Summary

This is an excellent Detail opportunity for Federal employees! We are seeking an Attorney experienced in Federal personnel law to assist the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) team in different divisions across our agency. This is a Non-Reimbursable Detail, and applicants will need approval from their supervisors to be considered.

You will have a unique opportunity to bring valuable, hands-on experience in OSC-covered areas back to your organization!

This job is open to

• Federal employees - Excepted service
  
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• Federal employees - Competitive service
  
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from current Federal employees that are U.S. citizens and nationals authorized to work in the U.S.

Duties

This detail opportunity may be called to work in any of OSC's program units, which include:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
• Case Review Division (CRD)
• Disclosure Unit (DU)
• Diversity, Outreach and Training Unit (DOT)
• Hatch Act Unit (HAU)
• Investigation and Prosecution Division (IPD)
• Retaliation and Disclosure Unit (RDU)
• USERRA Unit

We are looking for candidates who embrace the privilege of public service, bring enthusiasm and dedication to such service, and work well within a team setting.

In the course of carrying out these duties, you may be assigned to conduct investigations, conduct complex legal research and draft legal memoranda, prepare cases for litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and appear as amici in federal court. You may conduct witness interviews, discovery, and legal research; prepare pleadings, briefs, reports of investigation and other reports and memoranda; manage diverse caseloads, mediate and settle cases, and advise the Special Counsel and senior leaders regarding case dispositions and legal issues that involve federal personnel law, constitutional law, labor and employment law, administrative law, and civil procedure.

Duties performed:

• Conducting factual and legal research and analysis from documents, witness testimony and other sources to develop the evidentiary record;
• Presenting oral and written information during witness and subject interviews, interactions with the agency or complainant's counsel, and any legal proceedings before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) or other adjudicative tribunals, etc.;
• Providing expert legal advice and counsel to senior officials to prepare and implement strategies for complex and controversial issues;
• Representing the agency to Federal stakeholders and the public, including complainants, other Federal agency officials, attorneys, representatives of private and public organizations, the MSPB, and elected officials and staff; and
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship or National.
• Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• You must have a current, fully adjudicated background investigation.
• This Detail is only open to current Federal employees.
• This is a non-reimbursable agency detail. If selected, your current pay and benefits will remain the same.
• A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be executed between your Agency and OSC prior to the start of the detail.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet the basic education and bar membership requirements:

• A professional law degree (L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; and
• An active membership in good standing in a bar of a state, U.S. Territory, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth or Puerto Rico.

And

Specialized Experience

• Possess two (2) years of post J.D. legal experience;
• Currently serving as an Attorney at the GS-13, GS-14 or GS-15 grade level;
• Have at least three (3) years of specialized experience in:
  
  • drafting discovery, briefs, motions, presentations, and other written material in preparation for trials or administrative hearings;
  • conducting legal research and analyzing complex cases or issues; and
• Demonstrate excellent writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills.

Your resume must explicitly outline your qualifications. We will not make assumptions on your experience.

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0905 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above.

Applicants qualifying through education, but who have not yet graduated or received final grades, may apply using their current grades at time of application. If selected, you will be required to verify final grades and/or provide additional documentation.

Additional information

These are not Bargaining Unit positions.

• 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.
  
  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.

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

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Management will consider any Federal performance appraisals and/or awards you submit with your application as an indication of your experience and work history. These documents will not be scored as part of the assessment process.

In accordance with 5 C.F.R. Section 302.101(c), these positions are in the Excepted service and not subject to the provisions of Veteran's Preference. However, candidates who list and provide verification of their Veteran's Preference will have their Preference status identified to the selecting official for consideration as part of their application package.

• 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.
  
  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.
  
  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
  
  
  1. Resume, including a) personal information such as name, address, contact information; b) education; c) detailed work experience related to this position including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment (month/year), title and Grade level for any Federal service, i.e. GS-9); d) scope and complexity of the functions, activities and services you managed and your level of contacts; and any other qualifications. We recommend that your resume not exceed five (5) pages as only the first five (5) pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications;
  2. Cover Letter, required, including a clear, concise description of your litigation experience, with details on the sensitivity and criticality of the issues you addressed, the results of your actions, and your confirmation that you have supervisory approval for this detail;
  3. Most Recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, confirming your status as a current, Federal employee;
  4. Most Recent Federal employee Performance Appraisal, if applicable;
  5. Writing Sample, dated within the last five (5) years;
  6. Other required supporting documents:
  
  
  
  • College transcript(s) to confirm your education;
  • Verification an active membership in good standing in a bar of a state, U.S. Territory, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth or Puerto Rico.
  
