The Department of Justice, Criminal Division's Office of the Assistant Attorney General (OAAG) is seeking candidates to serve as Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General. This position may be filled through a non-reimbursable detail for current Department of Justice employees, including Assistant United States Attorneys. The opportunity is for six months with the possibility of extension. Applicants should receive management approval prior to applying.
Summary
The Department of Justice, Criminal Division's Office of the Assistant Attorney General (OAAG) is seeking candidates to serve as Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General. This position may be filled through a non-reimbursable detail for current Department of Justice employees, including Assistant United States Attorneys. The opportunity is for six months with the possibility of extension. Applicants should receive management approval prior to applying.
The responsibilities of the Senior Counsel position include:
Provide support, advice, and assistance on projects and programs for the Assistant Attorney General, the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, the Chief of Staff, and the Deputy Assistant Attorneys General in the Criminal Division "Front Office."
Communicate, both written and orally, about criminal cases, policy, and other Division matters.
Draft testimony, speeches, talking points, and internal Division communications.
Draft weekly internal Department and Division reports concerning criminal cases and other Division matters.
Review and edit documents and memoranda, including press releases, correspondence, and reports.
Analyze legal issues in individual criminal cases and policy matters, and prepare legal or other memoranda in response to inquiries or requirements originating from Department management, Congress, elsewhere in the Administration, and other interested parties.
Participate in meetings, working groups, and committees on matters of policy or administrative interest to the Division.
Respond to requests for information and documents from Department management, auditors, Congress, the White House, and through the Freedom of Information Act.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
Applicants must have, or be able to obtain through their Component/Agency, and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in analyzing programs and legal issues and making concise oral and written recommendations.
Experience in reviewing documents and responding to requests for information.
Experience working with inter-agency processes.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with high-ranking officials and representatives of law enforcement agencies and other federal agencies.
Strong organizational capabilities.
Ability to evaluate and analyze Division programs and activities, gather and compile data, analyze problems, and prepare well-written memoranda and other communications including with respect to emerging technologies.
Knowledge and understanding of the policies and programs of the Department of Justice and the Criminal Division.
Knowledge and experience with handling of federal criminal cases.
Self-motivated, with a high degree of initiative, adaptability, and resourcefulness.
Education
A J.D., or equivalent, degree.
Additional information
An in-person interview in Washington, D.C. may be required for this position prior to final selection. The cost of travel to the interview site will be the responsibility of the applicant unless otherwise stated. Reasonable accommodation requests will be considered on an individual basis as requested by a person with a disability. Declining an invitation to interview may remove you from further consideration.
The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a parent, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, on the basis of personal favoritism, or any non merit factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys' Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. Citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. Citizens are extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's 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.
The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
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.
BASIS OF RATING: Once the announcement closes, your application will be automatically evaluated and rated by the system and a Human Resources Specialist. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your application and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.
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, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf 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).
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.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes the Assessment Questionnaire and the Required Documents indicated below. The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on 02/17/2023.
A complete application package must include:
Cover Letter (highlighting relevant experience).
Resume - Applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in their resume. Applicants are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position and the technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. Resumes of any length will be accepted, however only information contained in the first five pages will be reviewed against the position requirements. Please ensure all information you believe is qualifying for the position is contained in the first five pages, or you may be marked ineligible. Additionally,your resume must include the following information for each job listed: month and year, start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008), and full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week).
Assessment Questionnaire (you will be prompted to complete this when you apply online).
Writing Sample - no more than 10 pages.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire.
Please ensure you click the "Submit My Answers" button at the end of the process.
Office of the Assistant Attorney General
c/o Human Resources
1400 New York Avenue NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
We will notify you of your status as a candidate after each step of the recruitment process (receipt of application, determination of basic qualifications, notice of forward to selecting official, and final selection). After extending a tentative job offer and receiving acceptance by the selectee, we will conduct an employment suitability/security background investigation to confirm that the selectee meets all requirements to fill the position. We expect to make a final job offer once all such reviews have been completed.
TCS Relocation/TDY Expenses
Detailee selected for this position may be eligible for either a temporary change of station (TCS) relocation or EX-TDY. Upon selection, a cost comparison will be conducted to evaluate which option will be offered if the detailee is outside the Washington, D.C. area.
If a candidate is offered EX-TDY, transportation, lodging and M&IE will be provided in accordance with government regulations, Department of Justice policy, and the governing Memorandum of Understanding between the detailee and Criminal Division.
If a candidate is offered TCS relocation, relocation expenses will be provided in accordance with government regulations, Department of Justice policy, and the governing Memorandum of Understanding between the detailee and Criminal Division.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes the Assessment Questionnaire and the Required Documents indicated below. The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on 02/17/2023.
A complete application package must include:
Cover Letter (highlighting relevant experience).
Resume - Applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in their resume. Applicants are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position and the technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. Resumes of any length will be accepted, however only information contained in the first five pages will be reviewed against the position requirements. Please ensure all information you believe is qualifying for the position is contained in the first five pages, or you may be marked ineligible. Additionally,your resume must include the following information for each job listed: month and year, start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008), and full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week).
Assessment Questionnaire (you will be prompted to complete this when you apply online).
Writing Sample - no more than 10 pages.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire.
Please ensure you click the "Submit My Answers" button at the end of the process.
Office of the Assistant Attorney General
c/o Human Resources
1400 New York Avenue NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
We will notify you of your status as a candidate after each step of the recruitment process (receipt of application, determination of basic qualifications, notice of forward to selecting official, and final selection). After extending a tentative job offer and receiving acceptance by the selectee, we will conduct an employment suitability/security background investigation to confirm that the selectee meets all requirements to fill the position. We expect to make a final job offer once all such reviews have been completed.
TCS Relocation/TDY Expenses
Detailee selected for this position may be eligible for either a temporary change of station (TCS) relocation or EX-TDY. Upon selection, a cost comparison will be conducted to evaluate which option will be offered if the detailee is outside the Washington, D.C. area.
If a candidate is offered EX-TDY, transportation, lodging and M&IE will be provided in accordance with government regulations, Department of Justice policy, and the governing Memorandum of Understanding between the detailee and Criminal Division.
If a candidate is offered TCS relocation, relocation expenses will be provided in accordance with government regulations, Department of Justice policy, and the governing Memorandum of Understanding between the detailee and Criminal Division.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
