Counsel

Summary The Division of Investment Management (IM) is seeking early-career attorneys (Counsel) with strong analytical skills and attention to detail. As a Counsel, you will support legal analysis under the federal securities laws, assist in reviewing filings and regulatory submissions, and contribute to guidance, policy development, and rulemaking affecting investment companies and investment advisers. Learn more about this agency Duties To provide clarity for applicants, duties are grouped by office. Applicants may indicate interest in one or more offices during the application process. Typical duties include: Rulemaking Office (RMO) Conducting legal and policy research on issues affecting investment companies and investment advisers to support the development of rulemaking initiatives. Drafting portions of rule releases, Federal Register notices, memoranda, and proposed rule text under the guidance of senior attorneys. Chief Counsel's Office (CCO) Assisting in reviewing and analyzing matters affecting investment companies and investment advisers, including requests for no-action, interpretive, and exemptive relief. Conducting legal research, analyze factual submissions, and prepare draft memoranda, recommendations, or correspondence for senior attorney review. Disclosure Review and Accounting Office (DRAO) Reviewing and analyzing investment companies, business development companies, and insurance filings under supervision, identifying disclosure issues and preparing draft comments. Conducting legal and factual research and preparing draft guidance, issue summaries, and background materials related to disclosure requirements. Requirements Conditions of employment CITIZENSHIP: You must be a US citizen. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/). SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position. DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements. PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized. DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. TRIAL PERIOD: Consistent with 5 U.S.C. § 7511, you will be required to serve a two-year trial period (one year for preference eligible veterans) if the position to which you have applied is not the same or similar to your current position of record. You must possess a J.D. or LL.B Degree and you must be an active member of the bar in good standing. Qualifications Applicants are responsible for confirming all required materials are submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Please check the How You Will Be Evaluated and Required Documents sections carefully, as missing documents will render the application incomplete and ineligible for review. Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. 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, religious, 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. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following: J.D. or LL.B. degree --AND-- Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Note: proof of bar membership will be required before entry on duty. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement. SK-11: Applicant must have a J.D. and currently an active member of the bar in good standing. SK-12: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, the applicant must have at least one year post J.D. work experience defining legal issues, conducting legal research, drafting legal documents and analyzing federal rules and regulations administered by the Commission. ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD COMPETENCIES: Your Accomplishment Record narratives should address the following competencies. See the How You Will Be Evaluated section below for more information: Legal and Regulatory Analysis - Conducts analysis and prepares documents relating to compliance with Federal securities laws. Teamwork and Collaboration - Interacts with internal and external stakeholders to support organizational goals and objectives. Workload Management - Effectively prioritizes workload in a way that accommodates unforeseen developments and achieves successful outcomes. Critical Thinking - Considers a variety of factors, general and subject matter-specific, when making decisions and determining next steps. Education You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you must submit a copy of your unofficial transcripts or equivalent by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Internal Applicants: OHR will verify education qualifications for internal applicants using documents in the Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF). If required transcripts or certificates are not present in your eOPF, you will be required to provide them to OHR. If selected, a start date will not be established until official transcripts are received. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. For more information, click here. Applicants may also find the following helpful: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an association of 19 credential evaluation services with admission standards and an enforced code of good practice. Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) is an association of 10 credential evaluation services with a board of advisors and an enforced code of ethics. Additional information Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement and may be filled from any division or office within the agency. SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: Total salary (base pay + locality) is dependent upon duty location. The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes; a selectee's initial pay will be established below the maximum rate of the range. The pay for current SEC employees will be determined according to the procedures specified in the agency's policy. Please click here for a compensation overview. Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, click here. Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the SEC application process due to a medical disability, please contact [email protected]. For religious-based accommodations, please contact [email protected] . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: For more information, please click here. The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by contacting the Legal and Policy Office in the Office of Human Resources at [email protected]. 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.