Summary Are you a client-focused cybersecurity and information technology law attorney? Are you excited to work on cutting-edge legal issues in a collaborative office while advancing USPTO's intellectual property mission? If so, then apply to join our team - we're excited to meet you! Responsibilities This position is based in USPTO's Alexandria, VA headquarters. Every office within the USPTO contributes to the agency's mission of furthering innovation. OGL attorneys work closely with clients, and get involved early in projects, in order to ensure that important agency work is accomplished successfully with any legal issues appropriately handled. In order to maintain consistent high-quality service, OGL promotes an environment of continuous improvement, high standards, and collegiality. We look forward to meeting applicants who share these values. The individual selected for this position will... Work on complex and interesting questions that are frequently on the cutting edge of cybersecurity and information technology law issues, as well as insider threat and national security matters. Advise on Artificial Intelligence (AI) issues and agency procurements, as well as proposed regulations or legislation and implementation of AI technology. Excel at providing timely, client-centered legal advice concerning USPTO's compliance with applicable information security laws, including the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) and the Federal Information Technology Acquisition and Reform Act (FITARA), as well as executive orders, regulations, the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and applicable National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) policy directives and guidance. Thoughtfully analyze proposed and existing USPTO policies and procedures concerning cybersecurity, incident response, supply-chain risk, information technology contract clauses, and forensic e-discovery tools. Develop agency-wide programs and trainings related to cybersecurity and information technology law. Enjoy partnering with fellow attorneys, professionals in the USPTO's Office of the Chief Information Officer, internal clients, and other stakeholders. Impress with top-notch oral and written communication skills, creative problem solving, excellent interpersonal skills, and a commitment to continual improvement. Be a flexible teammate, willing to support OGL's other general law functions as needed by providing legal advice and litigation services in other disciplines. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has not issued qualification standards for attorney positions. However, the USPTO sets minimum qualifications for attorney positions and sets forth these qualifications in each vacancy announcement. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service. For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-14. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience advising clients and/or representing clients in litigation, drafting memoranda of fact and law, motions, pleadings, litigation reports and other legal documents, and/or reviewing policies, procedures and other agency publications for legal sufficiency related to cybersecurity, supply chain risk, and information technology issues. In addition to the required specialized experience, applicants must possess four (4) years of professional law/legal experience, post J.D. as described below: Professional Legal/Law Experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. This experience is characterized by breadth and depth of experience in rendering professional legal advice and services with respect to questions about statutes, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of a Federal government agency, private sector, law firm, or other organization; investigating matters, such as related to Congressional or Inspector General inquiries; preparing interpretative and administrative orders, rules, or regulations to give effect to the provisions of governing statutes or other requirements of law; drafting, negotiating, or examining contracts or other legal documents; drafting, preparing formal comments, or making substantive recommendations regarding proposed legislation; editing and preparing for publication statutes enacted by Congress and opinions or decisions of a court, commission, or board; drafting and reviewing decisions for consideration and adoption by an organization or official; determining questions of law; studying, analyzing and evaluating legal precedents to present findings. Legal work is described as extremely complex and difficult and requires a high order of original and creative legal endeavor in balancing conflicting interests; has broad or wide-scope impact on an economy, industry, private or public interests; and may involve directly or indirectly very large sums of money. Work may also involve acting as principal attorney in charge of the preparation and presentation of cases; recommending policies and developing procedures and regulations to implement new or amended legislation; and acting as legal, general or senior counsel to a major firm or organization. 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. Education You must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or Master of Laws (L.L.M) degree from an American Bar Association from an accredited law school and an active bar membership of any state. You must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualification Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Additional Information If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. This is a Non Bargaining Unit position. This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "High Risk". Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website. Trial Period - If selected, you may be required to complete a two-year trial period. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice. Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid. More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued. All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. USPTO Job Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the USPTO at USPTO Reason Accommodation. The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity via email (oeeo@uspto.gov) or phone (571-272-8292).
