Summary

The Federal Maritime Commission's Office of the General Counsel is a small office that practices across a wide range of areas, including international affairs, litigation in federal courts of appeals, rulemakings, and drafting recommendations and final decisions in agency adjudications.

This job is open to

• Federal employees - Excepted service
  
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• The public
  
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

The duties of an Attorney-Advisor include a broad legal practice including executing and advising on the legal implications of Commission rulemakings, and providing legal advice on matters before the Commission, administrative agencies, and the courts.

As an Attorney-Advisor, you will:

• Provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on legal and policy matters related to the Commission's responsibilities, including review of antitrust-exempt agreements.
• Prepare rulemaking documents and analyses, regulations, orders, and formal opinions, for Commission approval.
• In collaboration with other Commission program offices, review agreements, draft orders, notices of inquiry, rulemaking notices, policy statements, and other documents to be considered or issued by the Commission.
• Provide advice and draft decisions in adjudications before the Commission.
• Represent the Commission in matters before federal courts and other administrative agencies. This includes matters related to the Commission's statutory and antitrust-exempt responsibilities, as well as matters relating to the routine functions of a federal agency.
• Provide technical and policy assistance to other government agencies engaged in bilateral and multilateral international negotiations or discussions on shipping matters.
• You may also draft opinions on the legal implications of the Freedom of Information Act, Government in the Sunshine Act, fiscal and appropriations law, procurement law, and other general law issues, such as personnel issues, as needed.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• A 2-year trial period may be required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a background investigation.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• FMC participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
• May be required to obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• May be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet the following by the close of the announcement:

1. Minimum educational requirements include a professional law degree (LLB or J.D.) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school. NOTE: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. An ABA-approved law school may allow students to receive credit for law study or activities at a foreign institution and grant credit for the J.D. degree if those studies or activities are approved in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Criteria adopted by the ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.
2. Current active membership in a bar of any State, territory, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia. Active bar association and a certificate that the member is in good standing will be verified prior to appointment and employees must maintain active bar membership in good standing while employed as an attorney with the FMC.
3. Applicants must possess excellent research and oral and written communication skills. Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:
   
   • Providing advice on regulatory strategy, Federal agency rulemakings, and preparing rulemaking notices and documents.
   • Practice before federal courts and administrative agencies, including writing and reviewing briefs, memos and orders.
   • Experience with antitrust review and/or the application of competition standards.

Qualifications for the GS-12 and above: In addition to meeting the education requirements, applicants applying for the one or more of these grade level(s) must possess professional law experience and specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, outlined under the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section.

Education

Please refer to the qualifications and required documents for applicable education requirements.

Additional information

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
• We may fill like positions within 12 months of the close of the announcement.
• Federal employees are required to adhere to the 14 Principles of Ethical Conduct.
• This is a non-bargaining unit position.

To preview questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12396839

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Review our benefits
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine that you possess at least one year of professional, specialized law experience relative to the grade you are applying. Please ensure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position.

Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position being filled. Law clerk experience (post J.D.) can be considered professional law experience if the candidate performed attorney duties.

Specialized experience is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include experience working on complex rulemaking or policy proceedings; reviewing and editing policy statements, position papers, and other decisional documents; conducting civil litigation including discovery and of trial practice; and providing legal guidance to attorneys and other professionals. Specialized experience can also include experience in civil and administrative litigation in courtroom or agency adjudication settings, including researching and writing briefs, reviewing and editing orders, discovery and trial practice, appellate litigation.

The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.

It is your responsibility to ensure your resume states complete information for each job entry. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year (MM/YYYY), and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume. If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.

• Benefits
  
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Review our benefits
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you will not be considered for this position (or will not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
  
  A complete application includes:
  
  1. A resume (of no more than 3 pages). Do not use a resume created with the "build resume" feature on USAjobs.gov. Instead, upload a resume to USAjobs.gov.
  2. Cover letter (of no more than 2 pages) that tells us how you will add value to the FMC and that clearly indicates your relevant experience in rulemaking, litigation, and/or antitrust matters.
  3. Law School Transcript (official or unofficial).
  4. SF-50 that shows your title, series, grade/step/salary (if applicable).
  5. A copy of the most recent final performance appraisal (elements and standards for achievement, if not indicated clearly on the annual performance appraisal) if applicable.
  6. A recent writing sample of no more than 10 pages reflecting your ability to clearly state, analyze, and discuss complex factual and legal issues.
  
  Education Documentation:
  
  
  • An official transcript may be required if you are selected.
  • A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation website.
  • If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.
  
  Notice of Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Federal Maritime Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions.
• How to Apply
  
  To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
  
  • The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon EST on the announcement's closing date.
  • To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  • Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
  • To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • To return to saved application at a later date, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
  
  
  Agency contact information
  
  
  
  Vicky Schenck
  
  Phone
  
  (202) 523-0213
  
  Email
  
  vschenck@fmc.gov
  
  Address
  
  Office of the General Counsel
  
  800 North Capitol Street
  
  Suite 1018
  
  Washington, DC 20573
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS My Account tab and clicking on Application Status. For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on more information.
  
  Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you will not be considered for this position (or will not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

A complete application includes:

1. A resume (of no more than 3 pages). Do not use a resume created with the "build resume" feature on USAjobs.gov. Instead, upload a resume to USAjobs.gov.
2. Cover letter (of no more than 2 pages) that tells us how you will add value to the FMC and that clearly indicates your relevant experience in rulemaking, litigation, and/or antitrust matters.
3. Law School Transcript (official or unofficial).
4. SF-50 that shows your title, series, grade/step/salary (if applicable).
5. A copy of the most recent final performance appraisal (elements and standards for achievement, if not indicated clearly on the annual performance appraisal) if applicable.
6. A recent writing sample of no more than 10 pages reflecting your ability to clearly state, analyze, and discuss complex factual and legal issues.

Education Documentation:

• An official transcript may be required if you are selected.
• A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation website.
• If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.

Notice of Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Federal Maritime Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

• The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon EST on the announcement's closing date.
• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
• It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
• To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• To return to saved application at a later date, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information



Vicky Schenck

Phone

(202) 523-0213

Email

vschenck@fmc.gov

Address

Office of the General Counsel

800 North Capitol Street

Suite 1018

Washington, DC 20573

US

Next steps

You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS My Account tab and clicking on Application Status. For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on more information.

Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Financial suitability
• Selective Service
• New employee probationary period
• Signature and false statements
• Privacy Act
• Social security number request