Organizational Location: This announcement will be used to fill multiple vacancies at Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) field locations. Although this announcement is advertised for multiple locations, it is not intended to convey that vacancies will be filled at all locations. The salary range listed is the base salary rate only. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.
Summary
Organizational Location: This announcement will be used to fill multiple vacancies at Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) field locations. Although this announcement is advertised for multiple locations, it is not intended to convey that vacancies will be filled at all locations. The salary range listed is the base salary rate only. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.
As a General Attorney, you will perform the following duties at the full performance level:
Represent the United States Government in removal proceedings before Immigration Judges, frequently involving applicants for asylum or for other forms of relief under immigration laws;
Provide expert legal counsel in the interpretation of highly complex immigration and customs laws including comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of statutory, regulatory and case authorities;
Prepare cases for trial by conducting legal research; preparing pleadings, motions, briefs, stipulations, affidavits, and other legal documents;
Prepare witnesses for trial; conducting direct examination and cross examination; presenting oral arguments advancing ICE's legal position; negotiating the disposition of cases with opposing counsel; and advising the Chief Counsel and/or Deputy Chief Counsel on cases potentially warranting deferred action or other exercise of prosecutorial discretion;
Construct litigation reports for U.S. Attorneys' Offices on civil matters pending in the federal courts involving ICE, and serves as liaison between DOJ's Office of lmmigration Litigation and the local ERO office on immigration matters pending in the Circuit Courts of Appeals;
Provide legal advice and support to the other ICE components and litigation support to United States Attorney's Offices in immigration and/or customs matters. The position also involves appellate advocacy before the Board of Immigration Appeals, including the preparation of briefs and other pleadings.
You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug screen for federal employment.
Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
Relevant Experience (see Qualifications and Evaluations Tab).
Requirements by Closing Date: You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Complete Application Package (see How to Apply Tab).
You may be required to serve a two-year trial period, if the requirement has not been met.
Qualifications
To qualify for the GS-11: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing and have one year of specialized experience;
To qualify for the GS-12: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing and have two years of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
To qualify for the GS-13: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing and have three years of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
To qualify for the GS-14: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing and have four years of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.
Examples of specialized experience include:
Skills in litigating cases before courts and must demonstrate proficiency in objecting to the admission of excludable evidence during trial;
Trial advocacy skills, including proficiency in the development of case strategies, direct examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and oral argument;
Experience involving contact with government witnesses, immigration judges, and opposing counsel in trying cases before an immigration court;
Reviewing memoranda of understanding, applications for search and/or arrest warrants, personal assistance agreements, requests for certification and re certification of undercover operations, affidavits in support of wire-taps, and related matters of investigatory concern to ICE officers and agents;
Outstanding written, oral advocacy and judgment skills; proficient organizational, communication and interpersonal relationship skills and the ability to function independently and as part of a team.
Bar Membership: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Qualifications by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of the announcement. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Vaccination: As required by Executive Order 14043, federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021. If your appointment or onboarding with the agency is after November 22, proof of vaccination must be provided prior to onboarding. Individuals who wish to request a legally required disability or religious exemption from this vaccination requirement should direct questions or requests to e-mail ICEReasonableAccommodation@ice.dhs.gov. Due to COVID-19, the component is currently in an expanded telework posture. Therefore, if selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area.
Education
Applicants must be a graduate of an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required.
Additional information
E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
Promotion Potential: This position has promotion potential to the GS-14. When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
Notice to Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, OPLA considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.
Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must attach supporting documents (e.g., DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. The SF-15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available at https://www.opm.gov/
Financial Disclosure: If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment.
Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
Background Investigation: DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for Secret as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
Drug Test: Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. All applicants tentatively selected for employment are subject to pre-employment drug testing and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative result.
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.
All information and documents submitted as set forth in the Required Documents Tab will be reviewed to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements and further evaluated as part of the application process.
Qualified candidates will be rated by comparing each candidate's qualifications to the skills and experience pertinent to the position to be filled. Experience, education, training, awards, and performance will be considered. An applicant need not have specific knowledge and experience with regard to each item listed in the Duties section in order to qualify for the position.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work through national Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious, community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that relates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience to be fully credited.
All the information you provide may be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references and through other means, such as the interview process. This verification may occur at any stage of the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible, not hiring you, or firing you after you begin work.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.
