This position is with the Office of Inspector General, Office of General Counsel, in Washington, District of Columbia. The incumbent reports to the Deputy General Counsel for the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and Federal Records Act and serves as a Counsel for Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and Federal Records Act issues.
Summary
This position is with the Office of Inspector General, Office of General Counsel, in Washington, District of Columbia. The incumbent reports to the Deputy General Counsel for the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and Federal Records Act and serves as a Counsel for Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and Federal Records Act issues.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Serving on a term appointment does not confer competitive status.
As an Attorney-Adviser, GS-0905-11, you will perform the following major duties:
Performs a variety of legal duties such as researching factually complex legal issues; developing drafts of letters, memoranda, and legal documents for review and approval by the Deputy Counsel or for use by a senior OGC attorney.
Prepares or assists OGC attorneys in preparing cases for administrative and judicial hearings and/or trials.
Under the direction of General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, provides advice and counsel to audit and investigations personnel in connection with program and operation oversight conducted under the Inspector General Act.
Reviews policies and processes for legal sufficiency, and addresses issues arising during the conduct of audits and investigations, and the legal implications and conclusions to be drawn from them.
Under the supervision of the General Counsel and Deputy Counsel, provides input and/or draft documents that formulate the OIG position on legislative and regulatory matters, including OIG and Departmental directives of interest to the IG.
Assists with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) program compliance throughout the Office of Inspector General
Reviews and responds to FOIA and PA requests for release as well as FOIA and PA appeals.
Keeps abreast of recent developments in FOIA law, including recent court decisions and Department of Interior guidance, current legislative resolutions, or problems encouraged within the FOIA program.
Directly involved in all FOIA litigation against the Office of Inspector General, including preparing affidavits and other materials in support of litigation defense.
Successful completion of a background investigation.
Will be subject to initial and random drug testing.
May be required to complete a two year trial period.
OGE-450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report may be required.
Must have a current Bar License in Good Standing
This position is in the Excepted Service
Qualifications
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Minimum Qualifications GS-11:
Must be an active member of the bar in good standing of a U.S. state or territory and be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association
Education
You must have earned a professional law degree (e.g. J.D.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member and be in good standing of the Bar in a State or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Additional information
Applicants must meet initial and periodic suitability determinations based on favorable background investigations and updates.
Additional selections may be made within 90 days from the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
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.
Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
Veterans' Preference:There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the OIG 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.
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.
All documentation, applicable to you, must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit the required documents will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
Resume (required) - Your resume must sufficiently describe how your experience fully meets the specialized experience requirements as stated in this announcement for each grade level(s) you are applying (see "Qualifications" section). Your resume must also support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. We cannot assume you have performed the experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career. We strongly recommend you use the USA Jobs online Resume Builder to submit a resume. If you choose to use your own formatted resume, you must ensure it contains all of the following for each experience/position listed: job title, name of employer, beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format), hours worked per week, detailed description of duties performed, and if a Federal position, series and grade or equivalent. We will not access web pages linked on your resume to determine your qualifications. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information.
Proof of Bar Membership (required) - Documentation of active bar membership in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar will be required. 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.).
Transcripts (required) - Transcripts reflecting completion of a professional law degree (e.g. J.D.) from an ABA accredited law school must be submitted with your application. However, if selected, Official transcripts will be required prior to your entrance on duty date.
Veteran's Preference Documentation - Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and other supporting documentation). If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your unit which states the date you entered active duty and the date you are separating. Your separation date must be within 90 days of the closing date of this announcement.
To apply for this job opportunity, you must submit complete application package including a resume and an on-line application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. This information will be transferred to the Department of Interior's OIG Automated Application System. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) 11/15/2021 to complete the following application process:
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 fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before your entry on duty date with Office of Inspector General, if after November 22. DOI will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of Office of Inspector General a legally required exception from this requirement.
Due to COVID-19, the Office of Inspector General is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement in accordance with the Department's reentry procedures provided by your Servicing Human Resources Office. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days per pay period depending upon the terms of the Department of the Interior's telework policy.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application, which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact HR Assistant at doioig_vacancies@doioig.gov or 703-487-5408 to obtain an alternative application. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Paper applications and information sent by mail WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
1849 C St.
Washington, DC 20240
US
Next steps
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/
Note: If a determination is made that qualifications and/or experience have been inflated, your score will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities.
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the closing date of the announcement, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be notified by email of your rating and/or referral of your resume to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. You will be informed of the outcome via e-mail. We expect to make a selection within 45 to 60 days of the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
All documentation, applicable to you, must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit the required documents will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
Resume (required) - Your resume must sufficiently describe how your experience fully meets the specialized experience requirements as stated in this announcement for each grade level(s) you are applying (see "Qualifications" section). Your resume must also support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. We cannot assume you have performed the experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career. We strongly recommend you use the USA Jobs online Resume Builder to submit a resume. If you choose to use your own formatted resume, you must ensure it contains all of the following for each experience/position listed: job title, name of employer, beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format), hours worked per week, detailed description of duties performed, and if a Federal position, series and grade or equivalent. We will not access web pages linked on your resume to determine your qualifications. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information.
Proof of Bar Membership (required) - Documentation of active bar membership in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar will be required. 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.).
Transcripts (required) - Transcripts reflecting completion of a professional law degree (e.g. J.D.) from an ABA accredited law school must be submitted with your application. However, if selected, Official transcripts will be required prior to your entrance on duty date.
Veteran's Preference Documentation - Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and other supporting documentation). If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your unit which states the date you entered active duty and the date you are separating. Your separation date must be within 90 days of the closing date of this announcement.
To apply for this job opportunity, you must submit complete application package including a resume and an on-line application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. This information will be transferred to the Department of Interior's OIG Automated Application System. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) 11/15/2021 to complete the following application process:
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 fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before your entry on duty date with Office of Inspector General, if after November 22. DOI will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of Office of Inspector General a legally required exception from this requirement.
Due to COVID-19, the Office of Inspector General is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement in accordance with the Department's reentry procedures provided by your Servicing Human Resources Office. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days per pay period depending upon the terms of the Department of the Interior's telework policy.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application, which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact HR Assistant at doioig_vacancies@doioig.gov or 703-487-5408 to obtain an alternative application. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Paper applications and information sent by mail WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
1849 C St.
Washington, DC 20240
US
Next steps
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/
Note: If a determination is made that qualifications and/or experience have been inflated, your score will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities.
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the closing date of the announcement, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be notified by email of your rating and/or referral of your resume to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. You will be informed of the outcome via e-mail. We expect to make a selection within 45 to 60 days of the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
