Attorney-Adviser (Administrative Law)

In order to qualify, you must meet the Basic Requirements and the Experience Requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. A copy of your unofficial or official transcripts must be provided with your application.

Basic Requirements (applicable to both grade levels):

A. Education: Possess a J.D. or LL.B degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

AND

B. Bar Membership: Be an active member in good standing of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or territory of the United States.

In addition to meeting both of the Basic Requirements above, you must meet the experience requirements for the applicable grade level.

Experience Requirement for the GS-13 Level:

You must have at least 2 years of progressively responsible professional experience working as a practicing attorney in any of the following duty areas: compliance, litigation, investigations, legal review, regulations/policy, or other similar areas. At least one year of this experience must be comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 level participating in providing legal advice, analysis, research, or litigation work. This must include activities such as: (1) conducting legal research of policies, regulations, and/or compliance questions, including searching legal precedent; (2)assisting in administrative law matters, such as equal employment, labor, and personnel laws, procurement, fiscal and appropriations law. (3) conducting legal research; (4) drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, or other court documents; (5) developing strategies and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish projects or cases; and (6) assisting in oral presentations of legal arguments or results of legal research/analysis.

Experience Requirement for the GS-14 Level:

You must have at least 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience working as a practicing attorney in any of the following duty areas: compliance, litigation, investigations, legal review, regulations/policy, or other similar areas. At least one year of this experience must be comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-13 level providing legal advice, analysis, research, and/or litigation work. This must include activities such as: (1) conducting legal research of policies, regulations, and/or compliance questions, including searching legal precedent; (2) overseeing administrative law matters, such as equal employment, labor, and personnel laws, procurement, fiscal and appropriations law. (3) conducting extensive legal research; (4) independently drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, or other court documents; (5) developing strategies and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish cases; and (6) making oral arguments in a court or administrative hearing.

In addition, you must provide a cover letter of at least two pages summarizing your evidence of the following competencies:

1. Legal Writing: Writes clear, concise, persuasive legal documents.
2. Legal Analysis: Researches, analyzes, and explains complex legal issues such as constitutional, jurisdictional, and administrative-law issues.
3. Administrative Law: Demonstrated experience in general administrative law matters, including Federal sector equal employment, labor, and personnel laws; procurement, fiscal and appropriations law; and laws pertaining to agency disclosure of information, including the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act.
4. Oral Communication: Experience and demonstrated skill in making effective oral presentations, including experience in making oral arguments before administrative third parties (e.g., arbitrators, administrative law judges) and negotiations.
5. Planning and Coordinating: Plans and organizes projects or cases; develops strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.

We recommend your cover letter include examples that are clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of the functions, activities, or services you delivered; level of contacts; the sensitivity and criticality of the issues you addressed, and the results of your actions.

Part-time or unpaid experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

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