Assistant General Counsel (Employment Law Branch)

Summary

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Our highly-skilled diverse and innovative workforce creates a strong foundation of safety and security. Through the principles of humanity and normalcy we develop good neighbors.

Duties

The primary mission of the Employment Law Branch (ELB) is to represent the Agency in labor and employment cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) as well as the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The attorneys in the Branch provide assistance to attorneys outside of the civil complaints of employment discrimination ELB attorneys provide legal assistance to Assistant United States Attorneys in United States District Court and in the United States Court of Federal Claims. ELB attorneys also provide assistance to DOJ Civil Division attorneys in matters before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the District of Columbia Circuit. ELB staff review disciplinary letters for technical and legal sufficiency conditions of employment reviews and compressed work schedules. They provide legal advice to management officials on labor and employment addition to the staff in Central Office Washington DC ELB has satellite offices in Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Annapolis MD; Kansas City Kansas; Atlanta Georgia; Grand Prairie Texas; Phoenix Arizona Philadelphia Pennsylvania and Stockton California.

The incumbent will have the responsibility of litigating cases before administrative judges at the MSPB EEOC and other forums. The incumbent will have the opportunity to be directly involved in the preparation of Federal District Court trials.

Locations: There are three possible locations for this vacancy (Washington D.C.; Grand Prairie TX; or Atlanta GA). You may apply for multiple locations at the same time by noting your interest in your cover letter.

The Practice areas related to this position are: Employment Law Employment Discrimination and Labor.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Veterans : There is no formal rating system for applying veterans preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however the Department of Justice considers veterans preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g. the DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the point system is not used per se applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15 Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website for a copy of SF 15 which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Key Requirements:

1. See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
2. Selective Service Requirement:
3. U.S. Citizenship is Required.

Qualifications

Required qualifications: Applicants must have a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).

Preferred qualifications: Prior experience in labor and employment discrimination and/or general litigation is highly desired.

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements if applicable .

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name Student Name Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria Click Here.

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education) you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

Additional information

Special Conditions of Employment Section:
Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see Pursuant to DOJ component policies only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review U.S. Trustees Offices and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Departments mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview urinalysis physical and background investigation.

All applicants are subject to and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check and must pass a review of their income tax filing history.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their particular please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Required Experience:

Junior IC