This position is located in the Office of the Administrative Law Judges (ALJ). The ideal candidate would possess experience in substantive areas of intellectual property and/or unfair competition law, as well as experience in litigation and adjudication, and have a record of superior achievement in legal and STEM education. The candidate would possess superior writing and organizational skills, and the ability to handle a large volume of information with careful attention to accuracy and detail.
Applicants must meet all of the qualification requirements, including education and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. Education may only be substituted in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants must have the general and specialized experience outlined below which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. To be hired as an Attorney with USITC, you must: possess at least a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree or a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; AND currently be a member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements above, applicants must meet the specialized experience below. GS-14: Applicants must have at least four years of experience which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. This experience must consist of the following: one year of general experience which is defined as professional legal experience of a broad, general nature, not requiring specialization or expertise in a specific area or type of law AND three years of specialized experience which is defined as professional legal experience in areas such as: intellectual property litigation, unfair competition law, administrative law, and/or experience interpreting statutes, regulations, court decisions and agency determinations. GS-15: Applicants must have at least five years of experience which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. This experience must consist of the following: one year of general experience which is defined as professional legal experience of a broad, general nature, not requiring specialization or expertise in a specific area or type of law AND four years of specialized experience which is defined as professional legal experience in areas such as: intellectual property litigation, unfair competition law, administrative law, and/or experience interpreting statutes, regulations, court decisions and agency determinations. 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, you will: Serve as an attorney under limited supervision of the Chief ALJ or another ALJ and provide legal expertise to the ALJ in support of complex investigations of alleged unfair import practices. Provide legal expertise in other intellectual property right matters (i.e., patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets). Prepare memoranda on legal issues and make appropriate recommendations to the ALJ. Respond to oral and written inquiries from members of the public or the bar regarding status of the investigation process, as appropriate. Assist the ALJ in conducting legal research, drafting orders and decisions, and reviewing and analyzing arguments and evidence.