Clarification from the agency

This is a public notice flyer. Applications will not be accepted through USA Jobs. If you are interested in applying, please see the official announcement on the DOJs Legal Careers page

About the Office

The United States Trustee Program (USTP or Program) is a litigating component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders, including debtors, creditors, and the public. The Program operates nationwide through 21 regions comprised of 82 field office locations and exercises broad administrative, regulatory, and enforcement authority in bankruptcy cases. Its responsibilities extend across chapter 7 and 13 consumer matters, chapter 12 family farmer cases, small business reorganizations, and complex chapter 11 corporate restructurings.

The Office of the General Counsel, within the Executive Office for United States Trustees, oversees the Program's legal activities. OGC formulates and oversees the Program's national legal policies and litigation strategies before the bankruptcy courts and through the appellate process, implements the Program's legal priorities, resolves significant legal issues, and provides advice to staff on constitutional and administrative law issues.

The Executive Of?ce for United States Trustees (EOUST), Of?ce of the General Counsel (OGC) is seeking an experienced attorney to provide expert legal advice and guidance on employment law matters as well as other areas of administrative law including, ethics, information law, and federal tort claims. The individual selected for this position will be responsible for administrative litigation before the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and will serve as agency experts in personnel and employment law matters, including advising on disciplinary and other adverse actions. The selected individual will join a team of attorneys with subject matter expertise in various administrative law functions.

As a Trial Attorney (Employment Law), GS-0905-14/15, duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Representing the USTP in actions before the MSPB, the EEOC, and other proceedings before an administrative body or a person having quasi-judicial power and providing litigation support to Department of Justice counsel who represent the USTP and its personnel in employment law matters before the federal District Court.
• Serving as a legal consultant and an expert on employment law issues concerning USTP operations.
• Providing senior management with expert legal advice and substantive recommendations regarding hiring, relocations, terminations, leave, employee conduct standards, and proposed disciplinary and corrective actions.
• Providing legal review of grievances and other employee complaints, claims, allegations and issues of entitlement.
• Providing advice and guidance on reasonable accommodations in compliance with federal disability and accommodation laws and regulations.
• Representing the USTP in EEO investigations and providing support and guidance to internal investigations involving employee complaints, whistleblower claims, and workplace misconduct.
• Reviewing for legal suf?ciency proposed adverse actions, other disciplinary measures, and other personnel actions based on misconduct and performance and ensuring actions are supported by admissible evidence or documentation and that the action is in full compliance with personnel laws, regulations, and applicable case law.
• Providing advice and training on all aspects of employee relations and employment law.
• Formulating legal policies, procedures, and objectives related to employee relations and employment law.
• Proactively recommending improvements to the USTP's employee relations and equal employment opportunity programs, in compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and Department and USTP policies.
• Providing legal assistance and advice in other areas of law including ethics, the Privacy Act, and the Freedom of Information Act.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Required

Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic and professional credentials; superior oral and written communication; outstanding legal research, analytical and legal reasoning; outstanding judgment; and the ability to function with minimal guidance in a demanding legal environment. Further, an applicant must have a J.D. degree from an accredited law school and have at least four (4) years post-J.D. professional legal or other relevant experience advocating on behalf of clients, experience interpreting or applying provisions of Title VII, the Rehabilitation Act, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, and other federal employment statutes, familiarity with administrative law, particularly the Administrative Procedure Act and how it intersects with employment decisions, and experience preparing for and representing agencies before administrative bodies such as the MSPB and the EEOC.

Applicants must be an active member of a state bar in good standing. Please note, in a select few jurisdictions, federal attorneys are required to be active members of the jurisdiction's state bar.

Preferred

• A record of analyzing complex legal problems, interpreting statutory, rule, and regulatory provisions, developing litigation strategies, and demonstrating superior trial practice skills;
• A record of litigating complex matters including taking depositions, examining witnesses under oath, and propounding formal written discovery;
• Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to address a broad array of issues arising in a large volume of cases;
• The ability to accurately and precisely articulate critical issues in a wide variety of cases and projects;
• The ability to set, manage, and balance diverse, evolving, and challenging projects and priorities;
• Demonstrated initiative and creativity;
• Strong interpersonal communication skills;
• Strong information technology skills, including using databases and IT systems to manage and track work;
• Experience providing advice and guidance in information law and/or ethics;
• Experience working with or for federal agencies; and,
• A commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.

How you will be evaluated

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

Optional Narrative Statements:

The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate your commitment to public service to hiring managers and agency leadership. Although responses are optional and will not be scored, applicants are encouraged to address each question thoughtfully. Please limit each response to 200 words or fewer. At the beginning of your submission, please certify that the responses are your own work and that you did not use a consultant or any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, including large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT or Copilot.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.

1. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.

1. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.

1. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Evaluation Process

A panel of subject matter experts will review applications to determine how well a candidate meets the minimum position quali?cations outlined above. If a candidate is deemed quali?ed, they will be contacted via email or telephone to schedule an interview. Interviews will be scored by a selecting committee and those who fall into the best-quali?ed category will be considered for the position.