Trial Attorney (Labor)

Office of the Solicitor•Atlanta, GA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Atlanta, Georgia, or Nashville, Tennessee, regional office of the Department of Labor Office of the Solicitor. The regional offices handle civil litigation in U.S. District Courts and before administrative law judges under laws and authorities administered or enforced by the Department of Labor. The position is outside the bargaining unit. Under the direction of more senior attorneys, the incumbent assists with litigation involving labor and employment statutes and program areas, including ERISA, the Fair Labor Standards Act, workplace safety and health laws, federal contracting statutes, the Black Lung Benefits Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and executive orders. The attorney also handles internal labor and employment litigation involving Department of Labor employees in the region, including Merit Systems Protection Board appeals, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission discrimination claims, and federal union-management matters. The incumbent advises and works with regional Department of Labor agencies in representing the Secretary of Labor. Assignments include important cases involving complex factual, procedural, substantive, and administrative issues that may affect regional or national enforcement positions and particular industries. Cases may require extensive research and analysis, expert testimony in scientific, medical, financial, statistical, or engineering fields, and litigation of technically complex or controversial matters. Matters may involve substantial sums, multiple establishments and large employee populations, significant enforcement policies, novel issues, heavy government burdens of proof, or media and congressional interest.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 years old.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) before beginning work.
Must be a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a U.S. state, territory, or possession, and provide proof of membership.
Must provide a law school transcript; unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application process, but official transcripts are required for verification before hiring.
Must provide an unedited legal writing sample of no more than ten pages with the application.
GS-12 applicants must have one year of post-law-school professional legal experience demonstrating ability to perform at the grade level.
GS-13 applicants must have two years of post-law-school professional legal experience demonstrating ability to perform at the grade level.
GS-14 applicants must have three years of post-law-school professional legal experience demonstrating ability to perform at the grade level.
At least twelve months of qualifying experience must be at a level of difficulty comparable to the next lower grade level in the federal service.
An LL.M. may substitute for a maximum of one year of experience.
Foreign education must be shown to be comparable to education received at accredited U.S. educational institutions and to applicable minimum coursework requirements.

Responsibilities

Assist with litigation under labor and employment statutes and program areas under the direction of more senior attorneys.
Handle internal labor and employment-related litigation involving Department of Labor employees in the region.
Advise, counsel, and work with regional Department of Labor agencies in representing the Secretary of Labor.
Conduct research and analysis and use expert testimony as needed in complex, technical, or controversial cases.
Litigate important cases involving enforcement policies, novel issues, substantial sums, or matters of regional or national impact.