General Attorney

Summary The Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) is committed to ensuring accountability within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). OAWP was statutorily established by the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (Accountability Act), P.L. 115-41, and its functions are codified under 38 U.S.C. § 323. Learn more about this agency Duties The Investigative Attorney provides legal advice and assistance to OAWP investigators, reviews investigative work-product, and assists in preparing reports of investigation and recommendations, including for disciplinary action against VA senior leaders and supervisors. Legal Advice and Assistance: The incumbent provides thorough expert legal advice and assistance to OAWP investigators and staff related to the collection and documentation of facts, documents, witness testimony, and other information necessary to develop an evidentiary record. The incumbent readily identifies appropriate sources of information. The incumbent independently conducts extensive legal research and evaluation of various theories and subjects and applies such legal analysis to the facts obtained in the evidentiary record. The incumbent memorializes factual and legal analyses in various work products, including reports of investigation, correspondence, legal opinions, and memoranda. The incumbent assists in preparing reports of investigation and recommendations, including for disciplinary action, pertaining to senior leader accountability and whistleblower retaliation matters. The incumbent ensures the reports of investigation are succinct, legally sufficient, cite all applicable law and evidence, and appropriately represent the facts gathered during the investigation. The incumbent works closely with OAWP investigators and staff as they prepare reports of investigation and recommendations and other work products. The incumbent advises OAWP investigators and staff on possible courses of action for complex and controversial issues, including legal and factual that may lack available precedent. These issues interpreting or applying statutes, regulations, rules, policies, contracts, comments, orders, decisions, opinions, and other legal instruments of importance to OAWP. The incumbent will provide legal support for and may complete complex, large scale, and multi-jurisdictional investigations and investigative reports involving numerous parties and multiple issues, including long-term and/or systemic problems. Policy Development: The incumbent provides proactive, thorough expert legal advice and assistance to OAWP on establishing and revising standard operating procedures and policies related to OAWP investigations and related processes. The incumbent independently considers the importance of establishing or changing precedent as well as other considerations. These projects typically require multi-dimensional analyses. In developing these analyses, the incumbent displays an understanding of various considerations, such as policy and operational factors, and can incorporate such factors into analyses to assist OAWP in identifying appropriate courses of action. Training: The incumbent develops and presents OAWP training, including on laws relating to administrative investigations, senior leader accountability, and whistleblower rights. The incumbent may assist OAWP with developing whistleblower rights and protections training for VA Administrations and Staff Offices. The incumbent must possess superior communication skills. Performs other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full-time - Required to work Monday through Friday with various tours available pending supervisory approval. May be subjected to change based on operational needs. Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized by supervisor Remote: This is a remote position Position Description/PD#:1571282 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: None Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period one year probationary period or two year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/13/2026. Basic Requirements: All attorneys in the GS-0905 series must be active members in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia and must hold a current, unrestricted license to practice law. Quality of Experience: Applicants must possess a total of four years of progressively responsible experience, which can include one year of relevant experience gained before admission to the bar. This experience can be from one or a combination of the following types: Practice of law includes private, state, or Federal practice in any field of law. Other legal experience of a responsible nature is experience in any one or a combination of the following performed in a law office, government office, or in the legal department of a business establishment, in the armed forces, or other Federal service: Conducting legal research, analyzing statues, writing legal opinions: Writing authoritative or advisory legal opinions involving interpretation of state or Federal laws, regulations, and orders, or the drafting of such regulations or orders; or Drafting, analyzing, and other legal activities with respect to bills, regulations, Executive Orders, proclamations, or statutory provisions. Special Placement Factor: At minimum, incumbent must have demonstrated experience in one of the following: Conducting investigations; Providing legal advice on investigations; or Preparing and/or reviewing reports of investigation. You may qualify at the GS-14 based on your experience as described below: Qualified applicants must possess four (4) years of progressively responsible experience as described in Quality of Experience above, of which a maximum of one (1) year of the required experience may be acquired prior to admission to the bar, and that demonstrates the professional and administrative abilities required to perform similar work and responsibilities described in Nature of Cases or Legal Problems, Type III and Level of Responsibility D, in the OPM Position Classification Standard for General Attorney Series, GS-0905. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical ReasoningAttention to DetailCommunicationsCustomer ServiceDecision MakingFlexibilityInfluencing/NegotiatingIntegrity/HonestyInterpersonal SkillsLearningLegal, Government and JurisprudenceProblem SolvingReasoningSelf-ManagementStress ToleranceTeamwork 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration (HRA) at The Fair Chance Act. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information 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. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.