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.
You must include all required documentation, as set forth below, with your application package before the closing date. No extensions will be granted for required documents.
Cover Letter: Please use your cover letter to discuss your interest in the position; your pertinent knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience; and your personal characteristics and competencies that qualify you for the position as detailed in the Duties section of this announcement.
In addition, your cover letter must include the following information:
full name;
home address;
home or work e-mail address(es);
phone number(s) where we may contact you: cell, work, and/or home; and
name of the law school, year of graduation, and year admitted to the bar.
Resume: Your resume must include: announcement number, education, training, awards, and work experience. Work experience must include: job title, duties, employer's name, employer's telephone number, employer's address, starting and ending dates (MM/YY). Please indicate whether or not we may contact your current supervisor.
Writing Sample: A writing sample demonstrating your legal analytical abilities must be submitted as part of your application package, for which you must be the principal author. It should not exceed 10 double-spaced pages.
Transcript: If you have practiced law forless than five years, you must submit a copy of your law school transcript showing you possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and your transcript must include your grade-point average or class ranking. If you have practiced law for five years or more, your transcript is not required.
Bar Membership/Certificate of Good Standing: Submit a copy of your bar card, certificate of good standing, or other documentary evidence to prove that you are an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Proof of your current membership is required and must be dated within the previous six months.
Are you a current or former federal employee? Please submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows competitive service appointment, tenure group, and salary.
Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title, type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee), agency and beginning and ending dates of appointment.
Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable): If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives at www.archives.gov/veterans.
If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
If you are a disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage or call 1-800-827-1000.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) by the cut-off dates listed in order to be considered for that cut-off period.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. Applicants must apply online. If you need further assistance, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.
OPLA FIELD LEGAL OPS
8222 N Beltline Rd
IRVING, TX 75063
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration as needed to fill vacancies. Applicants who are referred to the hiring official for selection will receive an email notification. Highly qualified applicants may be contacted for an interview. If you are selected, a suitability/security background investigation will be conducted.
This is an open continuous announcement. Qualified applicants will only be referred to the hiring official for further consideration on an "as needed" basis.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
You must include all required documentation, as set forth below, with your application package before the closing date. No extensions will be granted for required documents.
Cover Letter: Please use your cover letter to discuss your interest in the position; your pertinent knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience; and your personal characteristics and competencies that qualify you for the position as detailed in the Duties section of this announcement.
In addition, your cover letter must include the following information:
full name;
home address;
home or work e-mail address(es);
phone number(s) where we may contact you: cell, work, and/or home; and
name of the law school, year of graduation, and year admitted to the bar.
Resume: Your resume must include: announcement number, education, training, awards, and work experience. Work experience must include: job title, duties, employer's name, employer's telephone number, employer's address, starting and ending dates (MM/YY). Please indicate whether or not we may contact your current supervisor.
Writing Sample: A writing sample demonstrating your legal analytical abilities must be submitted as part of your application package, for which you must be the principal author. It should not exceed 10 double-spaced pages.
Transcript: If you have practiced law forless than five years, you must submit a copy of your law school transcript showing you possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and your transcript must include your grade-point average or class ranking. If you have practiced law for five years or more, your transcript is not required.
Bar Membership/Certificate of Good Standing: Submit a copy of your bar card, certificate of good standing, or other documentary evidence to prove that you are an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Proof of your current membership is required and must be dated within the previous six months.
Are you a current or former federal employee? Please submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows competitive service appointment, tenure group, and salary.
Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title, type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee), agency and beginning and ending dates of appointment.
Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable): If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy) or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives at www.archives.gov/veterans.
If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
If you are a disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage or call 1-800-827-1000.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) by the cut-off dates listed in order to be considered for that cut-off period.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. Applicants must apply online. If you need further assistance, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.
OPLA FIELD LEGAL OPS
8222 N Beltline Rd
IRVING, TX 75063
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration as needed to fill vacancies. Applicants who are referred to the hiring official for selection will receive an email notification. Highly qualified applicants may be contacted for an interview. If you are selected, a suitability/security background investigation will be conducted.
This is an open continuous announcement. Qualified applicants will only be referred to the hiring official for further consideration on an "as needed" basis.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
