This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/613946900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Veterans Law Judges occupy unique positions of trust. The incumbent serves as a Veterans Law Judge in the Office of Appellate Operations (OAO) within the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Veterans Law Judges are recommended by the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals and appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, subject to the approval of the President of the United States.
09/13/2021 to 10/01/2021
$133,458 - $183,300 per year
AL 3
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
None
Yes
Yes
VA-VLJ-21-11231498-AB
613946900
The Board of Veterans' Appeals mission is to honor America's promise to its Veterans by timely resolving their appeals under the law.
Veterans Law Judges preside over formal, quasi-judicial hearings, adjudicate appeals, and issue written decisions. On behalf of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Law Judges decide all questions of law and fact necessary to a decision by the Secretary under a law that affects the provision of benefits and services by the Secretary to Veterans and their dependents and survivors. Veterans Law Judges exercise certain powers as provided by law and exercise independent judgment in resolving appeals. Decisions will be final unless appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, may be further reviewed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.
Veterans Law Judges will be required to conduct hearings in person, either in the National Capital Region or at a Department facility throughout the country, and/or remotely through video teleconferencing or other technology.
The types of appeals Veterans Law Judges must resolve include, but are not limited to, appeals concerning:
(1) Entitlement to, and benefits resulting from, service-connected disability or death;
(2) Dependency and indemnity compensation for service-connected death, including benefits in certain cases of in service or service-connected deaths and certification and entitlement to death gratuity;
(3) Entitlement to nonservice-connected disability pension, service pension and death pension;
(4) Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities;
(5) Payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses;
(6) Burial benefits and burial in National Cemeteries;
(7) Benefits for persons disabled by medical treatment or vocational rehabilitation;
(8) Character of discharge;
(9) Validity of claims and effective dates of benefits; and
(10) Benefits for surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans.
In addition to the judicial duties of presiding over hearings and adjudicating and issuing appellate decisions, each Veterans Law Judge supervises a cadre of decision-writing attorneys and/or law clerks; provides training, as necessary, to colleagues and attorneys on matters of substantive and procedural Veterans' law; ensures cases are decided efficiently and expeditiously in accordance with the law; mentors and develops the attorneys and/or law clerks; is a collaborative member of the Board of Veterans' Appeals team; and adheres to the Department's ICARE values (integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence) while maintaining the highest ethical standards of public service.
Applicants must possess an LL.B., J.D. or LL.M. degree and be licensed to practice law.
Although the Veterans' preference point system does not apply to this excepted-service position, the Department of Veterans Affairs considers Veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in Veterans Law Judge selection. Applicants eligible for Veterans' preference should ensure their written submissions reflect their status as a Veteran.
Drug Testing: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in any position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
Incumbents of this position will be subject to a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above, as reflected in your resume. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be further evaluated to determine those who are best qualified. This determination will be based, in part, on the following Rating Factors (RFs):
1. Ability to demonstrate the appropriate demeanor and temperament to serve as a Veterans Law Judge.
2. Knowledge of Veterans laws and procedures.
3. Substantial trial, appellate, and/or administrative law experience, preferably in a high-volume context.
4. Experience handling complex legal issues.
5. Ability to conduct administrative hearings.
6. Knowledge of judicial practices and procedures.
7. Experience leading, supervising, training, and/or mentoring (preferably attorneys or professional staff).
You are required to specifically address each of the seven (7) RFs in narrative form, to the best of your ability. A response stating only that you have experience will not be considered as addressing the specific RF. As noted under Qualifications (above), please specifically describe all experience. If you do not have experience within a specific factor, you may discuss a similar skill/ability/knowledge/experience for evaluation. Failure to address each RF at this minimum level will result in an ineligible determination.
The RFs must be addressed on a separate document which numbers each specific RF being addressed.
