This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Office, Houston, TX.
Basic Requirement for all grade levels: 1. You must be a graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school; AND 2. You must have bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico or the US. Virgin Islands. Minimum Requirements: The minimum qualifications for hiring at each grade level (or equivalent) are as follows: GS-11: One (1) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar; commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of this position. Specialized experience must include: Experience reviewing and recommending disposition of legal issues that require individual expert level handling; and Experience participating in legal research and legal writing that contributed to an organization's decision on significant cases; and Experience providing recommendations to policies, regulations, procedures, and proposed legislation that affects the organizations functions. GS-12: One (1) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar; commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of this position. Specialized experience must include: Experience reviewing and recommending disposition of legal issues that require individual expert level handling; and Experience participating in legal research and legal writing that contributed to an organization's decision on significant cases; and Experience providing recommendations to policies, regulations, procedures, and proposed legislation that affects the organizations functions; and Providing legal advice to senior attorneys or judicial body or government entity; and Managing legal cases to final disposition in a timely manner. GS-13: Two (2) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar; commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of this position in a government agency, private sector entity, or non-profit organization. Specialized experience must include: Experience reviewing and recommending disposition of legal issues that require individual expert level handling; and Experience participating in legal research and legal writing that contributed to an organization's decision on significant cases; and Experience providing recommendations to policies, regulations, procedures, and proposed legislation that affects the organizations functions; and Providing legal advice to senior attorneys or judicial body or government entity; and Managing legal cases to final disposition in a timely manner; and Producing legal document or judicial decisions and orders independently with minimal errors. This experience must be fully supported and articulated in your resume to receive consideration. Please do not cut and paste the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
As an Attorney-Advisor (General), you will be responsible for conducting legal research and analysis of laws, regulations, case law, interpretations, and opinions; attending hearings; and drafting various judicial orders and final decisions. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include: Serving as advisor to an ALJ in preparation of cases. Studies and analyzes the case file; conducts detailed analysis of the factual and legal issues; conducts legal research and analyzes and the statutes, Executive orders, regulations, and rules applicable to the cases heard by CG ALJs, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act and the Federal Rules of Evidence. Developing and preparing complex orders, requiring legal research and discussions of points of law to respond to motions or pleadings, to compel discovery, and to prepare the cases for hearing. Draft orders to pre- and post-hearing motions. Reviewing settlement agreements, default motions and other pre-hearing motions to ensure legal sufficiency and policy compliance. Once case has been heard, review testimony, pleadings, briefs of counsel, exhibits, hearing records, charges, and derives inferences. Researching and analyzing statutes, regulations, previous decisions, Commandant's Decisions on Appeal, District Court, Circuit Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court decisions and opinions, and other legal authorities on the points of law. Citing applicable case law and precedents and citing such findings to the case. Drafting proposed decisions and orders for the Judge's review and approval. Prepares written analysis of the facts and legal issues; prepares the decision in its final form to be issued to the parties in the case and/or offices in the Department for the official action to be taken. Attending hearings with the ALJ providing legal advice and assistance as needed. Deciding and issuing DHS Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeals.