Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Office of the General Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U. S. Department of Justice.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Incumbent serves as an Attorney Advisor in the Attorney Discipline Program of EOIR's Office of the General Counsel. The Attorney Discipline Program has the delegated authority to investigate complaints of professional misconduct (i.e., criminal, unethical, unprofessional conduct, or frivolous behavior in immigration proceedings) concerning private immigration practitioners (attorneys and representatives) who appear before the Immigration Courts and the BIA. The Attorney Advisor investigates complaints, conducts inquiries of the subjects of complaints, and determines the appropriate course of action, which, when a complaint has merit, can range from confidential discipline to prosecution in formal disciplinary proceedings.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Investigating complaints of professional misconduct filed against practitioners who are authorized to appear before the Immigration Courts and the BIA.
• Evaluating complaints and available evidence to determine merit, and identifying the rules of professional conduct that may have been violated.
• Drafting letters of inquiry to subject practitioner to notify of complaint and to obtain response to allegations.
• Making recommendations concerning a practitioner's response to allegations to the Disciplinary Counsel for the resolution of a complaint. Recommendations may include dismissing the complaint, issuing confidential discipline in the form of warning letter or informal admonition, or initiating formal disciplinary proceedings.
• Serving as a member of the legal team of attorneys when formal disciplinary proceedings are initiated to prosecute a case before an adjudicating official and/or the BIA.
• Providing legal support for developing case strategy, compiling evidence, drafting notices of intent to discipline, briefs, motions, and other relevant documents, negotiating settlement agreements, preparing witnesses, examining and cross-examining witnesses, and presenting arguments.
• Conducting a variety of legal/litigation reviews related to summary disciplinary proceedings for practitioners who have been convicted of certain criminal offenses or who have been suspended or disbarred by, or while a disciplinary investigation or proceeding is pending, have resigned from a Federal court or the highest court of any state, possession, or territory, or commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You must complete a background investigation, credit check, and drug test.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
• A two-year trial period will be required.
• Salary payments must be by direct deposit to a financial institution.
• Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (see Additional Information section)

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Attorney Advisor (Attorney Discipline) position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Education: Applicants must possess an LL.B. or a J.D. degree. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.)

AND

• Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your first license and the State from which it was issued.)

AND

Required Experience:

For GS-13: Applicants must have two (2) full years (24 months) of post J.D. or LL.B professional legal experience.

For GS-14: Applicants must have three (3) full years (36 months) of post J.D. or LL.B professional legal experience.

For GS-15: Applicants must have four (4) full years (48 months) of post J.D. or LL.B professional legal experience.

Qualifying professional legal experience includes:

• Researching, analyzing, and applying caselaw, statutes, and regulations to draw conclusions, make recommendations, and provide legal advice on specific facts and issues;
• Demonstrated independent judgment and initiative in legal environments; and
• Demonstrated experience drafting reports, briefs, pleadings, and other documents that are clear, concise, well-organized, and persuasive.

(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)

Preferred Experience:

• Presenting cases before adjudicative bodies, including delivering opening statements and closing arguments, and conducting direct and cross examinations;
• Knowledge of and experience with federal and/or state disciplinary processes and proceedings.

NOTE: Qualifying experience is calculated only after receipt of J.D. or LL.B.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your assessment questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name, position title, grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here .

Education

ARE YOU USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation by clicking here . All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Translated transcripts are required. For further information, click here .

Additional information

Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

Additional positions maybe filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement and Additional Information: As required by Executive Order 14043 , Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement once determined by your component. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency's telework policy.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

If it is determined that you meet the minimum qualification requirement, your application will be identified for referral to the hiring manager for further review and consideration. There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g. the DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions.

Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10- point preference must submit Standard From SF-15, Application for 10- Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of the SF-15, which list the types of 10- point preferences and the required supporting document (s). Applicants should note that SF-15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of non-service connected disabilities pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch or Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retirement list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more.)

In order to be rated as meeting the minimum qualifications, we must be able to determine from your application package that you have the education and experience that is required. Applicants who have qualifying experience performed on less than a full-time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement, which includes:
1. Your Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional
2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
3. Other supporting documents (submit if applicable to you):

• Veterans' documentation (DD-214 (Member 4 copy), dated VA Letter, SF-15)
• Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.

Note: Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name, position title, grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.
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.

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.