Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. citizens.

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 125 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 125th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.  

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a General Attorney, GS-0905-11/12, you will be responsible for:

• Drafting and reviewing varied documents and instruments, including policy issuances, official notices, regulations and proposed legislation and letters and agreements concerning programs of the Department of Education.
• Providing formal and informal legal advice on a variety of legal issues relating to the Department of Education's higher education and Federal student financial aid programs.
• Serving as liaison with the Department of Justice in litigation relating to those programs, and drafting and reviewing briefs, memoranda, motions, stipulations, and other litigation-related documents.
• Preparing the administrative record of decisions made by the Department as required for litigation. As needed, prepares responses to discovery requests and subpoenas served on the Department and assists with preparing Department witnesses and represents the Department in depositions of those witnesses.
• Anticipating potential legal difficulties and devising means to avoid these difficulties.
• Representing the Department's Federal Student Aid office in administrative proceedings before the Department’s Office of Hearings and Appeals and other administrative tribunals.
• Working with experienced attorneys and performing duties with a degree of discretion and independent judgment. Consulting with the Assistant General Counsel and Deputy General Counsels in DPE as needed.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

The duties above are at the GS-11 level. The GS-12 level will have more complexity and less supervision.

Conditions of employment

• Relocation will not be paid.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be a US Citizen

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy 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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Conditions of Employment

TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY:

• You may be eligible for occasional telework in which you are required to report to the office on a regular basis. Participation must be requested and approved by the supervisor and there must be a signed telework agreement. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor. You must have access to high speed internet and cell phone service meeting current Agency policy from the approved work location.  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements for GS-11:

1. You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

AND

2. Proof of admission to the Bar of the highest court of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and current membership in such Bar as would permit the practice of law. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

3. Has one-year professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, OR

Has a second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study OR

Has a record showing superior law schoolwork, or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class.
2. Work or achievement of significance on his/her law school’s official law review.
3. Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif.
4. Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools.
5. Full-time or continuous participation, for one year or two semesters of law school, in a legal aid program (as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation).
6. Significant summer law office clerk experience after beginning law school.
7. Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-11:

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-09 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience performing complex legal research and sound legal analyses and presenting the results in a clear, precise and persuasive manner.
2. Experience preparing legal advice on the interpretation of Federal or state laws, including statutes, regulations, or Federal and State court cases, in a professional or academic context, and presenting the advice in an oral or written form.
3. Experience working in a team environment to collaborate with other professionals, support staff and clients.

Minimum Qualification Requirements for GS-12:

1. You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

AND

2. Proof of admission to the Bar of the highest court of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and current membership in such Bar as would permit the practice of law. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

3. Has two years professional legal experience, at least one of the two years must be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, OR

Has one year professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, PLUS a second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study OR

Has one year professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, PLUS record showing superior law schoolwork, or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class.
2. Work or achievement of significance on his/her law school’s official law review.
3. Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif.
4. Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools.
5. Full-time or continuous participation, for one year or two semesters of law school, in a legal aid program (as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation).
6. Significant summer law office clerk experience after beginning law school.
7. Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-12:

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-11 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience providing legal advice on matters related to higher education or corporate law.
2. Experience researching and/or litigating legal issues relating to Federal programs.
3. Experience performing or assisting with litigation including the preparation of briefs, motions and other litigation filings.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your application and documentation submitted to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications and competencies listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the Monster Competency Based Assessment(s) required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Non-Supervisory: Oral Communications, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management

We will refer the best qualified candidates to the Selecting Official of the job for further review and consideration. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet qualifications required, and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with this position as defined below. Please be sure to give examples in your resume and explain how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possessed, the level of people you interacted with, and the complexity and sensitivity of the issues you handled.