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Attorney Advisor (General)

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

Summary

This position is located in the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Librarian. The General Counsel is the final legal advisor for all matters relating to the Library of Congress. The General Counsel conducts and coordinates work through the Deputy General Counsel and Associate General Counsels. This position is that of an Assistant General Counsel who may work in any area of law with which the Office deals, depending on the needs of the Office as determined by the General Counsel.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Researches and analyzes a variety of legal issues, with guidance provided by supervisors, in response to the needs of the client, where there are many directly applicable precedents. Assignments involve dealing with conventional research problems, questions, or situation within assigned jurisdictions, which include, but are not limited to, administrative law, employment law, ethics, litigation, government contracts and agreements, copyright and other intellectual property law or appropriations law. Prepares probing and innovative written legal analyses, arguments, briefs, or other analytical documents that relate complex variables within the attorney's specialized field of law to the development, interpretation, or implementation of important research documents.

Performs legal research at various levels of complexity. Conducts legal research using on-line sources of information as well as other available sources. Uses knowledge of sources of legal information, legal research methodology, and experience in analysis.

Provides technical advice on specific and limited areas of law where new or significant legal methods, procedures, or approaches are required and provide advise that is characterized by substantial breadth and depth and cover all pertinent factors and relationships. Analyzes and devises methods to implement policy within a specific area of law where there are many directly applicable precedents.

Those areas may include some or all of the following: (1) legal guidance on administrative personnel matters, including but not limited to: employee pay; travel; labor relations; gratuitous service; time and attendance; health and safety; recognized organizations; senior level matters; and affirmative action policy and laws; (2) substantive advice and counsel on personnel investigations that are referred from the Personnel Security Office, the Library police, the Office of the Inspector General, or other offices; (3) advice and counsel on Library records, the Freedom of Information Act and privacy law; (4) ethics advice, including financial disclosures; gifts; and conflicts of interest; (5) legal advice on the proper use of appropriated funds, gift and trust funds, and revolving funds; (6) counsel on copyright and other intellectual property matters; and (7) investigation and evaluation of grievances under Library collective bargaining agreements and regulations; and (8) government contracts, grants and other agreements.

Writes correspondence, reports, or other documents related to self-directed work assignments or developmental activities.

May represent the Library, in conjunction with the United States Attorney's Office or other governmental attorneys, in assigned court proceedings at all stages of the litigation. May represent the Library in administrative proceedings, including, but not limited to, equal employment opportunity complaints, adverse action appeals, unfair labor practice hearings, grievance appeals, contract disputes and bid protests. In representing the Library, the incumbent performs all duties necessary for accomplishment of the assignment including investigating the facts, preparing witnesses, taking and defending depositions, drafting pleadings, arguing motions, participating in trials and settlement discussions.

Represents management in negotiations and other dealings, with Library labor organizations.

Briefs other attorneys and Library employees and managers on matters of law within the incumbent's area(s) of expertise and includes providing employee training. Participates in working groups established to deal with Library policies and procedures to offer a legal perspective.

Prepares reports, advisory opinions, and policy memoranda dealing with a wide variety of legal and administrative matters. Prepares legal analysis and opinions as may be required by the Librarian, the Executive Committee, or any service unit head concerning the interpretation and application of laws and regulations, or of rulings by the courts and quasi-judicial bodies.

Cooperates and coordinates with OGC staff and OGC clients to fulfill the Library's mission. Deals professionally with private counsel and attorneys from other Federal and State agencies.
Represents the OGC in meetings and dealings with others, including private and federal government attorneys. Provides authoritative professional and ethical advice and guidance to other attorneys, Library of Congress personnel, and personnel outside of the agency on ethics policies where unusual conditions, problems, or questions must be resolved.

The position description number for this position is 013290.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment


No additional requirements to those listed above.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Knowledge of one or more of the following: administrative law, employment law, ethics, litigation, government contracts and agreements, copyright and other intellectual property law or appropriations law.**

Ability to perform in-depth legal research.**

Ability to communicate in writing.**

Ability to plan and execute work.

Ability to exercise judgment and discretion.

Ability to meet and work collaboratively.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

Applicants must possess an LL.B. or J.D., or higher degree from a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association or a state-accredited school of law and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Appointees must maintain active membership in good standing of the bar throughout their employment.

Legible copies of transcripts demonstrating that applicant is a graduate from an LL.B. or J.D., or higher degree program in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association or a state-accredited school of law must be attached to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of the application. Official documents will be required if selected.

Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Additional information

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

A "Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf .

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

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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