Attorney Adviser

Summary This position is located in the Office of the Deputy Secretary, Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ). This office is responsible for conducting adjudicatory hearings and issuing decisions for the Department of Labor under more than 70 different laws and executive orders. This position has is a TERM appointment NTE 4 years This position is inside the bargaining unit. Learn more about this agency Duties Applicants should apply to the location(s) they are able to regularly report to. Location will be determined once selection(s) is made. Salary posted reflects pay range for all locations. Once the selection has been made, the salary will be set in accordance with the selectee's location. The positions can be filled in any of the following locations: Boston, MA: 101,375 - 131,790 Cincinnati, OH: 93,231 - 121,203 Newport News, VA: 90,838 - 118,092 Philadelphia, PA: 98,630 - 128,221 Pittsburgh, PA: 92,543 - 120,309 San Francisco, CA: 111,896 - 145,468 Washington, DC: 102,415 - 133,142 Major Duties: Primary duties include conducting legal research, preparing bench memos, drafting orders and decisions, verifying legal citations, analyzing statues and regulations, developing, and maintaining written resource materials, attending telephonic and local hearings, and assisting in settlement conference. The incumbent is assigned to a Regional Chief, Associate Chief or Chief Administrative Law Judge. However, the incumbent will perform work for any Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and is considered a senior attorney who possesses specialized knowledge concerning the numerous complex statues, regulations, and procedures governing cases adjudicated by the OALJ. As a senior attorney drafting opinions and orders, the incumbent considers and analyzes the record in a particular case pending before the judge to provide advice and assistance leading to a resolution of the complex issues involved. The process requires the incumbent to study and testimony, briefs or legal memorandum filed by the parties, medical records or other exhibits, and the entire hearing record. The incumbent also confers with the ALJ and provides legal advice on cases and points of law throughout the adjudicatory process. There is often extended and detailed consultation on the legal issues involved, presentation of the facts related to legal issues, evaluation of conflicting evidence, weighing the facts, consideration of the inference to be drawn, and examination of the effect of a particular decision and its relationship to case law and interpretations made by Boards and the Courts. The incumbent conducts highest level of research on legal issues, both substantive, administrative, and procedural, arising under all OALJ case program areas. Such research requires examination of pertinent laws, regulations, administrative and court decisions, and other materials necessary for ensuring and supporting sound and consistent decisions. He or she assist the ALJs by personally conducting comprehensive legal research and writing. After thorough analysis, the incumbent drafts proposed decisions and orders for the Judge's review and approval which systematically covers all orders all the legal points in the case and the rationale and reasoning for the decision. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be at least 16 years old. Must be a U.S. Citizen. Requires a trial period if the requirement has not been met. Appointment to this position may require a background investigation. Qualifications IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. To qualify for an attorney position, applicants must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.); be a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S.; and have acquired the amount of experience indicated below for each grade level. GS-12 grade level, applicants must have one (1) year of post-law experience progressively responsible legal experience of a professional nature which demonstrates the ability to perform the work at this level. NOTE: A LL.M. may be substituted for a maximum of one year of experience. Bar Certificate: You must provide proof that you are a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S. Unofficial proof of good standing may be submitted with your application, such as a printout from a state bar association's website. However, you will be required to submit your official documentation before you are hired. Transcripts: You must provide a copy of your law school transcript to be considered for this position. Verification of your academic degree(s) is necessary to determine your qualifications or eligibility for this position. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application phase of the process, although you will be required to submit official transcripts for verification purposes before you are hired. Please note that you must earn a J.D. or L.L.B degree before you can begin working. Writing Sample: In addition to your transcripts applicants must also provide an unedited legal writing sample that is no more than ten (10) pages long with your application in order to receive further consideration. The writing sample can be a portion of a brief or memorandum. Education A LL.B or J.D. is a requirement for this position. If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information. Additional information Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements. This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit. Click for Career Ladder Promotion Information The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION Click for Telework Eligibility Information Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.