Join our team! The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as Legal Counsel in the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program Office. The PSOB Program 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.
Summary
Join our team! The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as Legal Counsel in the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program Office. The PSOB Program 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.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is responsible for providing federal leadership and assistance in support of state and local criminal justice strategies to achieve safe communities, and its Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program 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. The incumbent in this position provides legal advice to all BJA personnel as to all questions of law arising from the processing or adjudication of any claim under the PSOB Program, ensuring that such processing and adjudication is discharged in compliance with law, after due diligence and inquiry, and without fraud, waste, or abuse.
PSOB Act Analysis, Advice and Guidance
Addresses complex legal issues while providing counsel to the BJA Director and the PSOB Program. Prepares administrative decisions, reports, legal briefs, opinions, and other documents related to PSOB legal matters. Participates in the drafting of legislation and regulations. Provides legal guidance to support the program's policies and procedures.
Reviews proposed legislation and regulations to assess their impact on the PSOB program and drafts memoranda and guidance accordingly. Makes recommendations based on feedback from the PSOB Program and assesses the legal implications of the proposed legislation. Suggests alternative language, as appropriate.
Coordinates the work of the PSOB's Legal Counsel's Office, and establishes clear project goals, systems, and methodologies to enhance the legal review process, case tracking, communications with the PSOB Office, work assignments, and timely case processing. Develops policies and procedures to streamline legal reviews, reduce backlogs, and improve the timeliness of claim determinations.
Provides updates to national public safety organizations and survivor groups about laws and regulations. In keeping with OJP procedures, assists the BJA and PSOB Director in responding to congressional and media inquiries regarding the Program.
Provides information and guidance to the OJP Office of the Chief Financial Officer on PSOB Program legal matter-related submissions for the President's budget, including Office of Management and Budget data-call submissions and DOJ spend plans.
PSOB Claims Review
Reviews claims filed under the PSOB Act and provides well-reasoned and thorough legal advice.as to legal sufficiency of determinations. Provides advice, support, assistance, and direction to all BJA personnel in evaluating what evidence or information may be necessary, desirable, or relevant to such processing or adjudication, and in obtaining such evidence or information, including from state, local, and federal agencies, as well as private parties, and including, as appropriate, through the use of administrative subpoenas. Ensures that the language of claim determinations is legally sufficient in articulating legal and factual grounds of the decision.
Oversees and manages the process initial level legal review of claims, provides legal guidance to independent hearing officer reviews of claims, and drafts of final agency determinations of claims. Trains legal personnel assigned to the program. Performs legal research in connection with issues that arise in particular claims and advises on relevant federal laws and regulations, DOJ rules and policies, and other laws that may be implicated by claims.
Supervision
Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the PSOB Legal Counsel's Office. Assigns, reviews, and supervises work of legal staff, provides guidance and training, manages staff performance, recruits and recommends action regarding hiring, and addresses personnel issues. Develops work plans, sets performance goals, and ensures team objectives are met in alignment with organizational priorities. Formally evaluates employee performance and resolves informal complaints and grievances. Fosters a collaborative work environment, encourages professional development, and maintains high standards of productivity and quality.
Ensures a continuing affirmative application of equal opportunity policies in: merit promotion of employees; recruitment and hiring; fair treatment of employees; encouragement and recognition of employee achievements; career development of employees; and full use of staff skills.
Supports an environment that ensures successful translation and fidelity of guidance and program models, provides expertise to other staff members in resolving questions related to program requirements. Ensures that the staff maintains substantive expertise and knowledge of ongoing developments in practice, policy, current research and evidence-based practices in the field to ensure that legal advice is based in current knowledge and needs.
Subject to background/suitability investigation/determination.
Federal payments are required to be made by Direct Deposit.
Requires registration for the Selective Service. Visit www.sss.gov.
Pre-employment drug testing required.
This appointment is subject to completion of a 2-year trial period.
This position requires active bar membership (any jurisdiction) in good standing.
1-year supervisory probationary period may be required.
Submit all required documents and Online Assessment Questionnaire.
Confidential Financial Disclosure may be required.
Qualifications
Applicants must:
Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school.
Be an active member of the bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction).
Have a minimum of five (5) years of post J.D./LL.B legal experience, four (4) 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).
Supervisory experience is preferred, but not required.
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
Duty Station: 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 four (4) days per bi-weekly 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.
Please do not indicate current or former position salary in your application or resume.
This position is excluded from the bargaining unit.
This position may be eligible for telework per agency policy.
OJP offers opportunities for flexible work schedules.
Recruitment incentives may not be authorized.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
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.
Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.
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.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the eligibilities and qualifications listed on the announcement. If you are found to be basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your resume and application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.
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.
Required Documents
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume. Your 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. 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).
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.
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 the vacancy closing date to 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 résumé 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 need help with the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help Site .If you are unable to apply via email, please contact Bradley Mitchell at Bradley.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.
Required Documents
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume. Your 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. 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).
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.
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 the vacancy closing date to 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 résumé 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 need help with the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help Site .If you are unable to apply via email, please contact Bradley Mitchell at Bradley.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.
