Duties

Summary

The Attorney-Advisor positions are in the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge located in Washington, D.C., reporting directly to the Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). They work closely with all ALJs including those in the regional offices in Denver, CO and Atlanta, GA to provide legal research, draft positions, opinions, memoranda and advice to the Review Commission in a variety of legal areas. Cases can be small, moderate or large and can have multiple and highly complex issues.
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Responsibilities

• Analyzing cases to define the legal and factual issues.
• Examining the pleadings, transcript or testimony, documentary exhibits, and briefs of the attorneys in connection with the issues of fact and law presented.
• Searching relative statutory provisions and legislative history, applicable regulations of the Department of Labor and the Review Commission, and relevant court and Commission precedent on points of law.
• Preparing memoranda, digesting and analyzing the factual and legal issues that are presented including, in some lengthy cases, an indexing or summarizing of testimony or exhibits.
• Utilizing available technology in preparing written and oral reports based on legal research and technical analyses, as well as identifying and managing cases.
• Drafting decision orders for the presiding ALJ addressing the factual and legal issues that have been assigned.
• Responding, at the request of the presiding judge, to inquiries by telephone or mail.
• Following-up with parties to insure the timely submission of agreements, and contacting parties regarding any deficiencies.
• Reviewing and approving settlement agreements to ensure it disposes of all issues.
• Conferring with ALJs and providing legal advice on cases and points of law.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional Travel May Be Required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U. S. Citizenship is required.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).
• Be sure to read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" Sections.
• May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
• All employees are required to participate in direct deposit/electronic funds transfer for salary payments.
• A preliminary security background check is required for this position.

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Applicants must have graduated with a law degree (such as a J.D., LL.B, or LL.M) from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Applicants must also possess at least four years of professional legal experience following law school (e.g. conducting legal research, drafting or preparing legal documents, analyzing cases, conferring with judges and/attorneys or individuals to obtain or exchange information related to specific cases or legal advice, preparing draft decisions for judges using documents or exhibits for court cases).

Part-time or unpaid experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.

Education

There is a positive education requirement for this position. Transcripts (unofficial) are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational requirement. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html .

FOREIGN EDUCATION: 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:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

This is a permanent full-time position in the Excepted Service and does not confer Federal competitive status.

May be Telework eligible as determined by agency policy.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

As an Excepted Service position, the successful candidate may have to satisfy a one-year trial period, if applicable. For more information on the Excepted Service appointments, please visit: Excepted Service Appointing Authorities at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/excepted-service/

This position is excluded from provisions of the Career Transition (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP).

A preliminary security background check is required for this position.

Applications will not be accepted in postage paid Government envelopes.

All standard government benefit programs apply.

This position has no known promotion potential beyond the GS-14 level.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Application of Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Review Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD form 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans .

Benefits:
The Review Commission offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, annual leave, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees, https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/Guide-Me/New-Prospective-Employees/

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires employers to hire only individuals who are eligible to work in the U.S. The appointee will be required to complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, and provide acceptable proof of employment authorization and identity.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics).

NOTE: We do not require a separate statement responding to the required competencies, also referred to as KSAs. However, your resume and application package should clearly show possession of these competencies:

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Demonstrated ability to conduct legal research, engage in sound legal analysis and orally explain and discuss legal issues logically, concisely and effectively.

Demonstrated excellence in writing, including the ability to draft legal analyses in a clear, precise and cogent manner.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments, negotiate solutions to problems, apply initiative and good judgment, and work effectively in a team-oriented setting.

Knowledge of, or experience in, statutory or regulatory enforcement (i.e., prosecution, defense, or adjudication of statutes/regulations such as those regarding occupational safety and health, environmental protection, mine safety and health, labor/employment rights, securities, etc.).

Experience in appellate and/or motions practice.

Must be met by the Closing Date : You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date 09/17/2019.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

To receive consideration, you must submit the following documents:

• Resume: Your resume must accurately reflect the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending date of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week).
• Job announcement number, and title and grade of the position for which the application is being made.

• Personal information: Full name, mailing address with zip code, day and evening phone numbers, country of citizenship, highest Federal civilian grade held (if any). If you are or have been a federal employee, please provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
• Education: Colleges/Universities and law schools attended, city and state, majors and type and years of any degrees.
• Work experience: Job title, duties, accomplishments, employer name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours per week, salary, and whether or not your current supervisor may be contacted. [Please prepare a separate entry for each position held.]

• If you provide a cover letter, we suggest that you describe how your experience, education, knowledge and/or awards relate to this position.
• Other qualifications: Job-related training courses (title and year), job-related skills, job-related certificates and licenses, job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments.
• Bar membership: State the jurisdiction(s) and date(s) of admission.
• Performance appraisal: A copy of your latest performance appraisal or, if unavailable, an explanation as to why it is unavailable.
• Transcripts: Your law school transcript.
• Writing sample: A writing sample (no more than 10 pages).

All application materials must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide complete information will result in the applicant not receiving consideration for this position. Please do not submit additional, unsolicited materials, or original documents that you may need in the future. Applications will become part of the staffing case file and will not be returned.

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.