As a Law Clerk or Attorney, you will be part of the Attorney Honors Program. The Attorney Honors Program is an exciting opportunity for entry level Attorneys and Law Clerks to start a public service career and gain substantial legal experience as a Trial Attorney, Attorney Examiner (Administrative Judge), General Attorney, or Attorney Advisor within EEOC.
The selectee will be required to report to a duty station at Washington, DC (Headquarters) or one of the 53 EEOC Field Offices.
Summary
As a Law Clerk or Attorney, you will be part of the Attorney Honors Program. The Attorney Honors Program is an exciting opportunity for entry level Attorneys and Law Clerks to start a public service career and gain substantial legal experience as a Trial Attorney, Attorney Examiner (Administrative Judge), General Attorney, or Attorney Advisor within EEOC.
The selectee will be required to report to a duty station at Washington, DC (Headquarters) or one of the 53 EEOC Field Offices.
Open to applicants who meet criteria outlined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement. The Agency underscores criteria for this program can be met by individuals who entered law school after significant employment experience in another field as well as those who entered law school immediately or soon after receiving an undergraduate degree. The Attorney Honors Program is aimed not at people of a specific age group, but at people who are new to the practice of law.
Participants will support higher graded attorneys in the preparation and presentation of litigation cases within areas such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (Title VII).
Participants will review recommendations of reasonable cause decisions submitted by Enforcement Staff to determine whether investigations have developed sufficient evidence of statutory violations to support litigation.
Participants will develop supporting documentation to assist higher graded attorneys in deciding on whether to initiate or decline litigation in connection with enforcing statutory requirements of the aforementioned Acts.
Participants will assist in the preparation and introduction of documentary evidence, pretrial orders, motions, briefs, jury instructions, voir dire, verdict forms, post-trial briefs, findings of fact and conclusions of law, and other documents.
Participants will assist in the preparation of written and oral arguments on pre-trial, trial and post-trial motions in court and conferences and for hearings before Federal District Judges and Federal Magistrates.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see: https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
You will be required to successfully complete a 2-year trial period
This position is in the Excepted Service
Law Clerk Appointees are required to pass a Bar examination within 14 months of entry on duty and be duly licensed to practice as an attorney in a U.S. state, territory or the District of Columbia
Attorney Appointees must have an Active Bar Membership in Good Standing. If selected, must maintain active Bar membership in good standing while employed as an attorney with EEOC
Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation
Qualifications
General Eligibility Requirements: The Attorney Honors Program is aimed not at people of a specific age group, but at people who are new to the practice of law. You are eligible to apply for the 2023 Attorney Honors Program if you meet one of the following criteria:
Third-year law student who will complete your studies in the spring/summer 2023; or
Full-time graduate law student expected to graduate in spring/summer 2023. Graduate study must have immediately followed law school graduation with no significant post- J.D. employment and must be full-time for the duration of graduate law study; or
Judicial Law Clerk prior to the application deadline and clerkship will be completed prior to September 30, 2023.The clerkship generally, must begin no later than one OR two years post-J.D. Applicants may serve in a single one or two-year clerkship or in two consecutive one-year clerkships. The clerkship may be no more than two years in duration.
The Agency underscores that these criteria can be met by individuals who entered law school after significant employment experience in another field as well as those who entered law school immediately or soon after receiving an undergraduate degree.
NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted to verify education. If transcripts (official or unofficial) are not submitted, candidates will not be deemed eligible for this position. Candidates must have successfully completed their LL.B. or J.D. program no later than the summer of 2023 in order to be eligible for appointment as an Honors Attorney at the EEOC.
Qualifying Education/Experience
Law Clerk GS-0904 Requirements:
Law school graduates who are not yet admitted to the Bar when they start in the Attorney Honors Program will be placed in Law Clerk positions at the GS-11 level. Note: Third year law students graduating in spring/summer 2023 will be required to provide proof of law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) or equivalent training prior to entry on duty.
Once successfully admitted to the Bar, Law Clerks will be eligible for conversion to an Attorney position.
There is no promotion potential for the Law Clerk position.
