Attorney-Advisor

Summary

This position serves as Attorney-Advisor in the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge and is located in the Denver, CO. The primary purpose of this position is to provide legal research, draft positions, opinions, memoranda, and advice to the Review Commission in a variety of legal areas. Cases can be small, moderate, or large and can have multiple and highly complex issues. This position reports directly to the First Judge who reports to the Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

Duties

Analyze cases to define the legal and factual issues. Examine the pleadings, transcript or testimony, documentary exhibits, and briefs of the attorneys in connection with the issues of fact and law presented. Search relative statutory provisions and legislative history, applicable regulations of the DOL and the Review Commission, and relevant court and Commission precedent on points of law. Prepare memoranda, digesting, and analyzing the factual and legal issues that are presented including, in some lengthy cases, an indexing or summarizing of testimony or exhibits. Draft decisions and orders for the presiding ALJ addressing the factual and legal issues that have been assigned. Respond, at the request of the presiding judge, to inquiries by telephone or mail. Investigate the facts, research legal precedents, define the legal and factual issues, reading, and analyze the record and arguments, develop conclusions and recommendations, and draft orders in consultation with ALJs. Attend a formal hearing presided over by an ALJ. Utilize available technology to effectively identify and manage cases. This includes using Westlaw's computerized research system and keeping abreast of changes in information technology. Examine the motion for its legal sufficiency which includes study and analyze the citation, proposed penalty, notice of contest, complaint, answer, other motions, orders, and pleadings. Conduct a detailed analysis of the factual and legal issues presented. Conduct legal research and analyzing and studying the statutes, regulations, and legal precedents, as well as the Commission's rules, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess at least three years of professional legal experience following law school. Current Federal employees must have one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level of GS-12 to qualify.

Education

Applicants must have graduated with a law degree (such as a J.D.) from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar. There is a positive education requirement for this position. Transcripts (unofficial) are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational requirement. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation. 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 that 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: International and Foreign Language Education | U.S. Department of Education. Part-time or unpaid experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing of this vacancy announcement, which is Friday, October 16, 2026. Your qualifications will be evaluated in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics). These competencies may be demonstrated by experiences you had during law school (e.g. moot court, internships involving in-depth legal analysis, legal journal) and/or during your three years of professional legal experience following law school. NOTE: We do not require a separate statement responding to the required competencies, also referred to as KSAs. However, your resume should clearly show possession of these competencies: Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Demonstrated ability to conduct legal research, engage in sound legal analysis and orally explain and discuss legal issues logically, concisely, and effectively. Demonstrated excellence in writing, including the ability to draft legal analyses in a clear, precise, and cogent manner. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments, negotiate solutions to problems, apply initiative and good judgment, and work effectively in a team-oriented setting. Knowledge of, or experience in one or more of the following areas of law; regulatory enforcement (i.e., occupational safety and health law, environmental law, labor law, etc.), employment law, information disclosure law or ethics and conflict of interest law. Experience in appellate and/or motions practice.

Required Documents

To receive consideration, you must submit the following documents: Resume: Your resume cannot be longer than two pages and must accurately reflect the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending date of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). Vacancy Announcement: Your application package must identify the vacancy announcement number, position title, and grade of the position for which you are applying. Personal Information: Your application package must include your full name, your mailing address with zip code, email address, telephone numbers, country of citizenship, and highest Federal civilian grade you held (if any). If you are or have been a Federal employee, please provide a copy of your most recent standard form 50, Notification of Personnel Action. Education: You must list all colleges/universities/law schools you have attended, the city and state of such institutions, and specify the type and year you obtained your degrees. Cover Letter: If you provide a cover letter, we suggest that you describe how your experience, education, knowledge and/or awards relate to this position. Other Qualifications: Job-related training courses (title and year), job-related skills, job-related certificates and licenses, job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments. Bar membership: State the jurisdiction(s) and date(s) of admission. Performance appraisal: If you are or were a Federal employee, please provide a copy of your latest performance appraisal. If unavailable, please provide an explanation as to why it is unavailable. Law School Transcript: You must provide a copy of your law school transcript. Writing Sample: You must provide a writing sample (no more than ten pages). Essay Questions: Applicants are encouraged but not required to submit responses to the five essay questions (not to exceed 200 words per question) listed below. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic, or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. This position supports the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission's mission and current priorities, including (1) resolving pending cases fairly and promptly; (2) enhancing the transparency of its operations, consistent with the public's interest in efficiency, the agency's statutory authority and responsibilities, and due process requirements; (3) promoting organizational excellence, including a culture of professionalism, mutual respect, organizational pride, and ensuring that staff members are adequately trained and developed; and (4) managing agency resources in a manner that instills public trust, including using information and technology to monitor, evaluate, and improve programs and processes in order to better accomplish the agency's mission. Describe how your skills and experience would help the agency advance those priorities in this role. All application materials must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit these documents will result in your application being removed from consideration. Please do not submit additional, unsolicited materials, or original documents that you may need in the future. Applications will become part of the recruitment case file and will not be returned.

How to Apply

You may send your application by mail, deliver it by hand, or email it to oshrcvacancy@oshrc.gov. Mailing address: U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Attn: Human Resources Office 1120 20th Street, NW, Ninth Floor Washington, DC 20036-3457

What to Expect Next

Once your application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified of the outcome

Additional Information

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Review Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD form 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see www.sss.gov). Equal Employment Opportunity: The Review Commission is an equal opportunity employer. Applications will be considered without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information, and without retaliation against any person asserting a right under anti-discrimination laws. This also applies to decisions including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, terms and conditions of employment, opportunities for promotion, training and development, transfer, and other privileges of employment. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion or national origin. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: The Review Commission provides reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application, please contact the Office of the Executive Director on (202) 606-5100. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants must possess at least three years of professional legal experience following law school. Current Federal employees must have one year time-in-grade at the next lower grade level of GS-12 to qualify.