This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/475466800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Do you desire to be a part of the vibrant United States immigrant admission process, to protect American interests and to secure our nation while building a meaningful and rewarding career? If so, United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS), and its Office of the Chief Counsel (OCC) are calling!
As part of both USCIS and the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), you will work with other highly talented attorneys and colleagues on a rich array of intellectually challenging, critically important, cutting edge legal issues. Working along-side other components of DHS, USICS strives to administer immigration benefit applications fairly, efficiently, and in keeping with the law, while simultaneously safeguarding our borders, our cyber space, and other elements of our nation's security. This vital mission is achieved by a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join, OCC, USCIS, and DHS!
USCIS Office of the Chief Counsel is seeking one (1) experienced attorney for an Associate Counsel position in the Western Law Division (WLD) to be located at the Honolulu, HI office. This position will be directly supervised by a WLD Deputy Chief and the WLD Chief.
07/27/2017 to 08/11/2017
$87,949 - $158,928 per year
GS 13 - 15
1 vacancy in the following location:
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
No
Permanent - Excepted Service
Full-Time
15
No
COU-10031986-COU
475466800
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing legal advice to USCIS personnel on issues involving immigration related adjudications, inadmissibility and deportability grounds, and national security. WLD Associate Counsel are also responsible for writing visa appeal briefs and providing litigation support to the U.S. Attorney's office on cases arising from Western Region adjudications.
U.S. Citizenship: Candidate must be a United States Citizen and present proof of citizenship, if selected.
Qualifications by Closing date: You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Background Security Investigation: A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
A Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (SF-450) will be required for certain positions. You may be asked to complete the necessary Financial Disclosure Report to meet that requirement.
Drug Testing: If position has been identified as a Testing-Designated position under DHS's Drug-Free Workplace Plan, any individual tentatively selected will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
Selective Service Registration: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, will be required to certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
Residency Requirement: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The residency requirement states that candidates must have, for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying for this position(s); (1) resided in the United States; or (2) worked for the United States Government as an employee overseas in a Federal or Military capacity; or (3) been dependent of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas.
Exceptions may be granted to applicants if they can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a suitability/security determination. Examples of state-side coverage information include: the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicant's personnel file is located, the state-side address of the Professor in charge of the applicant's "Study Abroad" program, the church records for the applicant's overseas church mission, and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas. Applicants must be able to provide information at a later date if deemed necessary.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school or serve a legal apprenticeship in California, Virginia, Vermont or Washington and pass the bar exam to be permitted to practice law in one (1) of those jurisdictions.
You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed into this position. The candidate selected will be required to obtain a "Secret" clearance and continued employment is contingent on being able to maintain at least a "Secret" clearance.
Probationary Period: The candidate selected is required to serve a probationary trial period of two (2) years.
Promotional Potential: This position starts at the 13/14/15, depending on such factors as the selectee's experience and current salary, and has promotion potential to the GS-15, step 10. When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based upon your resume, citing qualifications and work experience, your writing sample, and, if selected for interview, your responses provided during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.
All information you provide may be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references and through means, such as the interview process. The verification could occur at any stage of the application process. An exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible, not hiring you, or firing you after you begin work.
In addition to completing an online questionnaire, the following supporting documents must be received by the closing date of this announcement:
1. A cover letter addressed to OCC no more than 1 page in length summarizing your background and interest in the position not otherwise evident from the other required documents.
2. A resume.
3. A writing sample not to exceed 10 pages.
4. No more than 3 optional recommendations total.
5. A declaration under penalty of perjury that the applicant is a member in good standing with the bar of a state, territory of the U.S., the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and that his or her fitness to practice law or conduct as an attorney have never been challenged in any jurisdiction, OR if either has been challenged, a sworn declaration concerning the facts and circumstances together with any explanation the applicant may deem appropriate. This notarized sworn statement must be dated within 3 months of the date the application is submitted.
If you are or have been a FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, please submit a copy of your last Notification of Personnel Actions, Form SF-50, which show tenure group, promotion potential and salary, and your most recent or last performance appraisal.
Recommendations must be scanned and uploaded into the system along with other supporting documents and addressed to OCC.
Note that you will be allowed to apply more than once but the last application is the only one that will be used.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS accounts, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your correct documents are uploaded and received. Please only submit documents listed in the Required Documents section.
This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.
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.
Your application must be received by 11:59PM EST on 08/11/2017. To begin, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS, take the online questionnaire, and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section. We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you must contact the office listed below at least one day prior to the closing date for instructions.
- Applications will NOT be accepted by mail, email or fax.
- Relocation expenses will NOT be reimbursed for this position.
Because we expect a large number of applications, we regret that we cannot accept telephone or email inquiries.
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. If you are among the candidates found minimally qualified, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview.
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/475466800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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