Duties

Summary

This position is located in Office of Chief Counsel / Enforcement unit / Washington, DC.

As a Counsel, you will perform complex legal work that impacts the OCC's mission. In your role, you will counsel OCC management and client divisions on legal matters and safety and soundness issues that concern national banks and thrifts.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As a Counsel; you will:

• Conduct all legal work (including investigations and administrative litigation) potentially resulting in and/or involving administrative enforcement actions against banks and institution affiliated parties, including prohibition orders, cease and desist orders, restitution orders, and civil money penalties.
• Research, analyze, and interpret wide-ranging banking issues, including those involving safety and soundness, problem banks, consumer law, compliance, the Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering, insider abuse/fraud, data integrity/breach, and administrative law.
  
• Counsel, in writing and verbally, OCC management, supervision, and licensing on complex legal matters, including with respect to investigation findings and enforcement action options and recommendations. Exercise independent judgment and successfully collaborate with a range of OCC personnel including attorneys and examiner throughout the agency.
• Represent the legal practice and policy of the Comptroller in meetings with bank management, bank counsel, private attorneys, consumers, and other governmental agencies concerning complex legal matters.

Travel Required

25% or less - Occasional travel required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
06

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Complete a 1-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9 . Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
• Travel frequently/Travel occasionally to attend conferences and/or training.
• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• File an OCC Financial Disclosure Form.
• Complete a financial disclosure review and resolve any ethics issues.
• Click here for important information about OCC ethics standards, such as the requirement that new hires divest their bank securities.
• Successfully complete a background investigation that includes criminal history, financial history (including a credit check) and other information.

Qualifications

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement. You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the NB-Vband level or GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience for this position include:

• Experience advising on laws, rules, and regulations relating to the supervision of national banks and thrifts or specific to enforcement matters, in two or more of the following areas: safety and soundness, problem banks, consumer law, compliance, the Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering, insider abuse/fraud, data integrity/breach, and administrative law; OR

• Experience in investigations and/or administrative or other litigation, including one or more of the following areas: witness interview/sworn statement/deposition taking, witness preparation, direct/cross examination, motion practice, and settlement negotiation; OR

• Experience preparing comprehensive written materials regarding enforcement-related legal matters, such as memoranda and reports and/or briefs or other documents filed in litigated matters. AND

Must be an active member of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.

The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or through volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

Education

You must have graduated with a J.D. or an LL.M. degree from an ABA-accredited law school.

Additional information

• Salary range includes 22.26% geographical pay.
• If you are a current OCC employee who previously received a waiver determination permitting you to retain bank securities due to extenuating circumstances, please note that this determination may be rescinded if the nature of your duties changes. We strongly suggest that you discuss the potential implications of any change in duties on a prior securities determination with your ethics official.
• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more positions.
• Click all links in this vacancy announcement to view additional information and instructions.
• Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."
• Click "Print" to review the entire announcement before applying.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your application includes your resume, required supporting documents, and responses to the online questions. Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements listed in this announcement. Failure to provide sufficient evidence of the minimum qualification requirements in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. You may be required to participate in a selection interview and provide a writing sample, as necessary.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

A complete application includes: 1) A resume 2) vacancy question responses and 3) submission of required documents.

Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume by either creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.) To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Please review Resume Tips .

VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing actual or expected dates of service and type of discharge. Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15 , along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. For more information on veterans' preference view FedsHireVets .

EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: For positions with an education requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts (or equivalent). An official transcript will be required if you are selected. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions .

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page . If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency, if you are selected. Refer to the OPM instructions

OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS: In addition, you may submit the following:
- Cover letter
- Recent performance evaluation

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.