Staff Attorney

About the role

The staff attorney's responsibilities will include responding to inquiries from parties regarding cases, reviewing, drafting and finalizing documents for filing, generating statistical reports, researching legal questions, and preparing memorandum.

These duties may also include additional case management, medical record evaluations, conducting status conferences with counsel, drafting orders, drafting fact rulings, and drafting decisions on entitlement, damages, and special projects.

What you will do

• To ensure that vaccine claimants have readily available a competent bar to prosecute their claims, Congress provided for the award of attorney's fees and costs.
• The Vaccine Act provides for an award of fees in most cases, regardless of whether the petitioner prevails.
• Thus, the candidate must have expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and court procedures, in addition to superb skill in legal research, analysis, computations and mathematical calculations, and writing.
• The candidate will also review legal documents, specifically attorneys' applications for fees and costs submitted to OSM for completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness.
• The candidate must have skill in analyzing legal concepts and issues and skill in legal reasoning and critical thinking.
• The candidate must have the ability to manage time effectively, set priorities, meet tight deadlines, and work independently with limited guidance and direction regarding the following duties: Work closely with the Chief Special Master in managing the OSM attorney's fees and costs case docket: reviewing attorney fee and cost applications in order to prepare and draft decisions either awarding or denying fees, where appropriate; communicating with counsel to provide information on Vaccine Act fees request compliance; assisting with drafting necessary orders; drafting decisions, scheduling orders and other documents as required; conducting status conferences (as necessary) with the parties to review fee applications with compliance with Rules and Guidelines; performing legal research, analysis and draft decisions and scheduling orders and other documents for the Chief Special Master and other Special Masters; serving on OSM committees and ad hoc tasks forces as directed by the Chief Special Master; providing staff support for court events, including the Court's Annual Judicial Conference and Law Day Observance; and performing other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• The successful candidate is a self-starter who is detail-oriented, highly organized, and professional.
• They exercise sound judgment, tact, initiative, and strong prioritization and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required to effectively interact with court personnel at all levels of technical expertise, from frontline staff to chambers, as well as external stakeholders.
• The ability to work collaboratively in a team environment while maintaining a professional demeanor is essential.
• All appointments are subject to a full background check including an FBI Fingerprint Background Check, as well as periodic reinvestigation.
• If offered employment, such employment will be provisional pending the satisfactory completion of a mandatory Fingerprint and Background Investigation.
• The provisional nature of your employment, however, will not affect your start date, salary, or other benefits.

Education

The court requires the candidate to have a degree from an accredited law school.

How you will be evaluated

The best-qualified applicants will be invited for in-person interviews in Washington, D.C. Because of the large number of applications anticipated, only those applicants invited for interviews will be contacted by the Court. Applicants selected for interviews must travel at their own expense. Interview and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed.

Documents you must provide

• Cover Letter (include the Announcement Number and the position title and address your qualifications relating to the duties and responsibilities of this position); Résumé; Form AO78 Federal Judiciary Application Form which can be found at: *** Three (3) business/professional references with name, affiliation, and contact information; Salary History for prior three (3) years; If a current Federal Civilian Employee, your latest Personnel Evaluation and your latest SF-50; and, If a current or recently discharged or retired military member, your latest Officer Evaluation Report (OER), Enlisted Evaluation Report (EER) or equivalent, and a copy of your DD Form 214.
• See 'How to Apply' for instructions.

Benefits

11 holidays - 13-26 days annual leave (increases with service) - 13 days sick leave - Federal Employees Retirement System - Thrift Savings Plan - Commuter Benefit Program/Metro Transit Subsidy Program - Flexible Spending Accounts - Insurance available for health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care.

What to expect next

The court will conduct an evaluation of each applicant's qualifications and materials after receipt of a complete application package. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Interviews may commence immediately.

This is an "Excepted Appointment" and an "At Will" position. Federal Government Civil Service classifications or regulations do not apply. If offered employment, such employment will be provisional pending the satisfactory completion of a mandatory Fingerprint and Background Investigation.

The provisional nature of your employment, however, will not affect your start date, salary, or other benefits. No phone calls please. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The United States Court of Federal Claims is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Additional information

The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw the job announcement, and/or to commence interviews immediately, any of which actions may occur without prior written or other notice. This is an "Excepted Appointment" and an "At Will" position. Federal Government Civil Service classifications or regulations do not apply.

The United States Court of Federal Claims is an Equal Opportunity Employer.