Duties

Summary

Organizational Location: This attorney position is located in the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), Homeland Security Investigations Law Division (HSILD), National Security Law Section (NSLS), Washington, D.C.

NOTE: One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement.

BUS: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Salary: General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

NSLS attorneys perform a crucial role in ICE's overall efforts to protect the national security of the United States in cases involving international terrorism, counter terrorism, espionage, and other national security matters.

ICE OPLA is seeking an attorney(s) for its headquarters office in Washington, D.C. The primary duties will be to provide legal advice and counsel regarding regulations, executive orders, legislative proposals, and interpretation of the immigration laws that affect the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) as well as other ICE programs. The position requires knowledge of administrative law and the protections extended to regulated entities under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The attorney will provide guidance and legal review of actions regarding the licensing and certification of regulated entities; draft and review regulations and policies; and advise on whether particular initiatives must be implemented through notice-and-comment rulemaking or less formal procedures. The attorney will also develop and provide legal training to SEVP adjudicators, HSI agents, and operational personnel on matters of school and student regulatory compliance. Competitive applicants will have experience with administrative enforcement actions, APA compliance, regulatory drafting, strong organizational skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively to implement agency initiatives through regulations and policies.

In addition to these primary duties, the attorney may be responsible for national security-related work on issues, including, but not limited to: providing national oversight of, and litigation support to, OPLA field locations in their litigation of national security issues before the Executive Office for Immigration Review; working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of State, as well as the National Security, Civil, and Criminal Divisions of the Department of Justice on national security matters; coordinating removal proceedings and supporting criminal prosecutions involving terrorists, foreign intelligence agents, and other national security matters; drafting briefing papers and Congressional testimony for DHS, ICE, and OPLA leadership; analyzing and drafting legislative proposals that affect national security; and providing well-reasoned legal and policy advice regarding immigration, intelligence and customs issues relating to national security.

The position is within the ICE OPLA National Security Law Division (NSLD), a team of approximately 17 attorneys, which provides legal advice to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and HSI officers, agents, and senior management. NSLD's work contributes to significant policy decisions that are integral to ICE's overall mission. Assignments within NSLD are typically fast-paced and involve high-profile work. NSLD attorneys are responsible for advising, counseling, and training ICE officers and agents on relevant legal authorities, best practices, and agency policies.

The selected attorney will immediately be given significant responsibilities. He or she will be expected to craft and adapt legally supportable policies to address the pressing needs of the agency and its operational components. The attorney will be expected to routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, NSLD management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the General Counsel Headquarters. The selected attorney will be required to assess litigation risk and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice.

Applicants must possess the following characteristics and competencies: integrity, sound professional judgment, organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, the ability to function independently and cooperatively, and superior written and oral advocacy skills. The selectee must be able to obtain a security clearance at the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level.

Applicants' cover letters should describe the knowledge, skills, and abilities that qualify them for the position, consistent with those outlined in this announcement. Writing samples will be assessed based on the sophistication of the legal reasoning presented, coherency, proper grammar and syntax, and conformity to applicable formatting and citation guidelines. This position, which is excluded from the collective bargaining unit, is physically located at OPLA Headquarters, in Washington, D.C., but occasional travel may be required. Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed.

This position, which is excluded from the collective bargaining unit, is physically located at ICE Headquarters in Washington, D.C., but occasional travel may be required.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position
• You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug screen for federal employment
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Relevant Experience (see Qualifications and Evaluations Tab). Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Complete Application Package (see How to Apply Tab)

Qualifications

Applicants with fewer than five (5) years of experience practicing law must submit a copy of their law school transcript and grade point average or class ranking as part of the application package.

Qualifications by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of the announcement. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Additional information

E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Promotion Potential: This position may be filled at the GS-12, GS-13, or GS-14 grade level. If a selection is made at either grade level, promotion to the next higher level is without further competition. This position has full promotion potential to the GS-0905-15. When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

Trial Period: New attorneys to the Federal government will be required to serve a trial period of 2 years .

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Notice to Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, the OPLA considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.

Financial Disclosure: If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment.

Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment , and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for Public Trust as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans , Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers , and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564, and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. All applicants tentatively selected for employment at ICE are subject to pre-employment drug testing and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job.

Your resume, cover letter, and other applicant information should reflect the breadth of your experience, expertise, demonstrated ability, and/or training. The following factors are of particular importance to the position to be filled, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas as part of their application. These areas must be addressed in a cover letter separate from the resume and submitted as part of the application package.

(1) Advising, counseling, and/or training on relevant legal authorities, best practices, and policies in the area of national security;
(2) Litigating in federal or state court, highlighting any experience with issues relating to criminal and/or immigration enforcement;
(3) Providing timely and concise legal opinions for clients and agency management;
(4) Prioritizing multiple assignments, exercising sound legal judgment, and efficiently producing quality legal analyses of complex legal issues;
(5) Producing high-quality written work that is compelling and concise; and
(6) Ability to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner.

Your qualification for this position will be evaluated based upon the responses you provide on the job specific questionnaire and other required documents as part of the application process for this position.

All the information you provide may be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references and through other means, such as the interview process. This verification could occur at any stage of the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible, not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
Yes

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

Trust determination process
National security

Required Documents

ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. You must include the documentation below (in addition to specific information requested elsewhere in the vacancy announcement) to receive consideration for this position.

Resume: Must show relevant experience, education and training. Work experience should include: job title, duties, employer's name, employer's telephone number, employer's address, starting and ending dates (MM/YY), hours worked per week, and indicate whether or not we may contact your current supervisor. This documentation must be submitted with your application package.

Transcript: You must submit a copy of your transcript and grade-point average or class ranking, to prove that you possess a Juris Doctor (JD) from an American Bar (ABA)-accredit law school if you graduated within the past five years. If you have five years or more practicing law, your transcript is not required.

Bar Membership: You must submit proof of your current membership (card or other documentary evidence) or certificate of good standing from the bar to which you are licensed. This documentation must be submitted with your application package.

Certificate of Good Standing: If you are selected, before you enter on duty you must submit proof that you are a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. If you do not have a bar card or other documentary evidence as proof of your current membership, you must submit a certificate of good standing. The proof must be dated within the previous six months.

Writing Sample: A writing sample must be submitted as part of your application package. It should not exceed ten (10) double-spaced pages. Please do not submit attachments. This documentation must be submitted with your application package.

Cover Letter: You must submit a cover letter detailing the skills, legal experience, and interests that qualify you for the position with your application package. This documentation must be submitted with your application package.

It must contain the following information:

• your full name;
• home address;
• home and work e-mail addresses;
• home, work, and cell telephone numbers;
• name of the law school, year of graduation, and year admitted to the bar

Are you a current or former Federal employee? Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows competitive service appointment, tenure group, and salary.

Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable): If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives at www.archives.gov/veterans.

If you are a veteran within 120-days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1)your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2)under honorable conditions, 3)your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4)dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 7) dated within 120 days of your separation.

If you are a disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it at http://www.ebenefits.va/gov/ or call 1-800-827-1000.

You must submit all required information by the closing date. Also if you do not provide an email address, you will not be notified of the outcome of your application.

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.