The Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the Office of General Counsel mission is commercial legal reform: CLDP helps developing countries improve the policy, legal, and regulatory conditions for doing sustainable business, thereby creating better economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs and American companies doing business overseas. CLDP provides training, advisory and consultative services to host country governments.
Summary
The Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the Office of General Counsel mission is commercial legal reform: CLDP helps developing countries improve the policy, legal, and regulatory conditions for doing sustainable business, thereby creating better economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs and American companies doing business overseas. CLDP provides training, advisory and consultative services to host country governments.
The Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the Office of General Counsel is seeking individuals with exceptional analytical, organizational and interpersonal communication skills to join our outstanding team of international technical assistance Attorney-Advisors.
The Attorney(s) will be hired at the GS-12, GS-13, or GS-14 grade levels, depending on experience. The promotion potential for this position is GS-14 level.
CLDP’s team of Attorney-Advisors nimbly advise on the range of commercial legal reforms, drawing on their own expertise and that of world class experts in our network. As an Attorney-Advisor you will be on the front lines of our growing portfolio in the Indo-Pacific region and you will perform the following duties:
Engaging in cutting-edge legal reform work around the globe;
Consulting with foreign government officials;
Assessing development needs and barriers to investment; and
Designing, implementing and evaluating legal reform technical assistance programs that meet the host countries’ economic development needs and are in line with US policy goals.
You must be registered for Selective Service if applicable (www.sss.gov).
Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
Confidential Financial Disclosure filing is required for this positon.
Financial disclosure statement (OGE Form 450) is required for the GS-13.
A two year trial period may be required.
Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
SECURITY CLEARANCE: You must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET Clearance.
Frequent international travel is required. Attorney-Advisors in this position carry out many of their programs in the host countries around the globe.
Qualifications
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.
Specialized Experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service.
Basic requirement for all grade levels: You must be a graduate, with an LL.B. or J. D. from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be a 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.
In addition to the basic requirement, for the GS-12, the next lower grade level is a GS-11. Specialized experience for this position includes: two years of experience working with Asia and experience in legal matters involving interagency consultation, negotiations, agreements and active client engagement; i.e., interacting and advising policy staff of administrative laws, regulations and rules bearing directly having implications for the client's current of proposed policies.
In addition to the basic requirement, for the GS-13, the next lower grade level is a GS-12. Specialized experience for this position includes: three to five years of experience working with Asia and experience in legal matters involving interagency consultation, negotiations, agreements and active client engagement; i.e., interacting and advising policy staff of administrative laws, regulations and rules bearing directly having implications for the client's current of proposed policies.
In addition to the basic requirement, for the GS-14, the next lower grade level is a GS-13. Specialized experience for this position includes: five years of experience working with Asia and experience in legal matters involving interagency consultation, negotiations, agreements and active client engagement; i.e., interacting and advising policy staff of administrative laws, regulations and rules bearing directly having implications for the client's current of proposed policies.
The following experience is preferred but not required:
Prior experience and/or familiarity in working with foreign governments and/or development finance institutions is strongly preferred.
Prior experience working in South or Southeast Asia is strongly preferred.
Prior experience or understanding of procurement, anti-corruption, and arbitration is preferred, but not required.
Fluency in any South or Southeastern Asian language (such as but not limited to: Vietnamese, Bahasa, Bengali, Hindi, Thai, Malay) is strongly preferred, but not required.
Applicants may be hired at either of the grades shown in this announcement.
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 positive education requirement. Official or unofficial transcripts must be submitted with your application package.
Applicants must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or Master of Laws (L.L.M.) degree from an ABA accredited law school.
Prior to receiving a formal offer, you will be asked to submit an official law school transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualifications Policies for more information. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: 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 in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website: Foreign Credential Evaluation. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course-by-course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Additional information
This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.
CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action” documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
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 stated herein. Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process.
Please be advised that Office of the Secretary Attorney positions are in the Excepted Service. As such, these positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures. There are no numerical rating systems through which to apply veterans preference; however, the Office of the Secretary favorably considers veterans preference eligibility in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume, and to attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD Form-214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
If eligible and meeting basic qualifications, your application package will be evaluated in conjunction with your résumé and supporting documents for the below required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position:
KSA 1 - Demonstrated knowledge of research strategies and techniques sufficient to research legal issues where no clear applicable precedents are available or it is arguable which precedents apply.
KSA 2 - Demonstrated knowledge of statutes and regulations authorizing agency action as well as in-depth knowledge of relevant case law.
KSA 3 - Demonstrated knowledge of procedural rules and regulations such as Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) or appellate procedures sufficient to meet all procedural requirements inherent in the type of issue with which the incumbent is dealing (e.g., sufficient knowledge of Merits Systems Protections Board procedures to conduct all aspects of hearing for agency).
KSA 4 - Demonstrated knowledge of (and experience) implementing international development projects.
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.
Cover letter. Address demonstrated interests and qualifications as it relates to the position.
Resume showing relevant experience.Your resume must indicate your citizenship and, if you are a male born after December 31, 1959, whether you are registered for Selective Service. Your resume should also list your educational and work experience, including the dates (mm/dd/yy). For work in the Federal Service, please include the grade level for the position(s).
Copy of law school transcript (Unofficial copy is sufficient, but official copy must be submitted before appointment). You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
Certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing. Prior to receiving a formal offer, you will be asked to provide a certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing.
Current and former Federal employees: You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows competitive or excepted service appointment, tenure group, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please submit the SF-50 showing the highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. Please note: performance award, details, and realignments are not acceptable SF-50s.
Failure to provide such documents when requested may result in lost consideration.
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.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or by phone at (866) 656-6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement.
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
1401 Constitution Ave. NW
Rm 50030
Attn- Human Resources
Washington, District of Columbia 20230
United States
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov and clicking on “Track Your Online Application.” The four points of notification are:
Application Received or Application Incomplete
Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Not Met;
Eligible (Application Referred to the Selecting Official) or Not Eligible (Application Not Referred to the Selecting Official); and
Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans’ preference, disability, etc.).
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Cover letter. Address demonstrated interests and qualifications as it relates to the position.
Resume showing relevant experience.Your resume must indicate your citizenship and, if you are a male born after December 31, 1959, whether you are registered for Selective Service. Your resume should also list your educational and work experience, including the dates (mm/dd/yy). For work in the Federal Service, please include the grade level for the position(s).
Copy of law school transcript (Unofficial copy is sufficient, but official copy must be submitted before appointment). You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
Certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing. Prior to receiving a formal offer, you will be asked to provide a certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing.
Current and former Federal employees: You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, which shows competitive or excepted service appointment, tenure group, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please submit the SF-50 showing the highest (permanent) grade ever held, if different from your current grade. Please note: performance award, details, and realignments are not acceptable SF-50s.
Failure to provide such documents when requested may result in lost consideration.
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.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or by phone at (866) 656-6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
For instructions on submitting your application in an alternate format, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement.
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
1401 Constitution Ave. NW
Rm 50030
Attn- Human Resources
Washington, District of Columbia 20230
United States
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov and clicking on “Track Your Online Application.” The four points of notification are:
Application Received or Application Incomplete
Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Not Met;
Eligible (Application Referred to the Selecting Official) or Not Eligible (Application Not Referred to the Selecting Official); and
Selected or Not Selected.
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans’ preference, disability, etc.).
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
