Duties

Summary

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential. This position is located in the DOL, Office of the Solicitor, Plan Benefits Security Division.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This position is located in the Plan Benefits Security Division ("PBSD"), of the Office of Solicitor ("SOL"), U.S. Department of Labor. PBSD is responsible for providing legal advice and litigation services to Employee Benefits Security Administration ("EBSA") relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), including amendments to ERISA under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and the Federal Employee Retirement Security Act ("FERSA").

In PBSD, we have a group of regulations attorneys dedicated to providing legal services in support agency rulemaking and legal opinions and advice on a broad array of ERISA and related legal and legislative issues. We also initiate and conduct complex and sophisticated litigation brought by the Department to enforce ERISA. These cases are brought to protect the interests of workers and retirees in their pension, health benefit, and other employee benefit plans covered by ERISA. They are brought in the federal courts throughout the country and often involve expert testimony and large volumes of documents which sometimes run into the millions of pages. In collaboration with the Solicitor General, PBSD is responsible for the appeals of these cases, and those brought under ERISA by regional offices of SOL, as well as for filing amicus curiae briefs in the federal appellate courts and Supreme Court on important ERISA issues. PBSD also supports the Department of Justice in defensive cases brought against DOL officials and those challenging agency action and regulations in the area of ERISA.

PBSD is comprised of a talented, hard-working group of approximately 40 attorneys and paraprofessional support staff members with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. PBSD seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. PBSD fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

The incumbent serves as a regulations attorney in the Division of Plan Benefits Security, which is one of the headquarters divisions reporting to the Solicitor of Labor. The Division is responsible for providing legal advice and services to Department officials, particularly the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), other representatives of the executive and legislative branches, participants and beneficiaries of employee benefit plans, industry groups, unions, plan administrators, and the public relating to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). As a staff attorney, the incumbent will be responsible for assignments involving the drafting, preparation, and/or review of regulatory material under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), including amendment to ERISA made by the Affordable Care Act of 2010, as well as reviewing proposed legislation, ERISA-prohibited transaction exemptions, ERISA advisory opinions, and other legal guidance. Duties will require the incumbent to develop and maintain collegial relationships with client staff and to provide clear and concise advice to senior Departmental officials on difficult and complex matters.

The incumbent will be responsible for providing legal advice and opinions to the client agency, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) regarding the Administrative Procedure Act and other laws affecting agency rulemaking and other activities. Regulatory projects and advisory opinions often affect important segments of the economy such as the banking, insurance, and investment industries.

The incumbent may also prepare and argue appellate and amicus briefs in the federal courts, and prepare factual and legal analyses of potential ERISA violations that the Secretary is investigating.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel is for working purposes.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor's recommendation to the next grade.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Applicants must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.). Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Qualifications

To qualify for an attorney position, applicants must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.); be a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S.; and have acquired the amount of experience indicated below for each grade level.

GS-13, two (2) years of progressively responsible legal experience of a professional nature which demonstrates the ability to perform the work at this level. At least one year of qualifying experience, at this level, must be specialized experience as defined below.

GS-14, three (3) years of progressively responsible legal experience of a professional nature which demonstrates the ability to perform the work at this level. At least one year of qualifying experience, at this level, must be specialized experience as defined below.

Specialized experience is defined as experience in analyzing regulations and providing legal advice.

Note: An LL.M may be substituted for a maximum of one year experience.

Education

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION , ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION , FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements for this position will be further evaluated against the following evaluation factors.

Current and/or past supervisors may be contacted unless specified otherwise. A panel and/or the selecting official or his/her designee may interview applicants.

Demonstrated skill in researching and preparing well-written, organized and persuasive legal documents.

Ability to make effective oral presentations in a clear and concise manner.

Ability to plan, organize and render legal advice pertaining to agency rule-making and sub regulatory guidance, often as part of a team made up of client and Division personnel. Experience with the Administrative Procedures Act a plus.

Ability to establish and maintain effective liaison with high level departmental officials, regional program officials, supervisors, agency staff and the general public.

Ability to multi-task in a complex and fast-paced inter-disciplinary legal environment, entailing timely collections of facts, identification and resolution of issues, enumeration of options, and formulation of recommendations. It is the responsibility of the applicant to supply sufficient information to provide a basis for rating each of the evaluation factors listed above.

Individuals who meet eligibility requirements for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility/Core Questions #24 and 27 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP/CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation. The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

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

Trust determination process

Required Documents

The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you.

- Resume - FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Assumptions will not be made based on job titles alone.

- Bar Certification: Should you be selected for this position, you will be required to submit documentation verifying that you are an active member of the Bar in Good Standing of any State, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any Territorial Court under the U.S. Constitution. This letter and/or certificate should be dated within the last six months of the closing date of this job announcement.

- Transcripts: Should you be selected for this position, you will be required to submit documentation verifying that you have completed your first professional law degree. Applicants who claim substitution of education for experience with an LL.M must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification.

- Veterans Documents (if applicable): Attorney appointments within the Department of Labor are positions in the excepted service, not the competitive service. There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference in attorney appointments; however, the Department of Labor considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. In order to receive positive consideration, you must indicate your eligibility, in response to the appropriate item on the vacancy questionnaire. Additionally, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD214 showing the type of discharge and dates of active duty and, if applicable, a VA letter certifying the present existence of the service-connected disability which indicates the percentage of your disability. (For active duty service members expecting to be honorably discharged or released within 120 days, click Active Duty ) Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's consideration. Additional information is available in the Vet's Guide .

You may also find more information on positive consideration for attorney hiring .

- Displaced Employee Placement Documents: These documents are only required if you are requesting priority consideration under ICTAP/CTAP Eligibility. Applicants with disabilities (SCHEDULE A) applying under the area of consideration must submit proof of certification by counselors, State vocational rehabilitation agencies or the Veterans Administration.

- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted.

Applicants selected for employment that are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, or non-citizenship as allowable in Excepted Service hiring through P.L. 112-10, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

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.