You should be thorough in addressing each RF. For example, when addressing RF #3 (substantial trial, appellate, and/or administrative law experience) you should discuss the approximate number of cases handled in a given period of time, your specific role (first chair, co-counsel, responsible for the written brief only, etc.), and the length of time involved in a given role (lead counsel in 20 jury trials in 10 years).
You should also include specific examples of the types of cases, the number of court appearances made in those cases, and the case dispositions (i.e., plea, settlement, bench trial, jury trial, etc.). Conclusory statements (such as, "I have been involved in a substantial amount of litigation") will receive little or no weight in the RF evaluation.
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.
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
A complete application for this position includes the following items:
1. Resume not to exceed five (5) pages.; Your resume must demonstrate your experience, accomplishments, training, education and awards reflecting your ability to meet the qualification requirements for this position. Elaborate on your experience and accomplishments, highlighting your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, work objectives met (results of your efforts), policy initiatives and level of contact. DO NOT submit the application form OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment in lieu of a resume.
2. A separate written narrative response addressing each of the seven (7) Rating Factors identified above in the section entitled, "How You Will Be Evaluated." Written responses to the RFs should be separately numbered and the entire document addressing all seven (7) RFs must not exceed seven (7) pages total. You must use Arial 12-point font with at least one-inch margins for the RF written narrative responses.
3. A copy of your most recent performance evaluation or a statement indicating why one could not be provided.
4. Documentation of proof the applicant is an active member in good standing of the bar of a State, Territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. Include year first licensed, and jurisdiction.
5. If you are a current federal employee, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50.
Your complete application must be received by 11:59 pm EST on the closing date, 10/01/2021 in order for you to be considered. Please read all instructions before you begin.
To begin click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register and submit all required documents. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ and click on "Application Status". Click on the position title and select Apply Online to continue.
A panel of senior officials will review applications to determine the "best qualified" candidates to interview. Based upon final recommendations by the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, Veterans Law Judges are appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, subject to the approval of the President of the United States.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
A complete application for this position includes the following items:
1. Resume not to exceed five (5) pages.; Your resume must demonstrate your experience, accomplishments, training, education and awards reflecting your ability to meet the qualification requirements for this position. Elaborate on your experience and accomplishments, highlighting your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, work objectives met (results of your efforts), policy initiatives and level of contact. DO NOT submit the application form OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment in lieu of a resume.
2. A separate written narrative response addressing each of the seven (7) Rating Factors identified above in the section entitled, "How You Will Be Evaluated." Written responses to the RFs should be separately numbered and the entire document addressing all seven (7) RFs must not exceed seven (7) pages total. You must use Arial 12-point font with at least one-inch margins for the RF written narrative responses.
3. A copy of your most recent performance evaluation or a statement indicating why one could not be provided.
4. Documentation of proof the applicant is an active member in good standing of the bar of a State, Territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. Include year first licensed, and jurisdiction.
5. If you are a current federal employee, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50.
Your complete application must be received by 11:59 pm EST on the closing date, 10/01/2021 in order for you to be considered. Please read all instructions before you begin.
To begin click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register and submit all required documents. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ and click on "Application Status". Click on the position title and select Apply Online to continue.
A panel of senior officials will review applications to determine the "best qualified" candidates to interview. Based upon final recommendations by the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, Veterans Law Judges are appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, subject to the approval of the President of the United States.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/613946900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established to fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans.
The Department has three administrations responsible for providing benefits and services to Veterans and their families or survivors. The Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated health care network in the United States, with 1,255 health care facilities serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. The Veterans Benefits Administration helps servicemembers transition out of military service and assists with education, disability compensation, home loans, life insurance and much more. The National Cemetery Administration provides dignified burial services for Veterans and eligible family members.
This position is that of a Veterans Law Judge. Veterans Law Judges are appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and approved by the President to conduct hearings and adjudicate appeals of benefits and service decisions made by the various administrations within the Departments. In short, Veterans Law Judges resolve all questions of fact and law on behalf of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.