Attorney Advisor (General)

This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Chief Counsel. This position's primary purpose is to provide legal advice, review disciplinary proposals, defend DEA in employment-related administrative litigation, and support the defense of DEA in federal employment-related lawsuits.

Major duties

The Employment and Defensive Litigation Section (EDL) is a one-stop shop for all DEA personnel and employment law issues. EDL attorneys provide legal advice, review disciplinary proposals, defend DEA in employment-related administrative litigation, and support the defense of DEA in federal employment-related lawsuits. EDL handles a wide range of employment-related disputes and litigation matters. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical abilities, excellent advocacy and litigation skills, and experience managing complex cases in a fast-paced environment and handling employment law counseling matters. Some duties of EDL attorneys include: Defending DEA in administrative, employment-law cases before the Merit Systems Protection Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Serving as agency counsel working with United States Attorney offices to defend DEA in federal employment-related lawsuits across the country. Providing advice to DEA management on employment and personnel matters. Providing advice/review on grievances, performance improvement plans, reasonable accommodations, security clearance suspensions/revocations, disciplinary actions, and similar matters. Serving as DEA liaison in response to various employment-related investigations, including those by the Office of Special Counsel and Department of Labor.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. All applicants must be an active member of a bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction) and possess: 1) a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and have at least 2-year post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience; 2) excellent academic credentials; 3) strong oral and written advocacy skills; 4) superior legal research and analytical skills; and 5) a demonstrated ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment. To qualify for each GS Level:

• Applicants applying for the GS-13 must have 2 or more years of post J.D. legal experience
• Applicants applying for the GS-14 must have 3 or more years of post J.D. legal experience
• Applicants applying for the GS-15 must have 4 or more years of post J.D. legal experience

Specialized experience: Applicants applying for the GS-13 must have 2 or more years of cumulative post J.D. legal experience in litigation, employment law, and/or a judicial clerkship. Applicants applying for the GS-14 must have 3 or more years of cumulative post J.D. legal experience in employment in litigation, employment law, and/or a judicial clerkship. Applicants should have substantial post-JD experience working on relevant legal matters, such as employment law counseling matters or litigation matters, with little or no guidance and/or supervision. Applicants should have mediation and/or hearing experience. Applicants applying for the GS-15 must have 4 or more years of cumulative post J.D. legal experience in employment in litigation, employment law, and/or a judicial clerkship. Applicants should have substantial post-JD experience working on relevant legal matters, such as employment law counseling matters or litigation matters, with little or no guidance and/or supervision. Applicants must have mediation and/or hearing experience leading teams and/or advising senior leadership on legal and policy matters. Qualifying litigation experience may include civil, administrative, or criminal litigation. Applicants should have a strong interest in civil litigation and employment law. Preferred applicants will have prior experience in a judicial clerkship and/or civil or administrative litigation (particularly that is related to employment law). Applicants must possess superior research, analytical, and writing abilities.

Education

A J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet these criteria, see www.ed.gov. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: ww.naces.org/members.php.