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: The Attorney Advisor serves as an attorney to either the District Chief ALJ or, in the Headquarters Office, to an Associate Chief ALJ or the Chief ALJ. However, the incumbent may be assigned to perform work for any ALJ. The incumbent serves as a senior attorney with specialized knowledge concerning the numerous statutes, regulations, and procedures governing cases adjudicated by the OALJ. The incumbent is responsible for providing a full range of advice on program issues and drafting decisions and orders in pending cases before the office. The incumbent conducts the highest level of research on the most complex and difficult legal issues, both substantive and procedural, arising under any case area and particularly under prominent case areas such as the Black Lung Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, Permanent Alien Labor Certification Appeals and the whistleblower statutes under OALJ's jurisdiction. Reviews the work of externs, law clerks, and less experienced attorney advisors, including examining pertinent laws, regulations, administrative and court decisions, and other materials necessary for ensuring that rulings issued by ALJs are legally sound. Conducts comprehensive legal research to assist one or more ALJs, a District Chief ALJ, an Associate Chief ALJ, or the Chief ALJ by, including examining pertinent laws, regulations, administrative decisions from the DOL appellate authorities and Federal court decisions nationwide, and other materials necessary for ensuring that the rulings issued by ALJs are legally sound and which can be the basis for wide-ranging precedent. The research typically includes analyzing and summarizing the relevant facts and law, then explaining the basis for the conclusions or recommendations. Provides technical guidance to ALJs regarding the legal implications and legal sufficiency of decisions, orders, and other communications issued by OALJ. The incumbent makes revisions to draft decisions, orders, and other communications or recommends revisions to ensure those documents conform to legal requirements and reflect the most recent precedents. Drafts orders and decisions in both routine and significant cases or the signature of the ALJ. The incumbent's writing often requires a high degree of original and creative analysis of complicated facts and complex statutes, regulations, and decisions by Federal courts and the Department's appellate authorities. The process requires the incumbent to evaluate conflicting evidence, review testimony, briefs or legal memoranda filed by the parties, medical records or other exhibits, the entire hearing record, and all relevant legal authorities. Without further technical review, submits proposed decisions and orders directly to the ALJ. These proposed decisions and orders should require little substantive revision by the ALJ before issuance. 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. For GS-13 grade level, applicants must have two (2) years 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: two (2) years of post-J.D. specialized experience at or equivalent to, the GS- 12, in or directly related to this position. Two (2) years 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. 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.