GS-11:
1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) or equivalent training. Equivalent training is training permitted in some States in lieu of attendance at law school. To be accepted, this training must be of the kind and nature required by the State in which the Bar examination is taken or will be taken.
2. Law Clerk, GS-0904-11 positions:
(a) Must present evidence of superior law student work or activities, demonstrated by one of the following:
- Academic standing in the upper 30 percent of the law school graduating class; or
- Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif; or
- Participation on law journal; or
- Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team which represents the law school in competition with other law schools; or
- Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.
(b) Other qualifying experience may include: one year of professional non-legal experience at the GS-9 level or equivalent. Examples of this non- legal experience include:
- Experience as an Equal Opportunity Specialist or Paralegal Specialist; or
- Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program, as opposed to one time, intermittent, or casual participation; or
- Significant summer or school-year law office clerk experience.
Attorney GS-0905 Requirements:
Law school graduates who have been admitted to the Bar when they start in the Attorney Honors Program will be placed in Attorney positions at the GS-11 or GS-12 level, depending on prior experience.
GS-11:
You possess a first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) or equivalent training and admission to the Bar.
GS-12:
You possess a first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) or equivalent training, admission to the Bar and one year of professional legal experience at the GS-11 level or equivalent.
Substitution of Education for Experience:
Professional legal education above the first professional law degree may be substituted for experience as follows:
1. The second professional law degree (LL.M.) may be substituted for 1 year of experience.
2. The third law degree (J.S.D.) may be substituted for 1 year of experience beyond the LL.M.
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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
This position has a basic education requirement listed under the Qualifications section of this announcement.
All Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may verify accreditation at the following website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing if selected.
Additional information
Attorney Honors Program Candidates are hired, for a 2-year term appointment which may become permanent upon satisfactory completion of the program.
GS-0904 Law Clerks: Failure to pass the Bar exam within 14 months of appointment will result in termination of the appointment.
The GS-0904 Law Clerk position does not have promotion potential.
The GS-0905 Attorney position has promotion potential to the GS-14 level.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across EEOC.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, please refer to the agency contact information.
Interviews and selections will be based upon applicant interest and expertise. Selected participants will be assigned to one of the following Program Offices:
Office of Field Programs: The participant may be assigned to the National Hearings Program, where they will experience firsthand the EEOC's enforcement of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination in federal agencies. Career development will include direct communication with National Hearings Program leaders and administrative judges, and access to agency-wide networks through collaborations and informal mentorships with select agency leaders.
Office of Federal Operations: The participant may be assigned to the Office of Federal Operations which works to advance America's ideal of equal opportunity for more than 2 million federal civilian workers. The participant will be given an opportunity to bring positive change to the nation's largest employer by: writing published appellate decisions that decide discrimination cases; enacting government-wide affirmative employment policies; conducting cutting-edge employment research; and training thousands to prevent employment discrimination. You can also work temporarily at another agency to gain new skills.
Office of General Counsel: The participant may serve as a trial attorney in an EEOC district legal unit and will handle the full range of responsibilities for preparing and litigating employment discrimination cases in federal district court. They will advise investigators, draft litigation recommendations, conduct civil discovery, research, draft, and argue motions, negotiate settlements, and conduct trials. As an appellate attorney in OGC-HQ, they will represent the Commission on appeals and amicus matters in the federal appellate courts.
Office of Legal Counsel: The participant may be assigned to the EEOC's policy office responsible for drafting regulations, guidance, and technical assistance for the for the Commission's consideration. It also is the agency's in-house counsel, defending the agency in suits and providing legal advice on a wide range of topics. The successful participant will be placed in one OLC unit after having an opportunity to perform assignments from both of the office's functions.
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.
The specialist will perform an initial review of applications to determine basic eligibility and qualifications for the position. The evaluation involves a determination of basic eligibility and minimum qualifications only and numeric scores will not be assigned.
The EEOC reviews many facets of a candidate's background, including academic achievement, writing skills, law review and/or moot court experience, clinic or extracurricular activities, and an interest in government service and/or the communications sector. Qualified applicants may be invited for interviews. Our typical review and selection process involves both interviews and reference checks.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Cover Letter is Strongly Encouraged.
