This position is located in the Office of Solicitor, in Chicago, IL. The regional offices have responsibility for civil litigation before U.S. District Courts and administrative law judges under the laws enforced by the Department of Labor. This position is outside the bargaining unit.
Summary
This position is located in the Office of Solicitor, in Chicago, IL. The regional offices have responsibility for civil litigation before U.S. District Courts and administrative law judges under the laws enforced by the Department of Labor. This position is outside the bargaining unit.
Current DOL policy requires on-site work at least 5 days per pay period. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.
Under the direction of more senior attorneys and counsels the incumbent litigates and provides assistance on cases related to the:
Under the direction of more senior attorneys the incumbent assists on cases related to the:
Employee Retirement Income Security Act:
Fair Labor Standards Act:
Occupational Safety and Health Act:
Mine Safety and Health Act:
Davis-Bacon and Related Acts:
McNamara- O'Hara Service Contract Act;
Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act;
Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act;
Black Lung Benefits Act;
Employment Retirement Income Security Act;
Family and Medical Leave Act;
Executive Order 11246;
Handling internal labor and employment-related litigation involving Department of Labor employees within the Region, including:
appeals of personnel actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board,
claims of discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and,
cases arising under Executive Order 11491 dealing with Federal union-management activities, and
Other statutes administered or enforced by the Department.
At the direction of the Regional Solicitor, Deputy Regional Solicitor, or program counsel, Incumbent advises, counsels, and works with the various Regional Department of Labor agencies in representing the Secretary of Labor. The incumbent is assigned legal cases at all stages of litigation arising within the Region, sometimes involving complex and difficult factual, procedural, substantive, and administrative issues that potentially have an effect on positions taken by the agency heads on programmatic enforcement both regionally and nationally and can have an impact on one or more particular industries. The cases sometimes involve research, analysis, and working with experts. The cases also can involve large sums of money, multi-establishment employers with large numbers of employees, important enforcement policies, and novel issues. May present oral arguments in court or at administrative hearings.
The incumbent reviews assigned cases to determine whether to recommend litigation. Prepares legal analysis and makes litigation recommendations for the Regional Solicitor or other supervising attorney, evaluating cases in terms of the factual evidence, the legal and procedural issues involved, and other considerations that bear on the propriety of litigation. If the Regional Solicitor authorizes litigation, the incumbent is expected to handle the case with some supervision and instruction. The incumbent may direct all phases of the case during litigation, including settlement negotations and trial. May also be assigned to work on cases involving delicate matters in which the government has assumed a heavy burden of proof and/or cases where there has been media attention or interest from members of Congress.
Litigates or participates in the litigation of case related to union matters, matters involving those represented by NCFLL and AFGE Local 12, and other active unions in the DOL. Some of the incumbent's cases are vigorously opposed by senior legal counsel employed by labor and employment law sections of national law firms or otherwise highly qualified and very experienced litigation counsel.
Requires a trial period if the requirement has not been met.
Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
Qualifications
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
To qualify for an attorney position, applicants must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) with a preference that applicants have graduated in the top half of their law school class. Successful applicants will have excellent legal research and writing skills which may be demonstrated through law review, moot court, or as a judicial intern.
In addition to being a member of the bar, applicants must have had the amount of post-law school legal experience indicated below. The qualifying experience must have been progressively responsible legal experience of a professional nature that demonstrates the ability to perform the work at the grade level for which the application is being made. All Master of Law (LL.M) may be substituted for a maximum of 1 year of experience.
GS-12: Applicants must have one (1) year of post-law school legal experience of a professional nature which demonstrates the ability to perform the work at this level. At least one year of qualifying experience at this level, must be specialized experience as defined below.
GS-13: Applicants must have two (2) years of post-law school legal experience of a professional nature which demonstrates the ability to perform the work at this level. At least one year of qualifying experience at this level, must be specialized experience as defined below.
Specialized experience is defined as experience conducting federal, state and/or administrative litigation, which includes the following aspects of litigation: developing case strategies; drafting initial pleadings and motions; conducting writing discovery and deposition practice; and preparing for and appearing at hearings and trials.
Applicants also must supply the following documents below.
Bar Certificate: You must provide proof that you are a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S.
Transcripts: You must provide a copy of your law school transcript to be considered for this position. Verification of your academic degree(s) is necessary to determine your qualifications or eligibility for this position. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application phase of the process, although you will be required to submit official transcripts for verification purposes before you are hired. Please note that you must earn a J.D. or L.L.B degree before you can begin working.
Writing Sample: In addition to your transcripts applicants must also provide an unedited legal writing sample that is no more than ten (10) pages long with your application in order to receive further consideration. The writing sample can a portion of a brief or memorandum.
Education
A LL.B or J.D. is a requirement for this position. If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.
Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.
If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.
Additional information
Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements.
Click here for Career Ladder Promotion InformationThe mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. As such, the Department is committed to fostering a workplace and workforce that promote equal employment opportunity, reflects the diversity of the people we seek to serve, and models a culture of respect, equity, inclusion, and accessibility where every employee feels heard, supported, and empowered.
