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Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Office, Houston, TX. Responsibilities As an Attorney-Advisor (General), you will be responsible for conducting legal research and analysis of laws, regulations, case law, interpretations, and opinions; attending hearings; and drafting various judicial orders and final decisions. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include: Serving as advisor to an ALJ in preparation of cases. Studies and analyzes the case file; conducts detailed analysis of the factual and legal issues; conducts legal research and analyzes and the statutes, Executive orders, regulations, and rules applicable to the cases heard by CG ALJs, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act and the Federal Rules of Evidence. Developing and preparing complex orders, requiring legal research and discussions of points of law to respond to motions or pleadings, to compel discovery, and to prepare the cases for hearing. Draft orders to pre- and post-hearing motions. Reviewing settlement agreements, default motions and other pre-hearing motions to ensure legal sufficiency and policy compliance. Once case has been heard, review testimony, pleadings, briefs of counsel, exhibits, hearing records, charges, and derives inferences. Researching and analyzing statutes, regulations, previous decisions, Commandant's Decisions on Appeal, District Court, Circuit Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court decisions and opinions, and other legal authorities on the points of law. Citing applicable case law and precedents and citing such findings to the case. Drafting proposed decisions and orders for the Judge's review and approval. Prepares written analysis of the facts and legal issues; prepares the decision in its final form to be issued to the parties in the case and/or offices in the Department for the official action to be taken. Attending hearings with the ALJ providing legal advice and assistance as needed. Deciding and issuing DHS Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeals. Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Key Requirements: U.S. Citizenship is required. This position requires current membership in good standing of the appropriate licensing authority of any state, territory of the United States, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or District of Columbia bar. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service. Qualifications Basic Requirement for all grade levels: 1. You must be a graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school; AND 2. You must have bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico or the US. Virgin Islands. Minimum Requirements: The minimum qualifications for hiring at each grade level (or equivalent) are as follows: GS-11: One (1) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar; commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of this position. Specialized experience must include: Experience reviewing and recommending disposition of legal issues that require individual expert level handling; and Experience participating in legal research and legal writing that contributed to an organization's decision on significant cases; and Experience providing recommendations to policies, regulations, procedures, and proposed legislation that affects the organizations functions. GS-12: One (1) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar; commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of this position. Specialized experience must include: Experience reviewing and recommending disposition of legal issues that require individual expert level handling; and Experience participating in legal research and legal writing that contributed to an organization's decision on significant cases; and Experience providing recommendations to policies, regulations, procedures, and proposed legislation that affects the organizations functions; and Providing legal advice to senior attorneys or judicial body or government entity; and Managing legal cases to final disposition in a timely manner. GS-13: Two (2) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar; commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of this position in a government agency, private sector entity, or non-profit organization. Specialized experience must include: Experience reviewing and recommending disposition of legal issues that require individual expert level handling; and Experience participating in legal research and legal writing that contributed to an organization's decision on significant cases; and Experience providing recommendations to policies, regulations, procedures, and proposed legislation that affects the organizations functions; and Providing legal advice to senior attorneys or judicial body or government entity; and Managing legal cases to final disposition in a timely manner; and Producing legal document or judicial decisions and orders independently with minimal errors. This experience must be fully supported and articulated in your resume to receive consideration. Please do not cut and paste the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education Education Requirements: This position has a positive education requirement. All Candidates must possess a J.D. or LL.B degree from an accredited law school; AND, must be a member in good standing of the appropriate licensing authority of any state, territory of the United States, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or District of Columbia bar. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Education's web site at click here NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Additional Information Applicants will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. Certain responses on the form could pose a problem with suitability for employment determinations. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete/make updates to the OF-306 and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, or imprisonment. DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about e-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities at click here Recruitment incentives may be authorized. If selection is made below the full performance level, the incumbent may be promoted up to the target grade without further competition, if all legal and regulatory requirements are met and when recommended by the supervisor. However, promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed and is dependent on successful performance at the lower grade level(s).All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. More than 1 selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 45 days from the date the certificate was issued. If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact 202-795-6328. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation