Attorney-Adviser

About the role

Joining the Secret Service, Office of the Chief Counsel allows you to provide legal advice and counsel to, and representation of, the agency in connection with its protective, investigative, and administrative programs/activities.

The Office is seeking attorneys in a variety of legal disciplines, with priority on fiscal and appropriations, procurement, personnel and employment, litigation, and operational law enforcement. For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.

What you will do

• This is an open continuous announcement.
• Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
• The first review of applications will occur two weeks after the opening date.
• Applications received after this cut-off will be reviewed and referred as additional vacancies become available.
• The selectee will serve as an Attorney-Adviser in the Office of the Chief Counsel.
• Typical work assignments include: Advising officials, both independently and in collaboration with senior attorneys on regulatory and policy modifications required by new legislation or court decisions.
• Conducting legal research into problems that involve the interpretation and application of laws and regulations enforced by or affecting the Secret Service.
• Representing the agency in administrative litigation and supporting Department of Justice attorneys in federal court litigation, by furnishing legal advice, handling discovery matters, witness preparation, and preparing written and oral advocacy for litigation proceedings.
• Developing legal instruments or formal legal opinions that present new policy or solutions involving interrelated or unrelated fields of law.
• Drafting, interpreting, or applying legislation, regulations, contracts, orders, or decisions.
• Apply for this exciting opportunity to support the agency's protective and investigative mission by providing timely, thorough legal guidance for all agency operations, in-service legal training, legal representation in administrative and judicial forums, and on-scene at events and incidents.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• If selected for this position, you will be required to: Obtain and maintain a Top-Secret Tier 5 clearance.
• For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
• Submit a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted.
• Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
• Submit a financial disclosure report.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for a position by substituting education or training for experience, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and date of completion.

An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

How you will be evaluated

This announcement is being filled using the Schedule A Hiring Authority 5 CFR 213.3102 (D) under Excepted Service procedures. Traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply to attorney positions. Applicants who meet the qualifications for the position and submit a resume, and law school transcript will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

The Office of the Chief Counsel (LEG) will evaluate qualified applicants by comparing each candidate's qualifications to those pertinent to the position. LEG will consider relevant skills and experience, education and training. An applicant need not have specific knowledge and experience with regard to each item listed in the Duties section in order to qualify for the position.

Applicants will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Decision Support Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Technical Competence Written Communication Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Homeland Security considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.

Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in a cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions. View information on veterans' preference. Interviews are required for this position.

As part of the interview process, you may be required to provide a legal writing sample and references, a second interview may be conducted. These additional assessments will be considered in the selection process.

Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring.

These authorities are subject to change. If selected this announcement confers a permanent appointment in the excepted service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis.

Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment are required to serve a one (1) year trial period, unless already completed.

Upon successful completion of the required trial period, this position will be permanent. This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.

Documents you must provide

• Resume - Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show relevant work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week.
• To learn how to format and submit a two-page resume, please visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
• Transcripts- Submit a copy of your law school transcript accredited by the American Bar Association.
• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, name of the educational institution, declared degree program, course title(s), credits completed, grade, date of completion, Grade Point Average (GPA), and date of degree conferral.
• Your legal education must have been obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the American Bar Association.
• If selected, an official transcript will be required.
• Licensure- Submit a copy of your bar license, certificate of good standing, or other documentary evidence to prove that you are an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Submit Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 or other (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) and/or documentation of service-connected disability.
• If claiming 10-point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference.
• If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification.
• This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
• For more information view Veteran Information.
• Are you a Current or Former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee?
• Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title, Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee), Agency beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Benefits

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.

Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities.

For more information, go to the DHS Careers and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

What to expect next

It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration.

If a document is not legible, we will not be able to view it in your application. To update your application, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application.

This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. Best-qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration and possible interview.

We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed.

Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.

Additional information

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.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, 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, fine, or imprisonment. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment.

In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to ***.

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.

The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone) (exception: a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the form of a ring is authorized on one finger).