Summary Organizational Location: This attorney position is located in the Office of Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), in Buffalo, NY. One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages. Responsibilities The selectee will provide legal advice and support to ICE activities and programs in the area of Federal sector employment law. The selectee's responsibilities in the position will consist primarily of providing legal advice, training, and support to ICE activities and programs on federal employment law practice, including adverse actions, disciplinary matters, performance issues, prohibited personnel practices, reasonable accommodation, EEO and other issues related to federal employment law practice; and serving as agency counsel in proceedings before administrative and judicial forums, including arbitration, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, the Office of Special Counsel, and the U.S. Federal Courts. OPLA will ensure that qualified applicants with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is required for any part of the application process, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Qualifications by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on 05/27/2025. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification. Applicants must possess superior legal research and writing skills, demonstrated experience advising agency operational components effectively, a proven track record of managing complex legal matters, and strong advocacy skills. Prior experience in labor or employment law, including practice before the administrative and judicial forms listed above, is preferred. Applicants must also possess the following characteristics and competencies: integrity, judgment, organizational skills, communication skills, reliability, perseverance, decisiveness, initiative, professionalism, the ability to function independently and as part of a team, interpersonal relationship skills, and outstanding written and oral advocacy skills. Bar Membership: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. 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. Bargaining Unit Status: This is not a bargaining position. Education Applicants must be a graduate of an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Please see Required Documents for more inform A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required. Additional Information This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. Promotion Potential: This position has promotion potential to the GS-15 level. When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, and administrative approval. Further, promotion from the GS-14 level to the GS-15 level is subject to OPLA's internal guidance. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Notice to Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, the OPLA considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Financial Disclosure: If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment. Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. Background Investigation: DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for Secret as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Drug Test: Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. All applicants tentatively selected for employment are subject to pre-employment drug testing and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative result. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.
