Legal Careers
Supervisory Attorney-Advisor (General) (Legal Counsel)
Washington, DC 20002 - United States
The mission of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is to uphold the rule of law, keep the country safe and protect civil rights. The Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) mission is to increase public safety and improve the fair administration of justice across America through innovative leadership and programs. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within OJP is responsible for providing federal leadership and assistance in support of state and local criminal justice strategies to achieve safe communities, and its Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
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.
The incumbent in this position provides legal advice to all BJA personnel as to all questions of law arising from the processing or adjudication of any claim under the PSOB Program, ensuring that such processing and adjudication is discharged in compliance with law, after due diligence and inquiry, and without fraud, waste, or abuse.
PSOB Act Analysis, Advice and Guidance
Addresses complex legal issues while providing counsel to the BJA Director and the PSOB Program. Prepares administrative decisions, reports, legal briefs, opinions, and other documents related to PSOB legal matters. Participates in the drafting of legislation and regulations. Provides legal guidance to support the program's policies and procedures.
Reviews proposed legislation and regulations to assess their impact on the PSOB program and drafts memoranda and guidance accordingly. Makes recommendations based on feedback from the PSOB Program and assesses the legal implications of the proposed legislation. Suggests alternative language, as appropriate.
Coordinates the work of the PSOB's Legal Counsel's Office, and establishes clear project goals, systems, and methodologies to enhance the legal review process, case tracking, communications with the PSOB Office, work assignments, and timely case processing. Develops policies and procedures to streamline legal reviews, reduce backlogs, and improve the timeliness of claim determinations.
Provides updates to national public safety organizations and survivor groups about laws and regulations. In keeping with OJP procedures, assists the BJA and PSOB Director in responding to congressional and media inquiries regarding the Program.
Provides information and guidance to the OJP Office of the Chief Financial Officer on PSOB Program legal matter-related submissions for the President's budget, including Office of Management and Budget data-call submissions and DOJ spend plans.
PSOB Claims Review
Reviews claims filed under the PSOB Act and provides well-reasoned and thorough legal advice.as to legal sufficiency of determinations. Provides advice, support, assistance, and direction to all BJA personnel in evaluating what evidence or information may be necessary, desirable, or relevant to such processing or adjudication, and in obtaining such evidence or information, including from state, local, and federal agencies, as well as private parties, and including, as appropriate, through the use of administrative subpoenas. Ensures that the language of claim determinations is legally sufficient in articulating legal and factual grounds of the decision.
Oversees and manages the process initial level legal review of claims, provides legal guidance to independent hearing officer reviews of claims, and drafts of final agency determinations of claims. Trains legal personnel assigned to the program. Performs legal research in connection with issues that arise in particular claims and advises on relevant federal laws and regulations, DOJ rules and policies, and other laws that may be implicated by claims.
Supervision
Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the PSOB Legal Counsel's Office. Assigns, reviews, and supervises work of legal staff, provides guidance and training, manages staff performance, recruits and recommends action regarding hiring, and addresses personnel issues. Develops work plans, sets performance goals, and ensures team objectives are met in alignment with organizational priorities. Formally evaluates employee performance and resolves informal complaints and grievances. Fosters a collaborative work environment, encourages professional development, and maintains high standards of productivity and quality.
Ensures a continuing affirmative application of equal opportunity policies in: merit promotion of employees; recruitment and hiring; fair treatment of employees; encouragement and recognition of employee achievements; career development of employees; and full use of staff skills.
Supports an environment that ensures successful translation and fidelity of guidance and program models, provides expertise to other staff members in resolving questions related to program requirements. Ensures that the staff maintains substantive expertise and knowledge of ongoing developments in practice, policy, current research and evidence-based practices in the field to ensure that legal advice is based in current knowledge and needs.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Applicants must:
- Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school.
- Be an active member of the bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction).
- Have a minimum of five (5) years of post J.D./LL.B legal experience, four (4) of which must have been in at least one of the following areas:
- In handling legal matters involving programs such as those providing disability, death, and education benefits, or other complex programs governed by law, regulation and procedures;
- In handling Torts, insurance claims, workers' compensation or similar matters; or
- Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB).
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Applications must be submitted online through USAJOBS. Please see USAJOBS vacancy announcement JP-25-018 for details: USAJOBS - Job Announcement.
$163,964.00 to $191,900.00 per year.
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.