The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) is seeking an energetic and dedicated attorney to serve as an Associate Legal Advisor with the Human Rights Violator Law Division (HRVLD) in Washington, D.C. One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

Duties

ICE OPLA HRVLD is seeking an attorney for an Associate Legal Advisor position in Washington, D.C. to handle legal matters for a wide range of human rights related issues, such as pursuing the criminal or civil prosecution of individuals seeking U.S. immigration benefits who have been involved in persecution, genocide, extrajudicial killing, torture, severe violations of religious freedom, female genital mutilation, use or recruitment of child soldiers, or other human rights violations; human smuggling; human trafficking; federal criminal victim assistance; law enforcement parole into the United States; specialized visas for those assisting law enforcement; and witness security. Additionally, when needed, the attorney will assist with agency-wide discovery obligations as well as immigration court coverage. At a minimum, duties will include:

Requirements

• You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug test for federal employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs).
• You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• You may be required to serve a two-year trial period if the requirement has not been met.
• Current OPLA attorneys must have completed two years of service with OPLA by the announcement closeout to be considered for this position.
• You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification. Applicants should be able to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, prioritize competing assignments, and work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units. Applicants should be detail-oriented and have a strong interest in supporting and providing stellar client services to diverse program offices, including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership, and must be able to tailor communications to a particular audience. Applicants should be able to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner. Applicants should possess the following characteristics and competencies: integrity, sound professional judgment, organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, stellar client services, the ability to function independently and cooperatively, and superior written and oral advocacy skills. In addition, applicants for this position should have substantial demonstrated experience in human rights work, including knowledge of topics such as genocide, extrajudicial killing, torture, severe violations of religious freedom, female genital mutilation, use or recruitment of child soldiers, or other human rights violations, anti-human trafficking work, Victim protection generally; training development and delivery; legal resources development; and/or working with or for law enforcement. Bar Membership: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last five years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u), and Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of an American Bar Association accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Please see Required Documents for more information.

A student loan repayment incentive may be available; if such an incentive is available and is authorized, a service agreement will be required.

Contacts

• Address
• Name: MSD OPLA Staffing and Benefits
• Email: [email protected]