Your Resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, duties performed and list three professional references.
This position has a basic education requirement; you must submit a copy of your official or unofficial law school Transcripts for further consideration. An official transcript is required before being appointed. Candidates must have successfully completed their J.D. or LL.B. program no later than the summer of 2023 in order to be eligible for appointment as an Honors Attorney at the EEOC.
If you are applying for an Attorney, GS-0905 position, you must provide proof of recent application for Bar Membership or proof of current active Bar Membership which is in good standing. During the initial review of applications, the Agency will accept photocopies of Bar Membership Cards or screenshots providing proof of active membership in a Bar Association that reflects the Bar's jurisdiction or territory, the attorney's full name, Bar number, date of admission, and Bar status (i.e., active, inactive, retired, etc.).
If you are applying for a Law Clerk, GS-0904 position, you must provide evidence of superior law student work or activities. Superior law activities include the following: academic standing in the upper 30 percent of the law school graduating class; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school such as election to the Order of the Coif; participation on law journal; winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team which represents the law school in competition with other law schools; or other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.
Copy of one recent Legal Writing Sample, not to exceed 10 pages.
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active-Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.)
Current or Former Political Appointees (if applicable) - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are a currently or have been a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch within the last 5 years, you must disclose this in your application package.
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/05/2023 to receive consideration.
To view the Assessment Questionnaire before applying online, click on this link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11813974
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.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into https://login.usajobs.gov/Access/Transition 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.
Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the EEOC 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 application submission documentation.
All employees of the Federal government are subject to the conflict of interest statutes and regulations including the Standards of Ethical Conduct that govern activities with outside organizations and reporting financial holdings. This position may require the incumbent to complete a confidential financial disclosure report within 30 days of appointment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The EEOC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the HR Specialist listed in this vacancy. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.TTY users may contact us via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
131 M Street, NE
Washington, DC 20507
US
Next steps
The questionnaire will assess your qualifications for the job, and will be used to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. Your ratings in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application.
We expect to make a job offer within 40 days after the closing date of the announcement. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Cover Letter is Strongly Encouraged.
Your Resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, duties performed and list three professional references.
This position has a basic education requirement; you must submit a copy of your official or unofficial law school Transcripts for further consideration. An official transcript is required before being appointed. Candidates must have successfully completed their J.D. or LL.B. program no later than the summer of 2023 in order to be eligible for appointment as an Honors Attorney at the EEOC.
If you are applying for an Attorney, GS-0905 position, you must provide proof of recent application for Bar Membership or proof of current active Bar Membership which is in good standing. During the initial review of applications, the Agency will accept photocopies of Bar Membership Cards or screenshots providing proof of active membership in a Bar Association that reflects the Bar's jurisdiction or territory, the attorney's full name, Bar number, date of admission, and Bar status (i.e., active, inactive, retired, etc.).
If you are applying for a Law Clerk, GS-0904 position, you must provide evidence of superior law student work or activities. Superior law activities include the following: academic standing in the upper 30 percent of the law school graduating class; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school such as election to the Order of the Coif; participation on law journal; winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team which represents the law school in competition with other law schools; or other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.
Copy of one recent Legal Writing Sample, not to exceed 10 pages.
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active-Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.)
Current or Former Political Appointees (if applicable) - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are a currently or have been a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch within the last 5 years, you must disclose this in your application package.
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/05/2023 to receive consideration.
To view the Assessment Questionnaire before applying online, click on this link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11813974
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.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into https://login.usajobs.gov/Access/Transition 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.
Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the EEOC 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 application submission documentation.
All employees of the Federal government are subject to the conflict of interest statutes and regulations including the Standards of Ethical Conduct that govern activities with outside organizations and reporting financial holdings. This position may require the incumbent to complete a confidential financial disclosure report within 30 days of appointment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The EEOC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the HR Specialist listed in this vacancy. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.TTY users may contact us via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
131 M Street, NE
Washington, DC 20507
US
Next steps
The questionnaire will assess your qualifications for the job, and will be used to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. Your ratings in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents and references you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application.
We expect to make a job offer within 40 days after the closing date of the announcement. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
