Duties

Summary

The Attorney Honors Program (AHP) is the FCC's primary vehicle for hiring entry-level attorneys. AHP participants serve in a two-year employment and training program designed to introduce them to the field of communications law and policy. The FCC encourages law students in their final year of study and current judicial clerks with superior academic credentials and an interest in public service and communications law to apply. See www.fcc.gov/attorneyhonorsprogram .

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Honors Attorneys gain valuable experience and benefit from a wide variety of learning experiences. Attorneys at the FCC draft decisions in adjudicatory and rule-making matters, work with internal and external constituencies to resolve complex policy issues before the agency, participate in international negotiations, represent the FCC in dealings with other government agencies, Congress and the private sector, and defend FCC decisions in the federal courts. Additionally, Honors Attorneys benefit from a specialized training and career-development curriculum designed specifically for the program. Typically, Honors Attorneys:

• Conduct legal research, compile facts and background information, search authorities and precedents on points of law, and draft legal documents, reports, and memoranda;
• Study the record in cases pending before the agency and prepare drafts on the law and facts;
• Research legal and policy matters involved in special projects, including interpretations of treaties, statutes, and regulations; prepare written authoritative opinions; and prepare responses to inquiries from members of the public concerning communications law, policy, and procedures; and/or
• Examine formal filings such as applications for licenses or other authorities, petitions and responsive pleadings, formal and informal complaints and inquiries, and various reports and statements required to be filed under the Commission's rules; analyze questions of law and fact, conduct the necessary research, and prepare appropriate documents recommending dispositive action.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14 - The full promotion potential of this position is GS-14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• U.S. citizens, nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Must submit a cover letter
• Must submit a resume (standard format preferred rather than resume-builder)
• Must submit an official of unofficial law school transcript
• Must submit a writing sample (preferably not more than 15 pages)
• Must submit a list of three professional references (with phone and email)
• Bar membership required at time of appointment

General Eligibility Requirements. You are eligible to apply during the fall application window for the 2022 Attorney Honors Program if you are a:

• Current law student who will graduate in the spring or summer of 2022;
• Graduate law student who will complete your course of study by the summer of 2022; or
• Federal, state, or municipal judicial clerk serving during the 2021-22 judicial term.

Qualifications

Before making a selection, the FCC reviews many facets of a candidate's background as outlined below. Graduating law students and current judicial clerks with strong qualifications are encouraged to apply. (Graduating law students should apply to the companion vacancy announcement, "HonorsAtty-OGC-2021-001"). Current federal employees must meet one year of time in grade requirements.

A. Educational Requirements

Candidates applying through this vacancy announcement must have successfully completed a professional law degree (J.D., LL.B. or LL.M.) or other graduate law program and be currently serving as a judicial clerk. (See "General Eligibility Requirements" for additional criteria.)

Transcripts must be submitted to verify education. If transcripts (official or unofficial) are not submitted, candidates will not be deemed eligible for this position. If you are unsure if your school is accredited, please use the following link to verify: Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

B. Qualifying Experience

GS-12

Applicants must have a minimum of one year of professional law experience and specialized experience in or equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. For this position, examples of specialized experience include the following:

1. Conducting in-depth legal research
2. Drafting legal documents and/or memoranda
3. Providing input regarding the resolution of legal issues

Professional Law Experience: Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include: a professional law degree, J.D., LL.B. or LL.M., or other graduate law program.

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

GS-13

Applicants must possess at least two years of professional law experience and specialized experience and at least one year of the experience must be specialized experience which is at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. For this position, examples of specialized experience include the following:

1. Experience interpreting laws, statutes, regulations and/or rule making documents
2. Skill analyzing legal issues, identifying potential problems and proposing solutions
3. Experience preparing legal documents to include briefs, legal memoranda, issue papers, and case summaries
4. Ability to communicate legal issues/positions.

Professional Law Experience: Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include: a professional law degree, J.D., LL.B. or LL.M., or other graduate law program.

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

See "Educational Requirements" above.

Additional information

EEO Policy Statement Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement Veterans Information Legal and Regulatory Guidance

If you are not a U.S. Citizen, you may be eligible for federal employment and may apply for the Honors Program if you fall into one of the following categories of individuals:

• Individuals who are lawful permanent residents seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
• Individuals who are admitted refugees under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and have filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; or
• Individuals who owe allegiance to the United States (e.g., nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island)

(Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-260, Div. E, Title VII, § 704, December 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1182.)

In addition to meeting one of the criteria listed above, you are still subject to the requirements of immigration law. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to being hired. If you are selected as an FCC Honors Attorney, you must also successfully complete a background investigation.

For more information about citizenship requirements for federal employment, please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/ . If you have additional questions about the eligibility of non-U.S. citizens for the FCC Attorney Honors Program, please contact Dionne Butler in our Office of Human Resources at Dionne.Butler@fcc.gov or at (202) 418-0141.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

All candidates will be considered without regard to political or religious affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other non-merit factor. THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

All applicants will be evaluated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Each of the following documents should be submitted as a separate pdf file, with your last name as part of the file name.

1. Cover letter
2. Resume (We strongly prefer that you upload a standard professional resume rather than use the resume-builder.)
3. Transcripts (official or unofficial)
4. Writing sample (preferably not more than 15 pages)
5. List of three professional references

Applicants will be deemed ineligible if they do not provide any one of the documents outlined above.

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.