SUMMARY

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), General Law Division (GLD).
The primary purpose of this position is to provide legal advice, counsel, recommendations, and drafting assistance to DHS officials on a variety of General Law matters.
Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

GS-13:

• The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
• Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two (2) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position, or two years of judicial clerkship.

GS-14 and GS-15:

• The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
• Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual’s background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.

Specialized Experience:
The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.
You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal government.
Specialized experience is experience providing legal advice and representation on matters related to the legal topics listed in the “Duties” section above. A successful applicant must have experience in some, but not necessarily all, of the legal topics listed in the “Duties” section above.
Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
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.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

EDUCATION

Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant’s resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization’s interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

As an Attorney Advisor (General), GS-0905-13/14/15, you will perform some of the following duties. The duties assigned will be determined by the needs of the Department and the specific experience of the successful applicant:

• Provide legal advice and counsel on administrative law issues, including real property acquisition, disposal and management for the Department; environmental law and historic preservation; personal property management; facilities, construction, repairs, and operations; ground fleet, vessel, and aviation oversight; inter- and intra-Departmental agreements; home-to-work authorization; and tribal consultation matters.
• Provide advice and counsel on the legal authority of Department and Component officers; the organizational structure of the Department; delegations and designations of authority; directives and instructions of the Department; orders of succession; constitutional matters related to the authority of Department officers, executive branch authority, separation of powers matters, and Appointments Clause matters; the Homeland Security Act; the Federal Vacancies Reform Act; and manage litigation matters related to these areas.
• Provide legal advice on appropriations, fiscal, and grants law issues within the Department, to include legal advice on the proper use and expenditure of funds, federal travel, debt collection, and financial assistance.
• Serve as a legal advisor for labor and employment issues. Oversee complex legal research and the development of written and verbal analysis and advice for senior officials. Represent the Department before various administrative tribunals to include the Merit System Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Office of Special Counsel. Assist the Department of Justice in litigation involving labor and employment matters in U.S. federal district and appellate courts.
• Work collaboratively with other attorneys across the Department to reach consensus on legal and doctrinal positions.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.