The Attorney Advisor provides legal counsel on the full range of Federal personnel issues, including general employee relations matters, suitability questions, disciplinary and performance-based actions, and litigation before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and other Federal forums. The Attorney Advisor may also provide legal counsel on Federal administrative laws, the Farm Credit Act of 1971, and other issues.

Duties

As an Attorney Advisor, typical duties include: Providing legal counsel to agency officials on the full range of personnel-related issues impacting a Federal agency, including disciplinary and performance-based actions, and issues relating to Federal employment anti-discrimination laws, including requests for reasonable accommodation. Representing the agency in cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and other Federal adjudicatory bodies and administrative forums, including pre-hearing practice. In addition to the duties described above, the Attorney Advisor may provide legal counsel on a wide range of Federal administrative laws, such as the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, Administrative Procedure Act, and ethics laws. The Attorney Advisor may also advise agency officials on the Farm Credit Act of 1971 and questions arising from policy and regulation development and examination activities.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Two year trial period required, if not already served.
• Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• Submission of financial disclosure report is required.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: You must have a law degree (such as a J.D.) from a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association AND You must be a member in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must meet the specialized experience statement(s) as outlined below: To qualify for the VH-39 (GS-13 equivalent) band level: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing of a qualifying legal bar and have three years of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-38 (GS-12) band level. To qualify for the VH-40 (GS-14 equivalent) band level: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing of a qualifying legal bar and have four years of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-39 (GS-13) band level. Specialized Experience includes providing legal counsel to agency officials on Federal employment-related laws, personnel-related issues such as disciplinary and performance-based actions, and other employee relations matters; practicing before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB); and other Federal adjudicatory bodies and forums; legal analyses that are subject to statutory, regulatory, or time constraints; and drafting legal opinions, memoranda, and other documents. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

If this position has a positive education requirement as part of the Basic Qualification Requirements, you MUST submit copies of your transcript(s) that include: your name, the name of the educational institution, course titles, number of semester/quarter hours, grade(s) earned and degree(s) awarded. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. Educational institutions must be accredited by one of the accrediting agencies or associations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Pass/Fail Courses: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

Graduate Education: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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 an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Contacts

• Address Office of Agency Services, Human Resources Division 1501 Farm Credit Drive McLean, VA 22102 US
• Name: FCA HR Division
• Phone: 703-883-4135
• Email: [email protected]