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Legal Careers

Attorney Advisor

Hiring Organization
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Hiring Office
Office of Chief Counsel
Job ID
21-EXC-065-KRM
Location:
Washington, DC, DC 20226 - United States
Application Deadline:
About the Office

This position is in the Office of Chief Counsel (CC), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Department of Justice (DOJ).

The attorney reports to the Associate Chief Counsel, General Law and Information Division and serves as embedded counsel to the Assistant Director (Field Operations), and other management officials in the Field Operations Directorate, providing legal advice in relation to the enforcement and administration of the laws within ATF’s authority.

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

Job Description

Provides legal advice and recommendations in relation to the enforcement and administration of Federal alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives and arson laws, as required to ensure that law enforcement operations are conducted in compliance with constitutional and legal requirements, as well as Department of Justice and ATF policy, and in a manner, that promotes efficiency and public safety.

The attorney also provides legal counsel in connection with formal headquarters review of undercover and other high-risk operations, and with headquarters oversight of other law enforcement operations, in general; and coordinates with the General Law and Information Division to ensure that ATF law enforcement policies (such as orders and policy memoranda), strategies and tactics are thoroughly reviewed to ensure both compliance with constitutional and legal requirements, and promotion of efficiency and public safety. This responsibility includes providing counsel with respect to novel law enforcement techniques, strategies and tactics for which there may be little or no legal precedent.

In addition, the attorney coordinates personnel and resources within the Field Operations Directorate and the Office of Chief Counsel with respect to significant legal and policy issues, such as the collection, review and production of records related to major law enforcement operations or programs (e.g., in response to congressional inquiries, Freedom of Information Act demands, discovery in litigation involving ATF, requests for testimony in third-party litigation, and internal inspections), and implementing new programs and procedures in response to changes in the law or policy (e.g., new legislation, regulations or Department policy, significant opinions of the Supreme Court or United States Court of Appeals, corrective actions following an internal review).

Qualifications

To qualify at the GS-15 level, applicants must have at least six years as a practicing attorney and experience with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The attorney also serves as lead attorney on extremely complex legal issues where there is little or no precedent, such as matters involving digital/virtual currency and virtual evidence. This includes specialized experience listed below.

Specialized Experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position:

  1. Demonstration of original thinking, mature judgment, and sound reasoning are continually required as new problems of law, policy and procedures are presented for
  2. Demonstrated ability to provide legal advice on the laws enforced by ATF, including the Gun Control Act, the National Firearms Act, and the Federal laws related to arson and
  3. Broad knowledge of general law and legal procedures, both civil and criminal; a specialized knowledge of the laws relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives, arson, interstate smuggling of cigarettes, and claims collections.
  4. Demonstrated ability to deal tactfully and diplomatically with others; and the ability to approach the settlement of issues that will ensure fair and equitable consideration of the rights of taxpayers consistent with the protection of the interests of the Government.
  5. Demonstrated ability to provide legal advice on the laws enforced by ATF, including the Gun Control Act, the National Firearms Act, and the Federal laws related to arson and explosives.
  6. Demonstrated ability to provide legal guidance and advice on matters of general criminal law (e.g., laws governing search and seizure, electronic surveillance, custodial interrogations, undercover operations, use of force).
  7. Superior analytical, written and communication
Application Process

This job is filled through a 3-step on-line application process.

STEP ONE - (Online Resume - USAJOBS) You must create a user account and at least one Federal resume at USAJOBS. Information you provide in USAJOBS is general information completed by all applicants. The information you provide and your Federal resume will become part of your application and will automatically be transferred to CareerConnector when you apply online. If you have an existing USAJOBS account, simply login and select the resume you wish to include with your application package for this announcement.

STEP TWO - (Vacancy Specific Questions USAJobs) In USAJobs, you will answer vacancy specific questions necessary to evaluate your qualifications for the job to which you are applying. When completed, the information you provided at USAJOBS and the answers to the USAJob questions will become your application package.

STEP THREE - (Supporting Documentation) You may upload supporting documentation in one of two ways:

(l) Once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement, you will be prompted to upload your document(s) to your application package. You will be given the choice to either upload the document as part of the application process, or you can select a document that you've already loaded on USAJOBS, or simply fax supporting documentation, which will provide you the necessary cover sheets for each of your documents so that they will be correctly submitted to the appropriate vacancy announcement. The fax number will be available on the cover sheet.

(2) You can upload a document to an existing application by logging into your USAJOBS account profile. Click on "My Applications" and search for the vacancy. Once you have located the vacancy, click on the vacancy and select "Apply Online". Move through your existing application to the Documents page and select "Upload" in order to add a document to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation that the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g. DD-214) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Number of Positions
1
Travel
Occasional travel
Relocation Expenses
Will not be paid

Department Policies

The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.  Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor.  The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements.  Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority.  Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.   

Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.

It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment.  Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof.  See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

 

This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.

Updated September 20, 2021