Labor Relations Specialist
Job description
ATTORNEY ADVISOR (EMPLOYEE LABOR RELATIONS)
This position is located in the Office of the General Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U. S. Department of Justice.
This position may have a remote option after conclusion of a probationary period with management approval
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Represents EOIR as a trial attorney in complex and sensitive cases concerning all facets of federal labor and employment laws before Administrative Judges of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), and federal courts.
- Provides advice on sensitive and intricate legal issues that often present novel issues, complex factual scenarios in an area with evolving case law and the absence of clearly applicable precedents.
- Establishes case strategy and tactics from the initial complaint or charge through the conclusion of the administrative hearing and appeals processes.
- Develops guidance and advice on the interpretation and application of employment law decisions for consistent application and implementation throughout EOIR.
- Provides and prepares oral and written advice and technical legal guidance to management officials, and opinions on extremely complex legal issues or factual questions, often involving conflicting interests.
In order to qualify for the Attorney Advisor ( Employee Labor Relations) position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Education: Applicants must possess an LL.B. or a J.D. degree. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.)
AND
- Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your first license and the State from which it was issued.)
AND
Required Experience:
For GS-14: Applicants must have three (3) full years (36 months) of post J.D. or LL.B professional legal experience.
Qualifying professional legal experience includes:
1) Knowledge of federal employment law, including federal employee relations (Title V) and EEO (Title VII); 2) Knowledge of federal labor law and procedures; 3) Ability to represent an Agency in federal litigation (administrative and/or court proceedings), including experience serving as attorney in administrative or judicial hearings; 4) Experience with litigation, including handling witness preparation, depositions, and discovery; preparing affidavits; developing trial strategies; conducting direct and cross examination; and aspects of motion practice; 5) Experience advising or representing an agency in collective bargaining and matters related to federal labor relations; 6) Advising management officials on legal issues surrounding employee performance and conduct; 7) Proven ability to manage complex legal tasks, including litigation with minimal supervision; 8) Ability to relate well to clients and work collaboratively in a fast-paced legal environment; 9) A customer-service oriented approach to legal practice; 10) Ability to think outside of the box on legal questions; and 11) Ability and willingness to lead legal tasks and take on new tasks and responsibilities.
For GS-15: Applicants must have four (4) full years (48 months) of post J.D. or LL.B professional legal experience.
Qualifying professional legal experience includes:
1) Significant knowledge of federal employment law, including federal employee relations (Title V) and EEO (Title VII); 2) Significant knowledge of federal labor law and procedures; 3) Ability to handle all aspects of representing an Agency in federal litigation (administrative and/or court proceedings), including experience serving as lead attorney (or equivalent) in administrative or judicial hearings;4) Significant experience with litigation, including handling witness preparation, depositions, and discovery; preparing affidavits; developing trial strategies; conducting direct and cross examination; and aspects of motion practice; 5) Significant experience advising or representing an agency in collective bargaining and all matters related to federal labor relations; 6) Advising management officials on legal issues surrounding employee performance and conduct; 7) Proven ability to manage complex legal tasks, including litigation, independently or with minimal supervision; 8) Ability to relate well to clients and work collaboratively in a fast-paced legal environment; 9) A customer-service oriented approach to legal practice; 10) Ability to think outside of the box on legal questions; 11) Ability and willingness to lead legal tasks and take on new tasks and responsibilities.
(Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience)
Preferred Experience:
- Experience practicing before the MSPB.
- Experience practicing before the EEOC.
- Experience practicing within the Federal Government (or in cases where the Federal Government was a party) and providing advice on Employment Law, including federal employee relations (Title V) and EEO (Title VII).
- Experience practicing before the FLRA and federal labor arbitrators.
- Experience providing advice on complex legal problems related to the interpretation of labor agreements; handling arbitration and the resolution of labor grievances (e.g., arising from Unfair Labor Practice charges).
- Experience providing advice to senior executives and management officials.
- Experience providing legal sufficiency review for disciplinary actions and adverse actions; advice on performance and time and attendance issues.
- Comprehensive operational knowledge of settlement agreements.
NOTE: Qualifying experience is calculated only after receipt of J.D. or LL.B.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your assessment questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your Resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name, position title, grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.
Writing Sample: In addition to the above-stated qualifications, applicants must submit a writing sample that demonstrates their ability to author legal documents to be considered for this position. This document cannot exceed 10 (ten pages).
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Education
ARE YOU USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation by clicking here. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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 accredited U.S. education programs; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Translated transcripts are required. For further information, click here.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire, which can be previewed here:
- Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
- It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
- To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
Updated May 15, 2023
Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice.
Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position.
Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.
johnandkristie.com is the go-to platform for job seekers looking for the best job postings from around the web. With a focus on quality, the platform guarantees that all job postings are from reliable sources and are up-to-date. It also offers a variety of tools to help users find the perfect job for them, such as searching by location and filtering by industry. Furthermore, johnandkristie.com provides helpful resources like resume tips and career advice to give job seekers an edge in their search. With its commitment to quality and user-friendliness, johnandkristie.com is the ideal place to find your next job.