• Consult with operating officials, attorneys, industry representatives, and other concerned parties to complete investigations, provide advice and assistance, and draft legal documents .
• Analyze factual and legal issues, explaining the application of legal principles and precedents and justifying recommendations and conclusions. Prepare legal guidance, including memoranda, exhibits, and reports, in response to inquiries.
• Examine formal filings for legal sufficiency and appropriate disclosure, and program material for legal soundness and accuracy.
• Study industry and trade practices; policies, procedures, and operations of relevant foreign, Federal, state, and local government agencies; and business, technical, and professional publications to interpret factual issues.
• Conduct research of laws, legal opinions, policies, regulations, legal texts, and precedent cases bearing on the assignment, and recommend positions on legal issues.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel overnight travel may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• See "Other Information" section regarding Selective Service requirements.
• You must submit application and all required documentation online.

All HAP Law Clerks are required to pass a bar examination and be an active member of the bar within 14 months of entry on duty [5 CFR 213.3102(e)]. Incoming HAP participants who are pending admission to the bar will be appointed to term positions as a Law Clerk (GS-0904), at the GS-11 level. These individuals will have a time limitation of not to exceed 14 months before they must become a member of a bar in a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. If the HAP Law Clerk fails to become a member of the bar within 14 months, employment will be terminated without exception.

Upon being admitted to an applicable bar, the HAP Law Clerk will be appointed to an Attorney-Adviser (GS-0905) position. This appointment will be term in nature, not to exceed a three-year period from the HAP participant's original entry on duty date. Participants may be converted to permanent attorney positions to continue their legal careers with DOE.

HAP participants will be full-time employees. Participants may work up to 80 hours per pay period. With supervisory approval, schedules for full-time employees may be flexible or compressed, although compressed work schedules will not be utilized during the first six months of employment unless specifically approved by the Honors Program Coordinator.

Participants must be paid according to the criteria set forth in the appropriate General Schedule, pay band, wage grade, or other pay plan for the job. Pay for new appointments will be set at Step 1 of the applicable grade level; advance-in-hire requests will not be authorized.

Telework may be authorized and is dependent upon Agency Policy and Supervisor's discretion.

Upon promotion, GS-12 or higher positions require a selectee to file the OGE-450 Financial Disclosure Form.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a minimum 3.3 grade point average (4.0 scale, or equivalent) at the time of application or graduation. If a school does not use a GPA system, a class rank is permissible. Additional eligibility criteria include participation in a Law Review or Journal, Moot Court, Trial Team or similar law school activity.

Education

Current law school students (part-time or full-time) are eligible if they are enrolled in an accredited law school, have not yet been awarded an initial law degree (J.D. or equivalent), and will complete all degree requirements and graduate from law school (be awarded a law degree) by August 2020.

• Joint-degree law students (J.D./L.LM) are eligible if they are a joint-degree student simultaneously pursuing a law degree and a graduate law degree (e.g., J.D./L.LM) who will complete all academic requirements for both degrees by August 2020. The following conditions apply:
  • Students must be continuously enrolled; meaning no break in time between completion of law school academic requirements and continuation of graduate law studies.
  • Students cannot practice as an attorney (engage in significant legal employment) between completion of law school academic requirements and completion of graduate law studies.
• Joint-degree law students (J.D./Masters, Ph.D., etc) are eligible if the student is pursuing simultaneously a law degree and a non-legal graduate degree (e.g., J.D./MBA/MPA or J.D./Ph.D.) and will complete all academic requirements for both degrees and graduate from both programs by August 2020. The following conditions apply:
  • Students must be continuously enrolled; meaning no break in time between completion of law school academic requirements and continuation of graduate studies.
  • Students cannot practice as an attorney (engage in significant legal employment) between completion of law school academic requirements and completion of graduate studies). Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Additional information

Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to law clerk/attorney positions in the excepted service; however, the Department of Energy considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference must include that information in their resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their application. If the applicant is eligible to claim a 10-point preference, the applicant must also submit an SF-15 and any other proof that the applicant is eligible for a 10-point preference. If you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. You can find additional information on veteran's preference at VET GUIDE .

The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify
• Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
• More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
• Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
• Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
• All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register . If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.

EEO Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/EEO_Policy_Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Reasonable_Accommodation_Policy_Statement
Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Veterans_Information
Telework: www.telework.gov
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/

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.

The applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements for this position will be further evaluated by the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) designated by the selecting official.

Your application is evaluated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education (when applicable), and training as described in your resume and applicant assessment. Your credentials are measured against the established duties of the position at the grade level(s) being advertised.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants.
If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.

All required documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date.

ALL APPLICANTS:

Resume You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

• Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of the each employer.
• For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
• For paid work experience, please indicate your starting salary for each position and the highest salary you earned (if different).
• Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.

Cover Letter

Writing Sample, 5-10 pages in length

Law School Transcripts: Should you be selected for this position, verification of your academic degree(s) is necessary to determine your qualifications or eligibility for this position. You will be required to submit official transcripts for verification purposes before you are hiring. However, unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application phase of the process.

Veterans: authorities and the documentation you need to submit" href="http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214 Member #4 Copy, VA Letter, Standard Form (SF) 15 as applicable). Please note: If you are a veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency to receive Veterans Preference under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through the Schedule A hiring authority. flexibilities for persons with disabilities" href="https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal, state, or District of Columbia agency or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits will be required.

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.