An Attorney Advisor for the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA or Board), must be able to handle all types of appeals, including those of exceptional difficulty, complexity or controversy. This position requires expert knowledge of the laws and regulations pertaining to Veterans' benefits, as set forth primarily in title 38 of the United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations; the precedent decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit), and the United States Supreme Court; and the precedent decisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) General Counsel. The jurisdiction of BVA extends to all questions of law and fact under laws that affect the provision of benefits by the Secretary to Veterans or their dependents or survivors. As a new Attorney with BVA you will receive formal training in the professional appellate work performed in the Board of Veterans Appeals to perform the following:

 MAJOR DUTIES:

• Review and evaluate medical and lay evidence.
• Draft tentative appellate decisions for review and signature by a Veterans Law Judge.
• Apply the laws administered by VA to the facts in the individual cases.
• Conduct research on legal and medical questions encountered in case review.
• Draft legal briefs outlining the facts at issue and provide recommendations for appropriate action.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• A complete application package: Resume, Transcripts, Bar Membership, etc.

Physical Requirements: The work is physically demanding and consists of the incumbent transporting rolling carts weighing up to 100 pounds, routine bending and lifting of claims folders, boxes, or other items weighing approximately 20 pounds. Filing and retrieving folders, boxes, and other items that can weigh approximately 20 pounds on shelves that require the use of a step stool. Occasionally, it will be necessary to lift and carry larger and heavier files.

Time-in-grade: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS-

BAR MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS: Be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Where the duties of the position call for appearance in court, the applicant must be a member in good standing of the bar, or be eligible for admission to the bar, of the State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia which they will serve.

EDUCATION: Possess a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree from a law school or be awarded such before appointment. NOTE: The education requirements are not applicable to those employees serving in Attorney positions in the VA as of September 1, 1968. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide documentation or proof that he or she has met the applicable educational requirements for substitution.

Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will not be accepted. An unofficial transcript; statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable at the time of application. Education submitted must be appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at http://www.ed.gov/.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

GS-11: One year of experience as described below, or Possession of the LL.M. / JD degree, or Graduation in the upper one-third of his/her law class or one of the six alternate options of the Superior Law Student Program:

1. Work or achievement of significance on his/her school's Official Law Review;
2. Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif;
3. Winning a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team which represents the law school in competition with other law schools;
4. Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program as opposed to one-shot, intermittent or casual participation;
5. Significant summer law-office clerk experience; or
6. Other equivalent evidence of superior achievement.

Candidates applying under this option will be required to furnish certification from the registrar of ranking and other attainments in law school.

EXPERIENCE: In one or any combination of the following types in the amounts indicated for each grade following:

• Practice of law.
• Other legal experience of a responsible nature in any or a combination of the following: As a law clerk; in legal research; in analysis of statutes; or in examination, investigation, or adjustment of claims arising under law, contract, or governmental order.
• In the military, naval, or other Federal service in the disposition of legal problems, as a reviewing officer, as a member of courts or boards, or investigation activities.

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; religions; 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position.

• Ability to conduct de novo review of appellant records and prepare tentative decisions.
• Ability to research legal, and or medical related questions.
• Ability to function as a team member including consistently demonstrating professional and cooperative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, conscientiously adhering to established office administrative policies and procedures, effectively participating in training or learning activities.
• Ability to communicate in writing.
• Ability to communicate verbally.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but is not limited to; responses to the competencies; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.