Chief Deputy Clerk for Administration (Type II)

Summary

The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is seeking multiple Staff Attorney positions in Washington D.C..

Duties

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The staff attorney position is in the Court's Central Legal Staff, which is located in the Office of the Clerk of the Court. The duties and responsibilities of the position are performed under the general supervision of the Chief Staff Attorney and include, but are not limited to the following: Conducting conferences with the litigating parties, using mediation techniques, to explore the possibility of settlement or to narrow the issues to be briefed; to settle applications for attorney fees and expenses; and to resolve disputes over the content of the record on appeal; Analyzing case materials and drafting procedural orders for Judges and the Clerk of the Court; Responding to inquiries from Judges and others about Court cases, including screening appeals and petitions and researching and preparing memoranda of law; Performing other legal duties, as required.

Qualifications

The selectee must have: A professional law degree (juris doctor (J.D.)) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member of the bar of the highest court of any state, the District of Columbia, or a territory, possession, or commonwealth of the United States within the meaning of 48 U.S.C. § 1904(e)(5). Progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school. Applicants must have two years of post-J.D. legal work experience to qualify for grade 12, three years of post-J.D. legal work experience to qualify for grade 13, or four years of post-J.D. legal work experience to qualify for grade 14. One year must be at, or equivalent to, the next lower grade in the federal service. Experience in veterans' benefits law is required. Note: Mediation experience, a judicial clerkship, and experience in court operations or administration is beneficial but not required. Educational Substitutions: A masters of law (LL.M.) degree is equivalent to one year of legal work experience. Promotion Potential: This position will be filled at CS-12, 13, or 14, dependent on the successful applicant's level of experience. The position may have promotion potential up to CS-14 without further competition, subject to satisfactory performance and compliance with applicable Court policies. Note: Selectee will be subject to a two-year probationary period.

Education

A professional law degree (juris doctor (J.D.)) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member of the bar of the highest court of any state, the District of Columbia, or a territory, possession, or commonwealth of the United States within the meaning of 48 U.S.C. § 1904(e)(5). Educational Substitutions: A masters of law (LL.M.) degree is equivalent to one year of legal work experience.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Once your completed application package is received, we will conduct an evaluation and the selected candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for future consideration and possible interview.

Required Documents

Cover letter; Resume; Completed OF 306 (Declaration for Federal Employment) (available on the Court's website at www.uscourts.cavc.gov under Employment); Self-edited legal writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages); and Two professional references (non-family members) with the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of those references. See 'How to Apply' for instructions.

How to Apply

Applications must include the following materials: Cover letter; Resume; Completed OF 306 (Declaration for Federal Employment) (available on the Court's website at www.uscourts.cavc.gov under Employment); Self-edited legal writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages); and Two professional references (non-family members) with the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of those references. Veterans Information: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letters or resumes and attach supporting documents (e.g., DD Form 214, Certificate of Release, or Discharge from Active Duty) to their submissions. Submit application packet to: Human Resources Office at employment@uscourts.cavc.gov. Please include the vacancy announcement number in the subject line. Please submit all electronic documents in one PDF file. This announcement will remain open until all positions are filled. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials may result in your not being considered for employment.

What to Expect Next

Once your completed application package is received, we will conduct an evaluation and the selected candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for future consideration and possible interview.

Additional Information

The Court does not pay relocation expenses. Preference will be given to veterans; if the applicant is applying for a 5- or 10-point preference, the applicant must submit proof of eligibility with the application. This appointment is made without regard to Title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service. All appointments are excepted service. The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this announcement, commence interviews immediately, withdraw the announcement, or fill the position at any time, any of which actions may occur without notice. The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, age, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin, disability, or political affiliation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify as a Chief Deputy Clerk for Administration the candidate must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and must have a minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible managerial experience. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 10 years' experience in senior management or executive-level administration in a federal or state court. Experience managing budget, finance, procurement, information technology, or human resources. Post graduate degree in law or public, business, or judicial administration from an accredited college or university. Experience with the federal courts' human resources, information technology, and/or financial systems. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES & SKILLS: Proven executive experience managing budget, finance, procurement, facilities, human resources, strategic planning, information technology, or project management in medium to large organizations. Demonstrated ability to operate as a senior leader alongside a peer executive - sharing authority, collaborating on strategy, and presenting a unified leadership front. Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to handle sensitive personnel matters with tact, directness, fairness, and care. Ability to lead with vision and integrity, articulate organizational priorities, develop staff, and drive sustained excellence. Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including executive-level presentation ability. Strong problem-solving, organizational leadership, and conflict resolution capabilities. Proven ability to build and sustain strong interorganizational relationships across diverse stakeholders. Deep proficiency in technology with the ability to adapt to rapidly evolving tools and implement innovative solutions that drive meaningful organizational change. Working knowledge of MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and multiple web-based applications. Track record of mentoring and developing teams to meet and exceed professional goals. Unwavering commitment to ethics, confidentiality, and compliance with the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.