Morocco-based Maghreb Resident Legal Advisor

Criminal Division (CRM)
Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training
Attorney
Rabat
Morocco
23-CRM-DET-011
About the Office: 

While this vacancy announcement expires March 23, 2023, the announcement may be closed at any time if a selection is made. This assignment is for a period of at least 14 months, beginning on or about July 2023, with the possibility of extension, contingent on the availability of funding. Appointment to this position will be through a reimbursable detail.

The mission of the Criminal Division's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) is to develop and administer technical and developmental assistance designed to enhance the capabilities of foreign justice sector and law enforcement institutions and their personnel. This assistance is administered to enable those institutions and their personnel to combat terrorism, transnational organized crime, corruption, financial crime, and other types of crime more effectively in a manner consistent with the rule of law. The assistance is also administered to enable those institutions and their personnel to cooperate more effectively regionally and with the United States in combating such crime. http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/opdat.

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: 

The Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) will represent the U.S. Department of Justice and OPDAT in the implementation of justice sector technical assistance activities designed to support counterterrorism efforts and to help strengthen the criminal justice sector in Morocco. The RLA program assists efforts to combat complex criminal cases, including terrorism, terrorist financing, and money laundering, by establishing strong legal and policy frameworks, strengthening the security and justice sectors, and building accountable institutions that respect human rights and the rule of law. The RLA will work with the Ministry of Justice and other government and non-government stakeholders, as well as international partners as appropriate, on projects designed to support sustainable institutional improvements. These will include improvements in legislation and procedures that promote proactive investigations and prosecutions, and transparent, efficient, and fair adjudications in criminal cases, as well as professional practices and humane conditions in prisons.  While Morocco will be the primary focus, this position involves periodic travel within the region, including Algeria and Tunisia, and will require the RLA to engage with justice sector officials from regional partner nations on combating complex criminal and terrorism cases.

Qualifications: 

Required: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess ALL of the requirements below:

  1. A J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
  2. Specific grade level requirements:
    • GS-15: At least four (4) years of post J.D. legal experience, to include four (4) years of prosecutorial experience in Article III courts or comparable state level courts.
    • GS-14: At least three (3) years of post J.D. legal experience, to include three (3) years of prosecutorial experience in Article III courts or comparable state level courts.

Applicantsmust have, or be able to obtain through their Component/Agency, and maintain a TopSecret security clearance

Preferred: Applicants should have a thorough understanding and practical knowledge of Department of Justice and other United States Government approaches and policies involving transnational crimes, terrorism, and security and justice sector development issues, including training and institution-building.

The successful applicant should also have:

  • Ability to function effectively in an international, multi-cultural environment;
  • Excellent interpersonal and management skills;
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing;
  • Extensive prosecution experience;
  • Experience in bar activities, teaching, designing course curricula, and/or work with international development projects; and
  • Proficiency in French language is highly desirable.
Salary: 
Under detail assignment, there is no change to the selectee’s base pay. If applicable, the selectee will also receive appropriate post and overseas salary differentials.
Travel: 
Travel to/from Morocco and within the region will be required.
Application Process: 

While this vacancy announcement expires March 23, 2023, the announcement may be closed at any time if a selection is made. The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.

All interested attorneys meeting these qualifications should submit a cover letter and resume to OPDATDetails.AFME@USDOJ.GOV.

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 conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Application Deadline: 
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Relocation Expenses: 
Relocation expenses are authorized.
Number of Positions: 
1
Updated January 23, 2023

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Department Policies

Equal Employment Opportunity:  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.

Reasonable Accommodations:  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.

Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities:  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.   

Suitability and Citizenship:  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.

Veterans:  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).

USAO Residency Requirement:  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.

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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.