General Attorney

Citizenship and Immigration Services•Camp Springs, MD

20h

About The Position

The General Attorney position is with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Office of the Chief Counsel. This is not an immigration law position; experience with immigration issues does not qualify as relevant experience for this role. The position may be filled at the GS-13, GS-14, or GS-15 level, depending on the selectee’s experience and current salary, with promotion potential to GS-15/10. At full performance, the attorney performs legal research and writing on federal fiscal law, advises on related legal issues, and conducts training. Assignments at developmental grade levels have more limited scope, independence, and complexity. The role requires a J.D. or LL.M. from an ABA-accredited law school, or a qualifying legal apprenticeship and bar passage in California, Virginia, Vermont, or Washington, and active bar membership in any jurisdiction. Candidates must meet the applicable post-J.D. legal experience requirement or equivalent federal attorney grade-and-service requirement. Appointment is subject to a two-year trial period, a background investigation, drug screening, and obtaining and maintaining at least a Secret clearance. Applicants must also meet the stated U.S. citizenship or national status and residency requirements. DHS provides a federal employee benefits package. Listed offerings include insurance, retirement and savings plans, leave and holidays, and employee development opportunities. Availability of benefits depends on position type and eligibility.

Requirements

Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
Successfully pass a background investigation, including financial disclosure, and pass drug screening; selected candidates must obtain and maintain at least a Secret clearance.
Meet the residency requirement: for three of the five years immediately before applying, have resided in the United States, worked overseas as a U.S. Government employee in a Federal or Military capacity, or been a dependent of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas. This requirement does not apply to applicants currently employed by USCIS.
Complete a two-year trial period if appointed to a federal attorney position.
For GS-13, have at least one year of post-J.D. professional legal experience commensurate with the duties, or be a federal attorney equivalent to GS-12 with at least one year at that level.
For GS-14, have at least two years of post-J.D. professional legal experience commensurate with the duties, or be a federal attorney equivalent to GS-13 with at least one year at that level.
For GS-15, have at least three years of post-J.D. professional legal experience commensurate with the duties, or be a federal attorney equivalent to GS-14 with at least one year at that level.
Possess a J.D. or LL.M. from an ABA-accredited law school, or complete a legal apprenticeship in California, Virginia, Vermont, or Washington and pass that jurisdiction's bar exam.
Be an active member of the bar in any jurisdiction.
Submit a writing sample of no more than 10 pages, a cover letter addressed to OCC of no more than one page, and no more than three recommendations.
Submit a resume of no more than two pages with required work-history details and applicable education.
Submit college transcripts; foreign education must be evaluated by a service endorsed by the Association of International Credential Evaluators or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Responsibilities

Perform legal research and writing on fiscal law topics and statutes, including the Anti-Deficiency Act, the Economy Act, and annual appropriation statutes.
Provide guidance consistent with the U.S. Government Accountability Office's Principles of Federal Appropriations Law, Comptroller General Decisions, and decisions from the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel.
Advise on issues related to acquisition, debt collection, grants, intellectual property, inter-agency and intra-agency details, and interagency memoranda of understanding.
Conduct training in federal fiscal law.