Join our team! The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking an experienced attorney to work in the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program. The PSOB provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty. Learn more about BJA and PSOB at www.bja.ojp.gov/program/psob.
Summary
Join our team! The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking an experienced attorney to work in the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program. The PSOB provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty. Learn more about BJA and PSOB at www.bja.ojp.gov/program/psob.
Legal Advice and Guidance under the PSOB Act
Provides advice on legal problems that affect a significant segment of public interest, but lack clearly applicable legal precedents due to the complexity of the program or the novelty of the issue. Advises on laws, regulations of federal agencies, opinions of the courts, common law, and administrative law.
Legal Support and Advice on PSOB Matters
Responsible for developing the materials that become the agency's justification for policies and procedures for legal review of claims for a high profile and mission critical public officers benefits program. Independently develops completed decisions, reports, briefs, opinions, and other products affiliated with difficult legal issues in a specialty area affecting a significant segment of public interest. Drafts legislation and regulations or prepares complete reports on changes in basic legislation and regulations pertaining to legal matters pertaining to the PSOB Program. Reviews proposed legislation and regulations to determine impact on the PSOB Program and drafts memoranda and guidance regarding the impact of the proposed changes on the PSOB Program. Evaluates and prepares written comments on the proposed legislation and regulations in terms of its foreseeable effect on agency programs, policies, procedures, regulations, methods of operation, extent of operation, and on existing legislation and regulations. Makes recommendations based on the comments of operating organizations, personal program knowledge, awareness of the legal implications of the proposed legislation, and knowledge of related legislation. Proposes alternative language or policy changes to draft legislation and recommendations changes as appropriate.
Legal Review and Edit of PSOB Work Products
Under the direction and in the absence of PSOB Counsel, oversees and manages the process for legal review of the PSOB claims. Responsible for training legal personnel assigned to the PSOB Program. Reviews and edits the work product of legal personnel assigned to the PSOB Program, ensuring legal and factual accuracy and Program consistency. Performs legal research in connection with issues of higher complexity that arise in particular claims of the Program and advises on Federal laws and regulations, rules and policies of the Department of Justice and other Federal agencies, opinions of the Agency's General Counsel, the common law, administrative law, and state laws (among others). Prepares and renders well-reasoned and thorough legal advice as required for claims before the Program. In coordination with the BJA and PSOB Directors and PSOB Legal Counsel, recommends policies and develops procedures and regulations to implement the PSOB Act.
This appointment is subject to the completion of a 2-year trial period.
This position requires active bar membership (any jurisdiction) in good standing.
Qualifications
Eligibility Requirements and Minimum Qualifications
To be eligible for this position, applicants must:
Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school; and
Be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction)
GS-13 Qualifications:
Have a minimum of three (3) years of post J.D./LL.B legal experience, two (2) of which must have been in at least one of the following areas:
In handling legal matters involving programs such as those providing disability, death, and education benefits, or other complex programs governed by law, regulation and procedures;
In handling Torts, insurance claims, workers' compensation or similar matters; or
Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB).
GS-14 Qualifications:
Have a minimum of four (4) years of post J.D./LL.B legal experience, three (3) of which must have been in at least one of the following areas:
In handling legal matters involving programs such as those providing disability, death, and education benefits, or other complex programs governed by law, regulation and procedures;
In handling Torts, insurance claims, workers' compensation or similar matters; or
Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB).
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
Applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree.
Additional information
This position has a duty station of Washington, D.C. The selectee will be required to physically report to the OJP office building at least two days per two-week pay period and may incorporate leave and official travel plans into this reporting requirement. The office director or supervisor may request the selectee's presence in the office more frequently, as determined by the needs of the office. The selectee will be responsible for covering all commuting-related travel expenses. OJP employees are eligible for one transportation benefit - parking or the Department of Justice (DOJ) transit subsidy.
This position may be eligible for telework per agency policy.
OJP offers opportunities for flexible work schedules.
Recruitment incentives may not be authorized.
This position included in the bargaining unit.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Please do not indicate current or former position salary in your application or resume.
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.
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 rated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the education, experience and training you report relative to this position which shows that you possess the knowledges, skills and abilities required. Paid or unpaid experience will be considered.
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.
REMINDER: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MIDNIGHT Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume (must include education, including name of undergraduate and law school, degree received and date graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment)
3. A writing sample demonstrating your legal analytical abilities, for which you must be the principal author (It should not exceed 10 double-spaced pages)
4. Unofficial law school transcripts (degree conferred must be reflected; official transcripts will be required if selected)
5. Proof of bar membership in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction)
6. Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable; see below for more information)
Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Veterans: 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 their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
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 supporting documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/16/2023to receive consideration. 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 r?sum? 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 need help with the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help Site .If you are unable to apply online, please contact Bradley Mitchell atBradley.Mitchell@usdoj.gov for alternate application procedures.
BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE
DO NOT MAIL
Washington, DC 20531
US
Next steps
Once your completed application is certified and received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
REMINDER: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MIDNIGHT Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume (must include education, including name of undergraduate and law school, degree received and date graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment)
3. A writing sample demonstrating your legal analytical abilities, for which you must be the principal author (It should not exceed 10 double-spaced pages)
4. Unofficial law school transcripts (degree conferred must be reflected; official transcripts will be required if selected)
5. Proof of bar membership in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction)
6. Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable; see below for more information)
Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Veterans: 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 their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
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 supporting documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/16/2023to receive consideration. 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 r?sum? 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 need help with the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help Site .If you are unable to apply online, please contact Bradley Mitchell atBradley.Mitchell@usdoj.gov for alternate application procedures.
BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE
DO NOT MAIL
Washington, DC 20531
US
Next steps
Once your completed application is certified and received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
