The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) seeks highly qualified attorneys with extensive experience handling all aspects of federal procurements and appropriations law. OGC attorneys provide legal guidance on a wide variety of procurement, and appropriations law issues, including legal advice and guidance regarding federal contracting, proper use of agency funds, agreements with other agencies, and associated Federal Regulations. OGC attorneys also represent the agency in bid protests.

Duties

Serves as a subject matter expert providing legal services on all legal matters within the incumbent’s area of responsibility. Defends or advises on a wide variety of Social Security program-related, non-program or personnel matters. These matters, brought on behalf of individuals and/or classes of individuals, involve application of complex statutory and regulatory provisions, and may involve difficult challenges to statute, regulations and/or administrative policies, as well as complex procedural (e.g., jurisdictional) and substantive (e.g., statutory and/or constitutional) issues. Analyzes and interprets difficult and complex statutes, regulations, policies, and decisions, and conducts senior-level research on a variety of subjects. Addresses the legal ramifications of litigation and legal matters regarding program, non-program, and/or personnel matters, including implications for nationwide uniformity. Responsible for preparing and reviewing legal opinions and memoranda, and Agency materials, as well as applying expert knowledge in accomplishing Agency goals. Develops and implements litigation strategy for complex and difficult cases, including challenges to statutes, regulations, and/or administrative policies, and may be responsible for conducting and overseeing the conduct of litigation in administrative and court tribunals. These cases require considerable factual development and normally extensive legal research and analysis, and are conducted at the administrative level (including but not limited to the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or the Federal Labor Relations Authority and labor arbitrators), and before Federal courts. The decisions, particularly at the appellate level, can serve as national precedent. Defensibility determinations are made in terms of the prior administrative process and adherence to precedential case law; and numerous distinct legal materials are required to be prepared and filed in defense of the Commissioner's position. Certain preeminent cases will require the development of new strategies, approaches and/or interpretations.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
• Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
• Relocation expenses will not be paid
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement

Qualifications

Candidates should have a strong desire to serve the public; have excellent research, writing and communication skills; and have strong litigation experience or aptitude. We encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds, qualities, and experiences to apply. Applicants must hold a law degree from a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association. Applicants must be a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Applicants must provide one of the following to show that they are a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 1. An original or copy of a Certificate of Good Standing from the clerk of the highest court (e.g., Supreme Court) of the state having authority over admission to practice law in the jurisdiction where the applicant is admitted; or 2. An original or copy of a Certificate of Good Standing from the State Bar Association of the state/jurisdiction where the applicant is admitted; or 3. A copy of a bar membership card or a screenshot from a state bar website with a valid date that shows a current bar membership. An example of #1 or #2 would be the certificate of admission an applicant received upon his/her swearing-in ceremony from the clerk of the highest court of the state having authority over admission to practice law in the jurisdiction where admitted, or from the State Bar Association of the state where admitted. For purposes of applying, we only require proof that an applicant is a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Once selected for the position, an applicant must provide proof of an ACTIVE bar membership before he/she can enter on duty. Holding an ACTIVE bar membership is a continuing requirement of the position. You can provide #3 above both as proof of membership in good standing, and as proof of an ACTIVE bar membership. For GS-14: Requires 4 years of professional legal experience working as an attorney with at least one year of this experience being equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Additionally, applicants should have experience with the following: 1) providing oral and written legal advice to clients on complex fiscal and contracts/procurement issues; 2) handling litigation before administrative tribunals and federal courts, including brief writing and discovery; and 3) reviewing complex legal documents such as contracts, inter-agency agreements, settlement agreements, and terms of service. Applicants MUST meet all eligibility requirements on or before the closing date of the announcement to be considered for the position.

Education

Submit a copy of your law school transcripts that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. Self-prepared transcripts will not be accepted. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of the personnel action placing you into the new position.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Contacts

• Address OGC 6401 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21235 US
• Name: OPE Staffing OGC
• Email: [email protected]