General Attorney (Labor) (Honors Attorney)

National Labor Relations Board • Birmingham, AL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is part of the National Labor Relations Board Honors Program and is located in a Field Office. Field Offices are the Agency’s operating arm, through which the Board and the General Counsel reach the public. The position is a General Attorney (Labor), GS-0905-12, in the General Counsel-Field program area.

The attorney analyzes labor cases, including unfair labor practice charges and petitions involving collective-bargaining representation, decertification of labor organizations, or rescission of union-security clauses. Under direct supervision, the attorney may present evidence and examine witnesses at administrative hearings concerning alleged violations of the National Labor Relations Act and in related proceedings involving the Board and its agents in other federal courts. The attorney reviews records from charged and charging parties to evaluate whether new or amended charges are appropriate, and prepares legal documents, opinions, drafts, or comments after a decision has been reached by the relevant decision maker.

Applicants must meet the announcement’s education, bar membership, eligibility, and specialized-experience requirements. The position requires an ABA-accredited law degree, active bar membership in good standing, and qualifying experience for the GS-12 grade. The role is not remote, is in the Excepted Service, and is part of a bargaining unit. A two-year trial period may apply, and selectees may be subject to a background investigation.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must be a member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico; the active license must show a bar number and good-standing status.
• Must have completed a full course of study at an ABA-accredited law school and earned a first professional law degree (J.D. or LL.B.), or be in the process of obtaining an advanced law degree (e.g., LL.M. or J.S.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Must meet at least one basic eligibility criterion: a law-school GPA of 3.0 or higher (or equivalent), rank in the top 25% of the class, or attendance at a school without numerical GPA/rank; prior internship or work at the NLRB or another labor agency; or other specialized labor-law or labor-relations experience.
• Must meet one of the stated minimum-qualification pathways: currently serving in at least one year of post-law-school experience as a judicial clerk or honors attorney; be a legal fellow whose fellowship began within six months of graduating with a first professional law degree; or be in the final year of an advanced law degree that began within six months of graduating with a first professional law degree.
• Must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11, including legal or policy issue analysis or interpretation, legal research and recommendations grounded in legal principles, and oral communication of legal issues and factual scenarios in a legal environment.
• Specialized experience must be documented in the resume; education may not substitute for specialized experience at this grade level.
• Must submit transcripts for consideration and sign an Honors Program Participant Agreement.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must submit a complete online application by 11:59 PM EST on the announcement closing date.
• All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the announcement closing date.

Nice To Haves

• Strong academic law-school record.
• Currently serving in a judicial clerkship, law fellowship, or honors attorney position, or in the final year of an advanced law degree.
• Experience in labor or industrial relations and the National Labor Relations Act.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze simple to moderately complex cases, including unfair labor practice charges and petitions concerning collective-bargaining representation, decertification, or rescission of union-security contract clauses.
• Present evidence and examine witnesses in administrative hearings alleging violations of the National Labor Relations Act and in related proceedings involving the Board and its agents in other federal courts, under direct supervision.
• Review pertinent records of charged and charging parties to determine whether new or amended charges are warranted.
• Prepare legal documents, opinions, drafts, or comments after a relevant decision maker has reached a decision.

Benefits

• Flexible hours and the potential for performance-based increases.
• Work/life balance programs, including alternative work schedules, telework, an Employee Assistance Program, and a Child Care Subsidy Program.
• Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Life Insurance.
• Long-Term Care Insurance.
• Thrift Savings Plan.
• Transit Benefit Program.
• Reasonable accommodations and programs for individuals with disabilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level