Trial Attorney (General)

This position is in the Litigation Division, Office of General Counsel, Federal Communications Commission, located in Washington, DC.

RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.  

THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.

Qualifications:

Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

In order to be deemed as "BEST QUALIFIED" candidates must meet both the educational requirements AND the Specialized Experience.

A. Education

You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include:  a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M. 

NOTE-If you do not provide a transcript at the time of application, a transcript will be required to be provided at the time of selection.

AND

B. Specialized Experience

For the GS-14 position: Applicant must possess at least three years of professional law experience and at least one year of that experience must be specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal Service performing the following: serving as a litigator in the federal or state courts, participating in motions practice before federal or state trial courts, and/or litigating cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Merit Systems Protection Board, or other tribunals; participating in negotiations, settlement conference, mediations, or arbitrations; drafting pleadings, briefs, and motions; researching complex legal issues; conducting discovery; analyzing complicated legal and technical issues and developing litigation strategies; and providing legal advice on a variety of matters to attorneys and other professionals.

For the GS-15 position: Applicant must possess at least three years of professional law experience and at least one year of that experience must be specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal Service performing the following: serving as a litigator in the federal or state courts, participating in motions practice before federal or state trial courts, and/or litigating cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Merit Systems Protection Board, or other tribunals; presenting oral argument or serving as counsel at a trial or hearing; conducting negotiations, settlement conference, mediations, or arbitrations; drafting pleadings, briefs, and motions; researching complex legal issues; conducting discovery; analyzing complicated legal and technical issues and developing litigation strategies; and providing legal advice on a variety of matters to attorneys and other professionals.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE:  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.

Responsibilities:

As a Trial Attorney the incumbent will be performing the below duties:

The Office of General Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the Commission and its various bureaus and offices. The Office of General Counsel also represents the Commission in litigation, recommends decisions in adjudicatory matters before the Commission, assists the Commission in its decision-making capacity, and performs a variety of legal functions regarding internal and other administrative matters.  The Litigation Division has responsibility for representing the Commission in all: (a) appellate proceedings, including actions before the Supreme Court of the United States, in which the Commission is a party or otherwise possesses an interest in the question involved; and (b) all actions and proceedings commenced in the federal and state trial courts in which the Commission is a party or otherwise possesses an interest in the question involved. The Litigation Division also has responsibility for advising the Commission on: (a) legal questions involved in proposed actions and policies of past and pending appellate or trial litigation; and (b) civil and (on occasion) criminal proceedings to enforce the Communications Act and to enforce the Commission’s rules, regulations, orders, and actions.

The incumbent serves as a senior trial attorney with responsibility for representing the Commission in litigation and administrative proceedings involving human resources law, labor relations, the Freedom of Information Act, communications law, and other areas of federal law. The incumbent also participates in and may have primary responsibility for other legal projects and initiatives, which may raise complex legal, factual, or other issues. The incumbent provides legal guidance and support to managers and supervisors in the Office of General Counsel and other FCC bureaus and offices. The incumbent reports directly to the Deputy Associate General Counsel (for Litigation –Trial).

In addition to representing the Commission in litigation matters and administrative proceedings involving human resources law and labor relations, incumbent may be responsible for handling and coordinating other litigation in the United States District Courts, including enforcement proceedings and Freedom of Information Act litigation; on occasion drafting appellate briefs and presenting oral arguments in the federal appellate courts; responding to subpoenas served upon the agency; and otherwise assisting OGC's managers and supervisors.

Salary : $143,913