General Attorney

The selectee for this vacancy will serve as an attorney providing employment law advice to the Chief of the Commercial and Administrative Law Division (CALD) the Chief Counsel and USCIS officials. The attorney will report to a CALD Deputy Chief Counsel. The position will focus on federal employment law with a particular emphasis on reviewing disciplinary and performance actions. The selectee will also represent the agency against complaints and appeals before the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The selectee will also provide litigation support to AUSAs litigating employment cases before federal district and appellate courts. Other duties include reviewing reports of investigation and advising supervisors and managers on a wide range of personnel issues including employee misconduct poor performance disability and religious accommodations compliance with FMLA and Rehab Act and whistleblower probationary and veterans issues among others.

The selectee will edit and review the legal sufficiency of performance improvement plans and notices of personnel decisions. The attorney will also provide oral and written legal advice and develop and conduct training on a wide variety of performance misconduct disability and religious accommodation Veterans rights and Equal Employment Opportunity issues. This is not an immigration law position. Demonstrated experience in the foregoing employment law areas is required; experience in immigration or other legal areas may not be substituted.

Conditions of employment

U.S. Citizenship: Candidate must be a United States Citizen and present proof of citizenship if selected.

Qualifications by Closing date: You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.

A Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (SF-450) will be required for certain positions. You may be asked to complete the necessary Financial Disclosure Report to meet that requirement.

Drug Testing: If position has been identified as a Testing-Designated position under DHSs Drug-Free Workplace Plan any individual tentatively selected will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Selective Service Registration: Male applicants born after December 31 1959 will be required to certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

Residency Requirement: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The residency requirement states that candidates must have for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying for this position(s);

• resided in the United States; or
• worked for the United States Government as an employee overseas in a Federal or Military capacity; or
• been dependent of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas.

• the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicants personnel file is located
• the state-side address of the Professor in charge of the applicants Study Abroad program
• the church records for the applicants overseas church mission
• and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas. Applicants must be able to provide information at a later date if deemed necessary.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-13 level if you: are currently an attorney in federal employment with the equivalent of being a GS-12 and at least one year experience at that level or if not a federal employee and you have at least one year of post-J.D. professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

You qualify at the GS-14 level if you: are currently an attorney in federal employment with the equivalent of being a GS-13 and at least one year experience at that level or if not a federal employee and you have at least two years of post-J.D. professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.M. degree from an ABA-accredited law school or serve a legal apprenticeship in California Virginia Vermont or Washington and pass the bar exam in order to be permitted to practice law in one (1) of those jurisdictions.

Bar Requirement GS-13 thru GS-15: Be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction).

Prior to entering on duty all selected attorneys must provide a Certificate of Good Standing in holding an active Bar License to practice law in any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

All applicants will be rated against the following factors:

• Ability to resolve questions and provide accurate legal advice to both attorneys and non-attorneys on complex legal matters.
• Ability to handle a heavy workload and meet deadlines.
• Legal aptitude as reflected in the resume provided.
• Quality of writing sample not to exceed 10 pages.
• Quality of the cover letter addressed to OCC summarizing interest in the position not to exceed 1 page.
• Quality of recommendations provided (No more than 3 recommendations total).