As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, volunteer, and other lived experience, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings.
Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.
The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation by following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.
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.
This is an Excepted Service position and is open to citizens as well to non-citizens as allowed by law. This position will be filled through an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. Applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements for this position will be further evaluated against the following evaluation factors. Current and/or past supervisors may be contacted unless specified otherwise. A panel and/or the selecting official or his/her designee may interview applicants.
Evaluation Factors:
1. Demonstrated skill in researching and preparing well-written, organized, and persuasive legal documents.
2. Demonstrated experience and ability to make effective oral presentations in a clear and concise manner.
3. Proficiency in working independently and as part of a team
4. Ability to establish and maintain professional and effective relationships with staff, attorney supervisors, client agencies, high-level department officials, and the general public.
5. Ability to multi-task in a complex and fast-paced inter-disciplinary legal environment, entailing timely collections of facts, identification and resolution of issues, enumeration of options, and formulation of recommendations.
6.. Ideal candidates will have litigation experience that includes analyzing and conducting legal research, preparation of legal pleadings, memorandum and briefs, participation in depositions, hearings/trials and oral arguments before adjudicative bodies. Litigation experience involving the statutes enforced by DOL is not required but is a plus.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to supply sufficient information to provide a basis for rating each of the evaluation factors listed above. Applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements for this position will be further evaluated against the following evaluation factors. Current and/or past supervisors may be contacted unless specified otherwise. A panel and/or the selecting official or his/her designee may interview applicants.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to supply sufficient information to provide a basis for rating each of the evaluation factors listed above.
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.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you.
Resumes: Required and applicants must provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of hours worked per week or the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
Bar Certificate: You must provide proof that you are a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S.
Transcripts: You must provide a copy of your law school transcript to be considered for this position. Verification of your academic degree(s) is necessary to determine your qualifications or eligibility for this position. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application phase of the process although you will be required to submit an official transcript for verification purposes before you are hired. Please note that you must earn a J.D. or LL. B degree must be conferred before you can begin working.
Writing Sample: In addition to your transcripts applicants must also provide an unedited legal writing sample that is no more than ten (10) pages long with your application in order to receive further consideration. The writing sample can be a portion of a brief or memo.
Veterans Documents (if applicable): Attorney appointments within the Department of Labor are positions in the excepted service, not the competitive service. There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference in attorney appointments; however, the Department of Labor considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. In order to receive positive consideration, you must indicate your eligibility, in response to the appropriate item on the vacancy questionnaire. Additionally, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD214 showing the type of discharge and dates of active duty and, if applicable, a VA letter certifying the present existence of the service-connected disability which indicates the percentage of your disability. (For active-duty service members expecting to be honorably discharged or released within 120 days, click Active Duty) Without this documentation, you will not receive the veteran's consideration. Additional information is available at Feds Hire Vets - Veterans Preference
You may also find more information on positive considerations for attorney hiring.
Cover Letter(s) are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.
Applicants selected for employment that are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, or non-citizenship as allowable in Excepted Service hiring through P.L. 112-10, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
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.
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS) Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button.
STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, thenUpdate Application. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. For more detailed information on applying for positions with DOL click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.
Office of the Solicitor
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you.
Resumes: Required and applicants must provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and number of hours worked per week or the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
Bar Certificate: You must provide proof that you are a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S.
Transcripts: You must provide a copy of your law school transcript to be considered for this position. Verification of your academic degree(s) is necessary to determine your qualifications or eligibility for this position. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application phase of the process although you will be required to submit an official transcript for verification purposes before you are hired. Please note that you must earn a J.D. or LL. B degree must be conferred before you can begin working.
Writing Sample: In addition to your transcripts applicants must also provide an unedited legal writing sample that is no more than ten (10) pages long with your application in order to receive further consideration. The writing sample can be a portion of a brief or memo.
Veterans Documents (if applicable): Attorney appointments within the Department of Labor are positions in the excepted service, not the competitive service. There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference in attorney appointments; however, the Department of Labor considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. In order to receive positive consideration, you must indicate your eligibility, in response to the appropriate item on the vacancy questionnaire. Additionally, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD214 showing the type of discharge and dates of active duty and, if applicable, a VA letter certifying the present existence of the service-connected disability which indicates the percentage of your disability. (For active-duty service members expecting to be honorably discharged or released within 120 days, click Active Duty) Without this documentation, you will not receive the veteran's consideration. Additional information is available at Feds Hire Vets - Veterans Preference
You may also find more information on positive considerations for attorney hiring.
Cover Letter(s) are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.
Applicants selected for employment that are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, or non-citizenship as allowable in Excepted Service hiring through P.L. 112-10, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.
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.
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system timeout! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents. Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. For each employment period, include start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week) otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS) Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button.
STEP 3 - Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL). On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click Apply to this vacancy. Continue through the progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, thenUpdate Application. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. For more detailed information on applying for positions with DOL click here to view the U.S. Department of Labor, How to Apply website.
Office of the Solicitor
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency's point of contact on the job announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
