Attorney Advisor

Summary

This position is located in the ALJ (Administrative Law Judges) Support Division, Office of Administration. The ALJ Support Division is responsible for providing legal, technical, administrative and clerical support to the Office of Judges, which consists of a Chief Administrative Law Judge and several other Administrative Law Judges. This is an excepted service appointment and does not confer competitive status.

Duties

As a Attorney Advisor, GS-0905-14, you will perform the following major duties: Conducts complex legal research and analysis of statutes, regulations, judicial and administrative decisions, agency interpretations, and other authorities relevant to proceedings before the NTSB Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ). Advises Administrative Law Judges on substantive and procedural issues and assists in preparing complex cases for hearing, including analyzing the factual and legal issues, identifying controlling authority, and anticipating issues that may arise during the proceeding. Drafts legally sufficient orders, initial decisions, and other adjudicative documents, including orders resolving motions, orders terminating proceedings, and decisions in air safety enforcement and Equal Access to Justice Act matters. Communicates with attorneys, parties, and members of the public regarding case status and procedural requirements and helps clarify pending matters and facilitate resolution of venue, discovery, and other procedural disputes. Supports OALJ legal and program operations by performing case-processing functions, drafting proposed regulations and policy memoranda, coordinating with the Office of General Counsel on rulemaking and process improvements, and reviewing work performed by paraprofessionals, law clerks, and legal externs.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet ALL of the following requirements: EDUCATION Applicants must possess an L.L.B or Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school, licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position. AND Applicants must be an active member of a bar association of a state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia in good standing. Candidates awaiting bar results may be appointed conditionally and must provide proof of bar admission prior to entry on duty. Certificate of good standing from the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three (3) months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your current, active status. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE To qualify for this position, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of professional legal experience following admission to the bar. This experience must include the following: (1) conducting complex legal research and analysis. (2) interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, case law, and administrative authorities. (3) analyzing substantive and procedural issues arising in administrative, regulatory, judicial, or comparable adjudicative proceedings. (4) drafting legally sufficient decisions, orders, motions, memoranda, or other substantive legal documents. (5) conducting legal research, analysis, writing, editing, and oral presentations. (6) developing persuasive recommendations, and effectively manages legal and factual issues, multiple cases, projects, and priorities simultaneously. NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

There is no education substitution at this grade level. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/approved.html Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will not be accepted. An unofficial transcript; statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable at the time of application. Education submitted must be appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at: http://www.ed.gov FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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 an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Applications can be accepted from students who expect to complete qualifying education within 9 months from the date of application. Candidates who have not yet graduated may apply but must provide proof of degree conferral prior to entry on duty.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., two-page resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. Notice of Veteran's Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the National Transportation Safety Board considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Uniformed Service") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application. If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration. Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13067406.

Required Documents

You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire. You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package. Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager. Cover letter is optional. The following documents are required for a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE: A Complete Two-Page Resume is required: Your resume must show relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information MUST be provided in your resume: employer's name, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week, and pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience. Please see OPM's video on Resume Writing Tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk Responses to the questionnaire. Law school transcripts - This position has an individual occupational requirement for education. You MUST submit a copy of your transcript(s) with your application package, or you may be rated ineligible. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but official transcripts will be required prior to entry on duty. Certificate of Active Bar Status: Certificate of good standing from the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three (3) months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your current, active status. DD-214 (member copy 2 or 4), SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities. Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation: (1) Proof of Eligibility; (2) Your latest performance rating showing a rating of at least "fully successful" (level 3); AND (3) Your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50), or equivalent personnel action, showing your tenure, position occupied, and duty station. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp Failure to submit required documents will result in you being considered as "ineligible" for this position.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. NOTE: If you have any additional questions, comments or concerns prior to the closing date please send those emails to include the vacancy announcement number, position title and your reason for contacting us to recruitment@ntsb.gov at least 1 business day before the closing date.

What to Expect Next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is co...

To qualify for this position, you must meet ALL of the following requirements: EDUCATION Applicants must possess an L.L.B or Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school, licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position. AND Applicants must be an active member of a bar association of a state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia in good standing. Candidates awaiting bar results may be appointed conditionally and must provide proof of bar admission prior to entry on duty. Certificate of good standing from the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three (3) months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your current, active status. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE To qualify for this position, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level of professional legal experience following admission to the bar. This experience must include the following: (1) conducting complex legal research and analysis. (2) interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, case law, and administrative authorities. (3) analyzing substantive and procedural issues arising in administrative, regulatory, judicial, or comparable adjudicative proceedings. (4) drafting legally sufficient decisions, orders, motions, memoranda, or other substantive legal documents. (5) conducting legal research, analysis, writing, editing, and oral presentations. (6) developing persuasive recommendations, and effectively manages legal and factual issues, multiple cases, projects, and priorities simultaneously. NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.