Trial Attorney

Office of Personnel Management • Lakewood, CO

1d

About The Position

As an attorney in OGC, you will provide legal advice and representation to OPM leaders on a wide variety of issues relating to both the internal work of OPM, as well as OPM's government-wide policies, oversight, and programs that support more than 8 million Federal employees, retirees, and family members.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
• This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit
• At the GS-12 level and above: Applicants with one or more years of post Juris Doctorate (J.D.) legal work experience as a practicing attorney, such as a judicial clerkship or in general law practice, must have: A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and At least one year of experience to qualify at the GS-12 level; at least two years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; at least three years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-14 level; and at least four years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-15 level.
• At the GS-11 level: Applicants with less than one year of post J.D. legal work experience as a practicing attorney, such as a judicial clerkship or in general law practice, must have: A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; Academic standing in the upper third of the attorney's law school graduating class (to the extent an applicant's law school has class rank); and Advanced educational attainment that indicates the ability to independently perform legal work, such as work or achievement of significance on a law school's official law reviews or journals; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school (e.g., membership in the Order of the Coif or winning a moot court competition); full-time or continuous participation in a legal clinic program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation; significant summer clerk experience; or other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement.
• You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Experience "first chairing" MSPB, EEO, or Federal personnel litigation or similar litigation experience in the private sector or state administrative tribunals is a must;
• The ability to provide excellent customer service and to exercise sound judgment and decision making in challenging situations;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• High competence in legal research and analysis, including the ability to effectively integrate and synthesize facts and law to make legally sound decisions, including in compressed timeframes;
• The ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment;
• Willingness to consider diverse perspectives and ability to navigate changing circumstances;
• Ability to effectively manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently;
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships, both within and outside OGC.

Responsibilities

• Attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) Litigation, Employee & Labor Relations Division "first chair" litigation before administrative agencies in a broad range of employment and labor matters including adverse actions, reductions in force, suitability, labor relations, and discrimination.
• Serving as lead counsel in important and sensitive litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the OPM Suitability Exchange Agent Program (SuitEA) Appeal Section, and similar tribunals.
• Preparing cases for litigation, including writing motions, briefs, and other papers, conducting discovery, and participating in administrative hearings.
• Making recommendations regarding settlement of litigation and appeal of adverse decisions, including the exercise of OPM's special statutory authority to obtain review of adverse MSPB decisions with a substantial impact on the civil service.
• Serving as agency counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice on personnel litigation matters in Federal courts. This includes gathering discovery, preparing administrative records, brief preparation or review, and other duties as assigned.
• Providing pre-litigation advice and counsel to agency management on performance, disciplinary, equal employment opportunity (EEO), labor relations, and other personnel matters, including the review of adverse actions and performance-based actions.
• Providing internal human resources policy advice to OPM management on employee relations, labor relations, EEO, performance management, suitability investigations, and other personnel matters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree