Duties

Summary

The General Counsel of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights is seeking a trial attorney to investigate and prosecute ADA access cases, unfair labor practice complaints, and to assist in other administrative, trial, and appellate proceedings.
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Responsibilities

The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (formerly known as the Office of Compliance) is an independent office within the Legislative Branch of the Federal Government. The General Counsel of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights enforces workplace and accessibility statutes in the Legislative Branch pursuant to the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA). Those statutes include the unfair labor practice provisions of the Federal Service Labor Management Relations Statute; the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and the public services and accommodations provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The General Counsel is seeking a trial attorney to oversee inspection of legislative branch facilities for ADA compliance, investigate and prosecute cases involving ADA compliance and unfair labor practices, and assist in other administrative, trial, and appellate proceedings. The successful candidate will be placed in the position of Senior Attorney, Supervisory Attorney, or Associate General Counsel, depending upon experience. The trial attorney may also assist in investigating and prosecuting cases involving OSH and ULP matters. The trial attorney may also be called upon to investigate, research, and provide advice and instruction on the civil rights, labor, and workplace safety laws that apply to the Legislative Branch under the CAA. Those statutes include those mentioned above as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, veterans' employment and reemployment rights under Title 38 of the U.S. Code Chapter 43, the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

Major Duties

• Coordinating the biennial inspections of legislative branch facilities for ADA compliance, and investigating and prosecuting charges and complaints alleging violations of ADA accessibility provisions in the Legislative Branch.
• Investigating and prosecuting cases involving alleged violations of the unfair labor practice provisions of the FSLMRS.
• Assisting in the investigation and prosecution of OSH cases.
• Assessing regulatory compliance by working with technical experts, researching legal and policy issues, and preparing pleadings, legal memoranda, and investigation reports.
• Developing and implementing case strategies.
• Participating or assisting in appellate court proceedings.
• Negotiating with employing offices and employees, monitoring corrective action plans, and initiating enforcement actions as needed.
• Evaluating current statutory and regulatory framework, recommending possible adjustments, and developing and implementing strategies to obtain needed changes.
• Drafting regulations.
• Representing the office at professional and public gatherings, lectures, and panel discussions.
• Assisting in training and in the production of educational materials and reports.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
00 - Yes.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Must be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States or the District of Columbia and be an active member of the bar in good standing.

Qualifications

• Must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
• Must have experience practicing law involving the unfair labor practice provisions of the FSLMRS or the NLRA, or experience with Titles II or III of the Americans with Disabilities Act or the public access provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Litigation experience is preferred. At least some legal experience with the OSH Act of 1970 and one or more of the other statutes that apply to the Legislative Branch under the CAA is preferred but not required.
• Must have experience representing parties before federal administrative tribunals or courts.
• Must have a demonstrated ability to write clearly and effectively.
• Must have a demonstrated ability to communicate and advocate orally.
• Experience working in the Legislative Branch of the Federal Government is preferred but not required.

All applicants must meet the qualifications by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Must possess a J.D. degree.

Additional information

You must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance, and a criminal background check will be performed on the selected candidate.

Benefits
The selected candidate may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, with costs shared with your employer. Life insurance coverage is also provided. New federal government employees are automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). If you are transferring from another federal agency and covered by CSRS, you may continue in this program. You will earn annual leave and sick leave. You will be paid for federal holidays that fall within your regularly scheduled tour of duty. Telework/telecommuting and alternative work schedule options may be made available. If you use public transportation, part of your transportation costs may be subsidized. You may elect Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts for expenses that are tax-deductible, but not reimbursed by any other source, including out-of-pocket expenses and non-covered benefits under FEHB plans.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Upon review of all resumes, the Office will determine which candidates will be asked to interview. Candidates will be notified and scheduled for interviews, if selected. All applicants will be evaluated based on their educational and relevant work experience. OCWR does not discriminate against candidates based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Cover Letter and Resume.

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.