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Assistant General Counsel

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Sep 24, 2019
Duties

Summary

The Assistant General Counsel (Assistant GC) position is located in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), which is composed of the Office of Senior Technical Assistant (STA) and the Office of the Senior Staff Attorney (SSA).
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Responsibilities

Among other responsibilities, the OGC assists the court with the disposition of motions filed before a case is assigned to a merits panel and the disposition of petitions for writs of mandamus. The office uses the scientific and legal backgrounds of its technical assistants (TAs) and staff attorneys (SAs) to assist the court in resolving a variety of legal issues that arise across its jurisdictional areas, including supporting the court when dealing with cases that involve matters of a highly technical nature. The Assistant GC serves as the primary legal and procedural advisor to the Senior Staff Attorney/General Counsel (GC) and assists the GC in all facets of the OGC's work.

Major Duties
Serves as a primary legal and procedural adviser to the GC, as acting GC in the GC's absence, and as a supervisor for the TAs and SAs. Assists the GC in interpreting and revising the court's Rules of Practice and internal operating procedures; selecting potential cases for mediation and in handling the OGC's responsibilities relating to the court's mediation program; and helping the GC in analyzing and handling compliance, personnel, ethical, and administrative matters.

Assists a judge or a panel of judges in resolving motions and petitions, including the following: reviewing motions and petitions for writs of mandamus; preparing draft orders; providing guidance and supervision to TAs or SAs in their research and preparation of draft orders or opinions; editing draft orders and opinions of TAs and SAs; and supervising the process of screening cases for jurisdictional defects. Responds to a variety of requests by individual judges and their law clerks involving court procedures, rules of practice, and matters requiring additional research. Assists the court, either in a supervisory capacity or directly, on court related projects, typically at the request of the Chief Judge but also at the request of any other judge.

Assists the court's attorney discipline standing panel, including evaluating whether matters may warrant disciplinary action and preparing memoranda and draft orders or opinions for review by the attorney discipline standing panel. Assists the court in the processing of judicial conduct complaints, including evaluating complaints and other filings and preparing memoranda and draft orders to the Chief Judge or other designated judge.

Maintains an expertise in intellectual property, trade law, government contracts law, veterans' benefits law, and all other areas of the law within the court's jurisdiction.

Coordinates hiring and training of new personnel in OGC.

Serves as liaison to other units within the court (e.g., Clerk's Office).

Travel Required

Occasional travel - (Training, Conferences, etc.)

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment


This is an Excepted Appointment and At Will position. Federal government civil service classifications or regulations do not apply. All offers of employment are provisional pending successful completion of a background check or investigation and a favorable employment suitability determination. This position is subject to Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit. The incumbent selected for this position will be subject to a one year probationary period after which telework opportunities may be considered, at the manager's discretion.

Must be a U. S. citizen or eligible to work in the United States. Non-citizens may be interviewed and considered for employment, but employment offers will only be made to individuals who qualify under one of the exceptions in 8 U.S.C.§ 1324b(a)(3)(B). Under 8 U.S.C.§1324b(a)(3)(B), a lawful permanent resident seeking citizenship may not apply for citizenship until he or she has been a permanent resident for at least five years (three years if seeking naturalization as a spouse of a citizen), at which point he or she must apply for citizenship within six months of becoming eligible, and must complete the process within two years of applying (unless there is a delay caused by the processors of the application). Non-citizens who have not been permanent residents for five years will be required to execute an affidavit that they intend to apply for citizenship when they become eligible to do so.

Qualifications

Required Competencies
Candidate must be an exceptional lawyer interested in all areas of the court's jurisdiction and federal appellate practice; have extensive knowledge of litigation in federal courts, including knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure and Evidence; have the ability to conduct legal research with all available sources and provide solutions based on that research; and be skilled in the oral and written presentation of complicated legal matters.

Required Qualifications
Candidates must possess at a minimum, a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member of the bar of a state, territory, The District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a federal court of general jurisdiction.

Candidates must have a minimum of six (6) years of extensive legal experience that provides the candidate with the particular knowledge skills and abilities to perform the duties of this position. The overall experience must include a minimum of one (1) year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the CL 31. The preferred candidate will possess federal court experience.

Education

Please read the "Qualifications" section.

Additional information

The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this announcement, commence interviews immediately, withdraw the announcement, or fill the position at any time, any of which actions may occur without notice.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Applicants will be evaluated based upon review of their qualifications and the application package.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Cover Letter, resume, writing sample.

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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