Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Immigration Law Division (IMM). The primary purpose of this position is to provide legal advice, litigation support, and occasional training for DHS headquarters activities and programs in the area of immigration law, with respect to both immigration enforcement and immigration benefits. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position. Responsibilities As an Attorney-Advisor (General), GS-0905-14/15, your typical work assignments may include: Researching, reviewing, and analyzing court decisions, legislation, regulations, correspondence, field guidance, congressional reports, and congressional testimony; drafting legal memoranda, memoranda of agreement and understanding, and other legal documents. Providing oral and written legal advice to OGC leadership and DHS headquarters clients on a wide range of immigration law issues, including family and employment-based immigration; nonimmigrant classifications, asylum and refugee resettlement; naturalization and nationality; arrest, detention, and removal; E-Verify and worksite enforcement; Visa Waiver Program; grounds of inadmissibility and deportability (including criminal and terrorism-related grounds) and related waiver and exemption authorities; inspection and border enforcement authorities; administrative and federal court litigation of immigration cases; and constitutional law relating to aliens and immigration (e.g., Fourth and Fifth Amendments, federal preemption). Coordinating and collaborating with attorneys in other OGC divisions (e.g., Legal Counsel Division, Regulatory Affairs Law Division, Operations and Enforcement Law Division) and with DHS component counsel (especially U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Office of the Chief Counsel, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of the Chief Counsel). Providing litigation support to ICE (e.g., significant appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals) and the Department of Justice (significant federal court litigation) in immigration matters. Representing DHS in discussions, negotiations, briefings and consultations with other Executive Branch agencies (e.g., Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor), regarding legal matters of interest. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Basic Requirements: 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-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 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. Specialized experience for this position is providing legal advice and support on a wide range of immigration enforcement and benefits issues, including family and employment-based immigration; nonimmigrant classifications; asylum and refugee resettlement; naturalization and nationality; arrest, detention, and removal; E-Verify and worksite enforcement; Visa Waiver Program; grounds of inadmissibility and deportability (including criminal and terrorism-related grounds) and related waiver and exemption authorities; inspection and border enforcement authorities; administrative and federal court litigation of immigration cases; and constitutional law relating to aliens and immigration (e.g., Fourth and Fifth Amendments, federal preemption). An Attorney Advisor for Immigration is responsible for addressing exceptionally complex and difficult legal questions relating to immigration and nationality, spanning the full range of immigration enforcement and benefits matters; drafting legal opinions; interpreting and applying judicial and administrative decisions; drafting and reviewing proposed legislation, regulations, decisions, and other legal instruments; and coordinating legal positions with DHS component counsel offices (e.g., U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection). This position requires excellent legal research, writing and analytical skills (including knowledge of canons of statutory construction and primary immigration statutes, regulations, and case law), and demonstrated progressive responsibility. Advanced understanding of administrative law principles is preferred but not required. 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. Additional Information 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 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 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. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result. This position may be filled at the GS-14 or GS-15 grade level. If selection is made at the GS-14 level, promotion to the next higher level may occur without further competition. You will be required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Form. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of 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: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Secret clearance as a condition of placement in this Non-Critical Sensitive position. This review may include 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. This is a permanent appointment in the excepted service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment are required to serve a two (2) year trial period, unless already completed. Upon successful completion of the required trial period, this position will be permanent. This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.
