Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Office of the General Counsel which is part of the Office of the Librarian. The General Counsel is the final legal advisor for all matters relating to the Library of Congress. The General Counsel conducts and coordinates work through the Associate General Counsels. This position is that of an Assistant General Counsel who may work in any area of law with which the Office deals, depending on the needs of the Office as determined by the General Counsel.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Researches and analyzes a variety of legal issues, with guidance provided by supervisors, in response to the needs of the client, where there are many directly applicable precedents. Performs probing and innovative legal research to prepare in depth analyses, briefs and analytical documents. Assignments involve dealing with conventional research problems, questions, or situation within assigned jurisdictions, which include, but are not limited to, employment law, legislation, contracts, copyright, torts, constitutional law, appropriations law, ethics and litigation.

Performs legal research at various levels of complexity on significant legal issues within the scope of the attorney's subject areas. Conducts legal research using on-line sources of information as well as other available sources. Uses knowledge of sources of legal information, legal research methodology, and experience in analysis.

Provides technical advice on specific and limited areas of law where new or significant legal methods, procedures, or approaches are required. Analyzes and devises methods to implement policy within a specific area of law where there are many directly applicable precedents, and on issues of legal concern within the scope of the attorney's subject areas.

Those areas may include some or all of the following: (1) legal guidance on administrative personnel matters, including but not limited to: employee pay; travel; labor relations; gratuitous service; time and attendance; health and safety; recognized organizations; senior level matters; and affirmative action policy and laws; (2) substantive advice and counsel on personnel investigations that are referred from the Personnel Security Office, the Library police, the Office of the Inspector General, or other offices; (3) legal guidance on the use of the Library collections, including enforcement of restrictions on access and use, security measures, and exhibitions; (4) advice and counsel on Library records, government property, and government contracts; (5) ethics advice, including financial disclosures; gifts; and conflicts of Interest; (6) guidance on the management and operation of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board in conjunction with the Development Office and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer; (7) legal advice on the proper use of appropriated funds and non-appropriated funds; and (8) counsel on copyright and other intellectual property of legal and administrative matters. Prepares legal analysis and opinions as may be required by the Librarian, the Executive Committee, or any service unit head concerning the interpretation and application of laws and regulations, or of rulings by the courts and quasi-judicial bodies. Prepares analytical reports, memoranda and other types of written responses involving legal analysis on a variety of subjects within the scope of the attorney's subject areas.

Writes correspondence, reports, grant proposals (budget), or other documents related to work assignments or developmental activities conducted under broad supervisory guidance.

Cooperates and coordinates with OGC staff and OGC clients to fulfill the Library's mission. Deals professionally with private counsels and attorneys from other Federal and State agencies. Represents the OGC in meetings and dealings with others, including private and federal government attorneys. Acts in accordance with legal, ethical principles. Reviews and gives advice on documents in which decisions are made to commit government resources. Advises Library on decisions binding the government to expend resources. Provides professional guidance to The Library of
Congress personnel on specific and limited areas of law where new or significant legal methods, procedures, or approaches are required.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

No additional requirements to those listed above.

Qualifications

You must meet the BASIC REQUIREMENT listed under EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Ability to perform in-depth legal and factual research and analysis.**

Knowledge of one or more areas of law.**

Ability to communicate in writing.**

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and interact collaboratively with others.

Ability to exercise judgment and discretion.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

Applicants must possess an LL.B. or J.D., or higher degree from a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association or a state-accredited school of law and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Appointees must maintain active membership in good standing of the bar throughout their employment.

The following documents MUST be attached to your online application:

Legible copies of transcripts demonstrating that applicant is a graduate from an LL.B. or J.D., or higher degree program in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association or a state-accredited school of law must be attached to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of the application. Official documents will be required if selected.

Proof of bar membership demonstrating that applicant is an active (or equivalent) member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Foreign Education - Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) . Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

Additional information

The position description number for this position is 013289.

This is a non-supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf .

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

The following documents MUST be attached to your online application:

Legible copies of transcripts demonstrating that applicant is a graduate from an LL.B. or J.D., or higher degree program in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association or a state-accredited school of law must be attached to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of the application. Official documents will be required if selected.

Proof of bar membership demonstrating that applicant is an active (or equivalent) member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Foreign Education - Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) . Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

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.