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Attorney-Advisor

Commodity Futures Trading Commission
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in the CFTC Attorney Honors Program (CAHP). Through this program, participants are provided the opportunity to gain expertise through at least two rotations designed to provide developmental on-the-job experiences. Each rotation will be at least 180-days in length. The incumbent will work with various CFTC staff members from multiple divisions on projects and assignments that encompass a broad range of the Commission’s work impacting enforcement and regulatory functions. 

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/16/2024 to 09/30/2024
Salary
$102,237 to - $150,181 per year
Pay scale & grade
CT 11
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - This position may require occasional travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - This position is time limited not-to-exceed two years. Upon successful completion, participants may be converted to a permanent position, based on agency need. Permanent Attorney positions may have future promotion potential up to the CT-14 level.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This is a Bargaining Unit Position located in the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU) Chapter 337.
Announcement number
CFTC-OGC-2024-0013
Control number
805341700

This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Applications accepted from all US Citizens.

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Duties

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This program was established to provide developmental experience to recent law school graduates who have passed the bar and are interested in learning about the regulation of the U.S. derivatives market. 

Attorneys Honors Program participants may rotate through one or more of the following Divisions or Offices:

Chairman/Commissioner's Office

Five Commissioners administer the CFTC, all Commissioners are appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President designates one of the Commissioners to serve as Chairman. The Chairman and Commissioners sponsor advisory committees as well as provide market oversight. 

Division of Clearing and Risk

DCR is responsible for the supervision and financial and risk surveillance of DCOs. DCR is also responsible for the risk surveillance of futures commission merchants (FCMs) that are clearing members, non-FCM clearing members, and other market participants that may pose risk to the clearing process including swap dealers and large traders.

Division of Enforcement (DOE)

DOE investigates and prosecutes alleged violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (The Act) and CFTC regulations by filing complaints in the U.S. District Court. The Division also provides expert help and technical assistance with case development and trials. 

Division of Market Oversight (DMO)

DMO fosters open, transparent, fair, competitive, and secure markets through oversight of derivatives platforms, specifically, designated contract markets (DCMs) and swap execution facilities (SEFs). 

Market Participants Division (MPD)

MPD provides oversight in derivatives market intermediaries, including commodity pool operators, commodity trading advisors, futures commission merchants, introducing brokers, major swap participants, retail foreign exchange dealers, and swap dealers, as well as designated self-regulatory organizations. 

Office of the General Counsel (OGC)

OGC is responsible for providing legal services to the Chairman, Commissioners, Chief Administrative Officer, and Divisions with respect to litigation, interpretations, rulemaking, analysis of proposed legislation, and other legal issues arising in connection with the administration of The Act, and particularly with respect to novel, complex, and difficult matters.

Office of International Affairs (OIA)

OIA is responsible for overseeing how the CFTC interacts with its foreign counterparts in multilateral and bilateral fora, assisting the Chairman, Commissioners and staff of the CFTC in analyzing the implications of regulatory policies, advising the CFTC on supervisory cooperation issues, and providing technical assistance to foreign authorities.  

During the program the incumbent may perform the following duties:

  • Planning, organizing and participating in the conduct of investigations of suspected violations of the applicable provisions of the federal commodity laws administered by the Commission. 
  • Providing written or oral legal advice on assigned projects with respect to the relevant provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (The Act) and the Commission's regulations, and other statutes, regulations, judicial decisions, and legal opinions that are pertinent.
  • On the basis of the research or investigation preparing necessary legal documents, advisory opinions, drafts or comments on proposed legislation or changes in regulations or other disposition.
  • Reviewing regulations, policies, and other legally oriented matters prepared by Divisions that affect regulatory programs, to ensure consistency with The Act and guidance previously issued. 
  • Participating in litigation in various federal courts and other tribunals concerning the federal commodity laws administered by the Commission, the Administrative Procedure Act, and other applicable law. 

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Favorable Background/Security Investigation
  • Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for Selective Service
  • May be subject to a two-year trial period.
  • You must be an active member of the bar in good standing.

Bar Membership: Currently an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Qualifications

This program was established to provide developmental experience to recent law school graduates who have passed the bar. Applicants must meet all of the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

All applicants must possess the following:

  • J.D.; and
  • Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Note: proof of bar membership will be required before job offer)

                                                            AND

Superior Academic Achievement: Superior Academic Achievement is defined as top 1/3 or above of law school graduating class; significant achievement on law review; moot court participation relevant law school coursework; undergraduate degree in economics or finance; law clerk experience with major law firm, federal judge, U.S. Attorney's or Federal Public Defender's Office; superior legal writing ability as evidence by current legal publications or the equivalent; honors graduate of college or university; participation on undergraduate debate team. 

                                                             OR

CT-11 Level: To qualify for the CT-11 level you must have at least one year of relevant experience after law school.  Relevant experience is defined as attorney, law clerk, or other legal experience which was obtained subsequent to graduation from law school. 

The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your résumé.

Highly desirable applicants will have a 3.0 GPA or higher in their law school studies. 

Note: If qualifying based on Superior Academic Achievement supporting documents must be attached to your application OR your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirement.

Education

Successful completion of a full course of study (J.D.) in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criterion, see www.ed.gov.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

All employees are required to follow the Agency’s telework policy. If selected, you will be required to report to your assigned duty station to complete all onboarding procedures.

Relocation: Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Trial Period: You may be subject to a two-year trial period, if applicable.

This is a Bargaining Unit Position located in the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU) Chapter 337. NOTE: If a rotational assignment requires non-bargaining duties, the incumbent will be temporarily removed from the bargaining unit for the duration of the rotation. 

This vacancy may be used to fill more than one position. 

The law prohibits public officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending their relatives. The law prohibits requesting, making, transmitting, accepting, or considering political recommendations for employment or other personnel actions for non-political positions. This includes recommendations from Members of Congress, Congressional employees, elected state or local officials, and political party officials and any recommendation based on party affiliation.

Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must indicate their preference in response to the appropriate question in their assessment questionnaire (it is also recommended that information is included in their cover letter or resume) and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference. 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, http://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 non-service-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 his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

How you will be evaluated

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

This job is being filled under a Schedule A hiring authority 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102 and is excepted from the competitive civil service. You will be evaluated and deemed either eligible or ineligible based on the relevance and quality of your experience and education, bar membership, and desired qualifications described above. These positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures. There is no numerical rating system through which to apply veterans' preference; however, CFTC considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor 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. All eligible applicants will be further evaluated by subject-matter experts.

Your resume will be referred to the selecting official for the initial review of qualifications. This does not mean you are considered qualified for the position. A qualification analysis will be conducted by the HR Specialist to ensure the selectee meets all requirements, including education and minimum qualifications listed on the vacancy announcement. Additional information may be requested later in the recruitment process.


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