The staff attorney's responsibilities will include responding to inquiries from parties regarding cases, reviewing, drafting and finalizing documents for filing, generating statistical reports, researching legal questions, and preparing memorandum. These duties may also include additional case management, medical record evaluations, conducting status conferences with counsel, drafting orders, drafting fact rulings, and drafting decisions on entitlement, damages, and special projects.
The staff attorney's responsibilities will include responding to inquiries from parties regarding cases, reviewing, drafting and finalizing documents for filing, generating statistical reports, researching legal questions, and preparing memorandum. These duties may also include additional case management, medical record evaluations, conducting status conferences with counsel, drafting orders, drafting fact rulings, and drafting decisions on entitlement, damages, and special projects.
To ensure that vaccine claimants have readily available a competent bar to prosecute their claims, Congress provided for the award of attorney's fees and costs. The Vaccine Act provides for an award of fees in most cases, regardless of whether the petitioner prevails. Thus, the candidate must have expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and court procedures, in addition to superb skill in legal research, analysis, computations and mathematical calculations, and writing. The candidate will also review legal documents, specifically attorneys' applications for fees and costs submitted to OSM for completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness. The candidate must have skill in analyzing legal concepts and issues and skill in legal reasoning and critical thinking. The candidate must have the ability to manage time effectively, set priorities, meet tight deadlines, and work independently with limited guidance and direction regarding the following duties:
Work closely with the Chief Special Master in managing the OSM attorney's fees and costs case docket: reviewing attorney fee and cost applications in order to prepare and draft decisions either awarding or denying fees, where appropriate; communicating with counsel to provide information on Vaccine Act fees request compliance; assisting with drafting necessary orders; drafting decisions, scheduling orders and other documents as required; conducting status conferences (as necessary) with the parties to review fee applications with compliance with Rules and Guidelines; performing legal research, analysis and draft decisions and scheduling orders and other documents for the Chief Special Master and other Special Masters; serving on OSM committees and ad hoc tasks forces as directed by the Chief Special Master; providing staff support for court events, including the Court's Annual Judicial Conference and Law Day Observance; and performing other duties as assigned.
The successful candidate is a self-starter who is detail-oriented, highly organized, and professional. They exercise sound judgment, tact, initiative, and strong prioritization and problem-solving skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required to effectively interact with court personnel at all levels of technical expertise, from frontline staff to chambers, as well as external stakeholders. The ability to work collaboratively in a team environment while maintaining a professional demeanor is essential.
All appointments are subject to a full background check including an FBI Fingerprint Background Check, as well as periodic reinvestigation.
If offered employment, such employment will be provisional pending the satisfactory completion of a mandatory Fingerprint and Background Investigation. The provisional nature of your employment, however, will not affect your start date, salary, or other benefits.
To qualify at the CL 28 level: Applicants must have two years of specialized experience, including at least one year of experience equivalent to the CL-27 level, and be admitted to practice before the highest court of a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or Possession. Specialized experience is progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, in legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience, gained after graduation from law school.
Preferred Qualifications: The court requires a minimum of three years of specialized experience working and/or practicing in a federal court environment.
Educational Substitutions: An advanced legal degree or two-year law clerkship may be substituted for two years of specialized experience.
The court requires the candidate to have a degree from an accredited law school.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
11 holidays - 13-26 days annual leave (increases with service) - 13 days sick leave - Federal Employees Retirement System - Thrift Savings Plan - Commuter Benefit Program/Metro Transit Subsidy Program - Flexible Spending Accounts - Insurance available for health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The best-qualified applicants will be invited for in-person interviews in Washington, D.C. Because of the large number of applications anticipated, only those applicants invited for interviews will be contacted by the Court. Applicants selected for interviews must travel at their own expense.
Interview and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed.
11 holidays - 13-26 days annual leave (increases with service) - 13 days sick leave - Federal Employees Retirement System - Thrift Savings Plan - Commuter Benefit Program/Metro Transit Subsidy Program - Flexible Spending Accounts - Insurance available for health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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 combine ALL documents listed below into a single PDF file and email to osm_jobs@cfc.uscourts.gov. Zip files and faxes will not be accepted. Please include the Title and Job Announcement Number in the subject line.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
