Clarification from the agency

Open to the Public-All US Citizens

This position offers a unique opportunity to advise on a wide range of general law matters that critically affect the work of the Federal Communications Commission, to support and shape policies, and to offer creative solutions to thorny legal and procedural issues.  The incumbent will serve as an Attorney in the Office of General Counsel, Administrative Law Division, is responsible for special projects involving especially complex and/or novel questions, and will otherwise oversee and manage complex administrative law issues, problems, and projects. Responsibilities will include coordinating advice on collateral legal questions arising from the FCC’s implementation of the Communications Act of 1934, including questions arising from the Administrative Procedure Act, Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts, Ex Parte/Sunshine Rules, Sunshine Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, Congressional Review Act, Data Quality Act, Peer Review Guidelines, Federal Register Procedures, Federal Records Act, Administrative Appeals, Constitutional Law, and other federal and FCC regulations and procedures. The incumbent may also be asked to advise on other general law matters including Intellectual Property, Federal Advisory Committee Act, FISMA, Employment Law, Labor Relations, Debt Collection, Federal Tort Claims, Environmental Law, and other related issues and projects.

He/she reports directly to either the Assistant General Counsel or the Deputy Associate General Counsel for General Law. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Analyzes legal problems, cases, legislative proposals, or changes in regulations and policies; investigates facts, researches legal precedents, and defines legal, factual, and policy issues; and develops conclusions and recommendations.
• Conducts research, analyzes findings, and applies pertinent statutes, judicial decisions, administrative regulations and decisions, and agreements, as well as original legal reasoning in solving very complex administrative law matters involving, for example, interagency agreements and understandings, Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act law, Constitutional law, investigations, and other issues involving the agency.
• Meets with Bureau/Office managers to discuss issues of concern and to obtain supporting actions to modify, expand or reverse findings. Provides ongoing advice and information to the Associate General Counsel and Deputy Associate General Counsel on a broad range of Administrative Law and related legal issues.
• Keeps abreast of legal, legislative, and regulatory developments affecting the Commission by reviewing court and Commission decisions, professional publications, and trade press, and by researching legislation, decisions, opinions and regulations.

Conditions of employment

• Bar Membership Documentation Required Upon Selection.
• Education-Transcripts Required Upon Selection.
• US Citizenship.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Financial disclosure statement will be required upon assuming the position.
• Current FCC employees must provide SF-50 verifying grade & status
• SF-50 Documenting One Year of Time in Grade Required

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions.  Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

SF-50 Required: ALL FCC EMPLOYEES AND CURRENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST provide a legible Personnel Action, SF-50, that verifies your status and highest permanently held grade.  If an SF-50 is not submitted, the application will be rated as ineligible. To request a copy of your SF-50 please send an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

Qualifications

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

In order to be deemed as "BEST QUALIFIED" candidates must meet both the educational requirements AND the Specialized Experience.

A. Education

You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include:  a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M. 

NOTE-If you do not provide a transcript at the time of application, a transcript will be required to be provided at the time of selection.

AND

B. Specialized Experience

Specialized Experience at the GS-14 Level for this position is:

Applicants must have a minimum of three years of professional law experience, and a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:

1) Experience interpreting and applying the Communications Act of 1934 and/or federal administrative law statutes and regulations such as the Administrative Procedure Act, Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts, Ex Parte/Sunshine Rules, Sunshine Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, Congressional Review Act, Data Quality Act, Peer Review Guidelines, Federal Register Procedures, Federal Records Act, Administrative Appeals, and Constitutional Law.
2) Experience analyzing complex legal and technical issues.
3) Experience preparing comprehensive legal documents.
4) Experience communicating and interact with individuals at varying levels of authority.

Specialized experience at the GS-15 Level is:

Applicants must have a minimum of four years of professional law experience, and a minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:

1) Experience researching, interpreting, and applying law to novel questions arising from the Communications Act of 1934 and/or federal administrative law statutes and regulations such as the Administrative Procedure Act, Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts, Ex Parte/Sunshine Rules, Sunshine Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, Congressional Review Act, Data Quality Act, Peer Review Guidelines, Federal Register Procedures, Federal Records Act, Administrative Appeals, and Constitutional Law.
2) Experience analyzing complex legal and technical issues and providing recommendations or solutions.
3) Experience preparing comprehensive legal documents.
4) Experience communicating and interacting with individuals at varying levels of authority both orally and in writing.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE:  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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

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

All candidates will be considered without regard to political or religious affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other non-merit factor.  THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

All applicants will be rated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position. Applicants who do not submit a supporting resume will be rated ineligible. 

There are several parts to the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application including:

1.  the core questions
2.  supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, transcripts, bar membership); and
3.  your resume.

Applicants will be rated ineligible, if they do not respond to job specific questions provide supplemental documents and submit resume.  For more information, please click on Rating Process

You will be evaluated for this position on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs):

• Knowledge of administrative law and other statutes and regulations that would be applicable to the FCC, including the Communications Act of 1934, Administrative Procedure Act, Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts, Ex Parte/Sunshine Rules, Sunshine Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, Congressional Review Act, Data Quality Act, Peer Review Guidelines, Federal Register Procedures, Federal Records Act, Administrative Appeals, Constitutional Law, and other FCC regulations and procedures.
• Skill in written communication in order to develop complex legal documents.
• Skill in oral communication.
• Ability to research and analyze legal issues.