  If you submit multiple copies of the same document, only your most recent uploaded document (by date & time stamp) will be considered. If your resume or supporting documents are illegible or unreadable, or if you fail to include any of the above-mentioned required documents, you may lose consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
  
  Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be considered further. If your application materials contain sensitive or inappropriate information, including but not limited to: photographs; classified or government sensitive information; copied and pasted portions of this job announcement; obscene information, etc., you may not be considered.
  
  Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for non-selection, disqualification from further consideration or withdrawal of tentative or final job offers.
  
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
  schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply
  
  To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
  
  Your application and supporting documents must be submitted and received through the online application process by 11:59 pm EST on the closing date of this announcement.
  
  
  • To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account if you do not have one.
  • You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
  • To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  
  
  Agency contact information
  
  
  
  Human Capital Office
  
  Phone
  
  202-804-7544
  
  Email
  
  employment@osc.gov
  
  Address
  
  Office of Special Counsel
  
  1730 M St NW
  
  Washington, DC 20036
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email that your application was received.
  
  Your application will be evaluated as outlined above and if you are found to be among the qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. We anticipate a large number of applicants, and only the top candidates will be contacted for interview. You will receive automated notifications through the USAjobs system as updates are available.
  
  Selecting officials may choose any appropriate competitive, non-competitive or alternative candidate under Federal regulations and Agency policy. Interviews may be conducted individually, by panel, by third party, teleconference, video teleconference, or in person. Selecting officials have the option to interview any, all or none of the referred candidates. Management has the right to fill or not a fill this vacancy, as well as to cancel and re-announce as appropriate.
  
  Additional Vacancies
  
  This announcement may be used to fill additional or similar vacancies at the same or equivalent grade level.
• 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
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Resume, including a) personal information such as name, address, contact information; b) education; c) detailed work experience related to this position including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment (month/year), title and Grade level for any Federal service, i.e. GS-9); d) scope and complexity of the functions, activities and services you managed and your level of contacts; and any other qualifications. We recommend that your resume not exceed five (5) pages as only the first five (5) pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications;
2. Cover Letter, required, including a clear, concise description of your litigation experience, with details on the sensitivity and criticality of the issues you addressed, the results of your actions, and your confirmation that you have supervisory approval for this detail;
3. Most Recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, confirming your status as a current, Federal employee;
4. Most Recent Federal employee Performance Appraisal, if applicable;
5. Writing Sample, dated within the last five (5) years;
6. Other required supporting documents:

• College transcript(s) to confirm your education;
• Verification an active membership in good standing in a bar of a state, U.S. Territory, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth or Puerto Rico.

If you submit multiple copies of the same document, only your most recent uploaded document (by date & time stamp) will be considered. If your resume or supporting documents are illegible or unreadable, or if you fail to include any of the above-mentioned required documents, you may lose consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be considered further. If your application materials contain sensitive or inappropriate information, including but not limited to: photographs; classified or government sensitive information; copied and pasted portions of this job announcement; obscene information, etc., you may not be considered.

Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for non-selection, disqualification from further consideration or withdrawal of tentative or final job offers.


If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

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

Your application and supporting documents must be submitted and received through the online application process by 11:59 pm EST on the closing date of this announcement.

• To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account if you do not have one.
• You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
• To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

Agency contact information



Human Capital Office

Phone

202-804-7544

Email

employment@osc.gov

Address

Office of Special Counsel

1730 M St NW

Washington, DC 20036

US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email that your application was received.

Your application will be evaluated as outlined above and if you are found to be among the qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. We anticipate a large number of applicants, and only the top candidates will be contacted for interview. You will receive automated notifications through the USAjobs system as updates are available.

Selecting officials may choose any appropriate competitive, non-competitive or alternative candidate under Federal regulations and Agency policy. Interviews may be conducted individually, by panel, by third party, teleconference, video teleconference, or in person. Selecting officials have the option to interview any, all or none of the referred candidates. Management has the right to fill or not a fill this vacancy, as well as to cancel and re-announce as appropriate.

Additional Vacancies

This announcement may be used to fill additional or similar vacancies at the same or equivalent grade level.

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
• Criminal history inquiries
• Financial suitability
• Selective Service
• New employee probationary period
• Signature and false statements
• Privacy Act
• Social security number request