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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Litigation General Attorney

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Nov 1, 2021
Duties

Summary

The FBI seeks experienced and highly qualified attorneys to serve as legal counsel to the Bureau in FOIA lawsuits brought in federal court; state open records lawsuits brought in state courts; affirmative injunction litigation brought in federal courts to prevent disclosure of FBI information and records by state and local agencies; and Privacy Act litigation regarding access or amendment requests.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

  • Work closely with the Civil Division of the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney's Offices to represent the FBI's interests in litigation against the FBI, as well as other litigation in which the FBI has equities.
  • Prepare declarations and/or review declarations prepared by Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS) in support of motions; oversee FOIA productions in ongoing litigation; review motions and legal briefs to provide valuable input on legal arguments and strategy; and provide assistance to DOJ/USAO during hearings and oral arguments.
  • Provide legal and policy guidance on an array of information access issues.
  • Develop professional relationships and partnerships with OGC coworkers, other FBI personnel and officials and representatives of other federal, state, and local agencies, in support of the FBI's legal interests and equities.
  • Defend the FBI in the most complex FOIA lawsuits (cases with a nexus to the most high-visibility activities of the FBI, national security matters, and other sensitive matters) with minimal supervision.
  • Provide expert legal advice and opinions to the highest levels of FBI management on all aspects of information access issues.


Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment


To be eligible for this position, you:
  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Must be able to obtain a Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance.
  • Must complete form FD-887, Request for Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
  • Must complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450 annually.
  • Must pass an FBI polygraph examination.
  • Must pass an FBI-administered urinalysis drug test.
  • Must be in compliance with the FBI Employment Drug Policy:
    • No use of marijuana within the last three years.
    • No use of any other illegal drug in the past 10 years.
    • No selling, distributing, manufacturing or transporting of any illegal drugs.
    • No use of a prescription drug or a legally obtainable substance in a manner for which it was not intended within the last three years.
In addition, you:
  • Must never have been convicted of a felony.
  • Must not be in default on a student loan insured by the U.S. government.
  • Must be registered with the Selective Service System (males only, exceptions apply).
Please be advised, candidates selected for this position must be DOJ-approved.

Qualifications

GS-14: Applicants applying for the GS-14 must also have two and a half or more years post-JD attorney experience.
GS-15: Applicants applying for the GS-15 must also have four or more years of post-JD attorney experience.

Education

Applicants must possess a JD degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (or have an LLM (Master of Laws) degree or other graduate law degree in addition to a JD) and be an active member of the bar (in any U.S. jurisdiction).

Preferred litigation experience in:
  • Working with the FOIA preferred.
  • Prioritizing, planning, organizing, and scheduling projects and assignments to accomplish objectives, particularly under tight deadlines and in light of competing priorities.
  • Reviewing others' written work products in order to ensure clarity of message, particularly in legal filings.
  • Conducting legal research and researching internal agency policy, procedures and methods.
  • Writing analytical work products, declarations or legal documents/pleadings.


Additional information

The FBI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for this vacancy. Except where otherwise provided by law, selection will be made without regard to, and there will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, parental status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age, sex, sexual orientation, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism, or any other nonmerit factors.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

All applicants are evaluated on Core Competencies of collaboration, communication, flexibility/adaptability, initiative, interpersonal ability, leadership, organizing/planning and problem solving/judgment.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package that includes the following REQUIRED documents:
  • Your resume and cover letter.
  • A writing sample, not to exceed 10 pages.
  • Proof of current and active bar association membership.*
  • Photocopy of law school transcripts.*
  • Current SF-50 (if external government employee).
  • * Current FBI-OGC Assistant General Counsels (AGCs) do not need to provide law school transcripts or proof of bar association membership.

    NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED FOR REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.

    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.

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