Trial Attorney

This announcement will be used to fill multiple vacancies in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). We are hiring attorneys with Federal and/or administrative litigation experience, preferably in the area of employment law.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications: At the GS-12 level and above: Applicants with one or more years of post Juris Doctorate (J.D.) legal work experience as a practicing attorney, such as a judicial clerkship or in general law practice, must have:

• A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association;
• Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and
• At least one year of experience to qualify at the GS-12 level; at least two years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; and at least three years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-14 level; and at least four years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-15 level.

At the GS-11 level: Applicants with less than one year of post J.D. legal work experience as a practicing attorney, such as a judicial clerkship or in general law practice, must have:

• A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association;
• Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia;
• Academic standing in the upper third of the attorney's law school graduating class (to the extent an applicant's law school has class rank); and
• Advanced educational attainment that indicates the ability to independently perform legal work, such as work or achievement of significance on a law school's official law reviews or journals; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school (e.g., membership in the Order of the Coif or winning a moot court competition); full-time or continuous participation in a legal clinic program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation; significant summer clerk experience; or other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience "first chairing" MSPB, EEO, or Federal litigation;
• The ability to provide excellent customer service and to exercise sound judgment and decision making in challenging situations;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• High competence in legal research and analysis, including the ability to effectively integrate and synthesize facts and law to make legally sound decisions, including in compressed timeframes;
• The ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment;
• Willingness to consider diverse perspectives and ability to navigate changing circumstances;
• Ability to effectively manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently;
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships, both within and outside OGC;

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Responsibilities:

Attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) "first chair" litigation before administrative agencies in a broad range of employment and labor matters including adverse actions, reductions in force, suitability, labor relations, and discrimination.

• Serving as lead counsel in important and sensitive litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).
• Preparing cases for litigation, including writing motions, briefs, and other papers, conducting discovery, and participating in administrative hearings.
• Making recommendations regarding settlement of litigation and appeal of adverse decisions, including the exercise of OPM's special statutory authority to obtain review of adverse MSPB decisions with a substantial impact on the civil service.
• Other duties as assigned

Salary : $74,678