Trial Attorney

About the role

This announcement will be used to fill multiple positions in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

As an attorney in OGC, you will provide legal advice and representation to OPM leaders on a wide variety of issues relating to both the internal work of OPM, as well as OPM's government-wide policies, oversight, and programs that support more than 8 million Federal employees, retirees, and family members.

What you will do

• Attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) Litigation, Employee & Labor Relations Division "first chair" litigation before administrative agencies in a broad range of employment and labor matters including adverse actions, reductions in force, suitability, labor relations, and discrimination.
• Serving as lead counsel in important and sensitive litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the OPM Suitability Exchange Agent Program (SuitEA) Appeal Section, and similar tribunals.
• Preparing cases for litigation, including writing motions, briefs, and other papers, conducting discovery, and participating in administrative hearings.
• Making recommendations regarding settlement of litigation and appeal of adverse decisions, including the exercise of OPM's special statutory authority to obtain review of adverse MSPB decisions with a substantial impact on the civil service.
• Serving as agency counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice on personnel litigation matters in Federal courts.
• This includes gathering discovery, preparing administrative records, brief preparation or review, and other duties as assigned.
• Providing pre-litigation advice and counsel to agency management on performance, disciplinary, equal employment opportunity (EEO), labor relations, and other personnel matters, including the review of adverse actions and performance-based actions.
• Providing internal human resources policy advice to OPM management on employee relations, labor relations, EEO, performance management, suitability investigations, and other personnel matters Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
• This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit

Education

If you are applying at the GS-11 level, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the quali?cations above.

Documents you must provide

• Your Resume (limited to 2 pages total, or 1 page front and back) that includes your bar number and issuing state.
• Other supporting documents, as applicable: Transcript (only required if you are applying at the GS-11 level) Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, OPM considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.
• Performance Appraisals: Current Federal employees must submit their last three performance appraisals or explain why three are not available (e.g. employed in the government for fewer than three years).
• Responses to four Merit Hiring essay questions described below (optional) Merit Hiring Questions: Applicants may choose to submit responses to the four essay questions below.
• The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with these responses is not permitted.
• By submitting responses, you certify that the essays are your own work and were completed without the use of AI.
• 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.

What to expect next

References, Writing Sample, and Other Supporting Documents: If you advance in the selection process, you may be required to: (1) submit three professional references; (2) submit a writing sample not more than 20 pages in length; and/or (3) complete one or more assessments.

Deliberate attempts to falsify information in your application may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

An agency may not request, orally, in writing, or electronically through the USA Jobs website or other electronic means, that an applicant for appointment for a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information before the appointing agency extends a conditional offer of employment.

If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit ***

Additional information

Incentive payments may be considered. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the ef?ciency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.