Summary This position is located in the Office of the Deputy Secretary, Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ). This office is responsible for conducting adjudicatory hearings and issuing decisions for the Department of Labor under more than 70 different laws and executive orders. This position is inside the bargaining unit. Responsibilities Major Duties: Primary duties include conducting legal research, preparing bench memos, drafting orders and decisions, verifying legal citations, analyzing statues and regulations, developing, and maintaining written resource materials, attending telephonic and local hearings, and assisting in settlement conference. The incumbent is assigned to a District Chief, Associate Chief or Chief Administrative Law Judge. However, the incumbent will perform work for any Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and is consider a senior attorney who possesses specialized knowledge concerning the numerous complex statues, regulations, and procedures governing cases adjudicated by the OALJ. As a senior attorney drafting opinions and orders, the incumbent considers and analyzes the record in a particular case pending before the judge to provide advice and assistance leading to a resolution of the complex issues involved. The process requires the incumbent to study and testimony, briefs or legal memorandum filed by the parties, medical records or other exhibits, and the entire hearing record. The incumbent also confers with the ALJ and provides legal advice on cases and points of law throughout the adjudicatory process. There is often extended and detailed consultation on the legal issues involved, presentation of the facts related to legal issues, evaluation of conflicting evidence, weighing the facts, consideration of the inference to be drawn, and examination of the effect of a particular decision and its relationship to case law and interpretations made by Boards and the Courts. The incumbent conducts highest level of research on legal issues, both substantive, administrative, and procedural, arising under all OALJ case program areas. Such research requires examination of pertinent laws, regulations, administrative and court decisions, and other materials necessary for ensuring and supporting sound and consistent decisions. He or she assist the ALJs by personally conducting comprehensive legal research and writing. After thorough analysis, the incumbent drafts proposed decisions and orders for the Judge's review and approval which systematically covers all orders all the legal points in the case and the rationale and reasoning for the decision. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. To qualify for an attorney position, applicants must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.); be a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S.; and have acquired the amount of experience indicated below for each grade level. GS-12 grade level, applicants must have one (1) year of post-law experience progressively responsible legal experience of a professional nature which demonstrates the ability to perform the work at this level. Specialized Experience: One year (52 weeks) of post-J.D. specialized experience at or equivalent to, the GS- 11, in or directly related to this position. One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position at a level close to the work of this job that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform. NOTE: A LL.M. may be substituted for a maximum of one year of experience. Bar Certificate: You must provide proof that you are a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S. Transcripts: You must provide a copy of your law school transcript to be considered for this position. Verification of your academic degree(s) is necessary to determine your qualifications or eligibility for this position. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application phase of the process, although you will be required to submit official transcripts for verification purposes before you are hired. Please note that you must earn a J.D. or L.L.B degree before you can begin working. Writing Sample: In addition to your transcripts applicants must also provide an unedited legal writing sample that is no more than ten (10) pages long with your application in order to receive further consideration. The writing sample can a portion of a brief or memorandum. Status Federal Employees: If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility. *WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step, and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step. Education A LL.B or J.D. is a requirement for this position. If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy. Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information. Additional Information Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements. This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit. Click for Career Ladder Promotion Information The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION Click for Telework Eligibility Information Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be serving in a position in Schedule Policy/Career of the excepted service. You will obtain competitive status after two years of service in this position, if applicable. Your employment in this position will be at-will. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals of adverse actions concerning performance, discipline, and other matters arising under chapters 23, 43, and 75 of title 5, United States Code, will not be available to an individual serving in this position. Prohibitions on prohibited personnel practices will be enforced by the Office of General Counsel [or agency equivalent position] and not the Office of Special Counsel.
