Summary Position is located in the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC). Responsibilities include extremely complex and difficult legal questions or factual issues, drafting, interpreting, or applying opinions, Constitutional provisions, statutes, legislation, regulations, decisions, reports, responses, or protocols. This is an open continuous announcement. The initial cutoff date for this position will be March 17, 2025. See "How you will be Evaluated" section below. Responsibilities This position is located in the Office of Chief Counsel. As an Attorney-Advisor (General Administrative Law), GS-0905-13/14, your typical work assignments may include: Providing legal counsel on all activities and matters involving immediate and long-term Homeland Security (DHS) initiatives, operations, programs, and policies. Advising and serving as liaison to DHS and FLETC staff, as appropriate. Is recognized as the FLETC legal expert in the subject matters of real property, environmental law, tort claims, and standards of conduct law (ethics). Serving as legal consultant to the highest levels of FLETC management, including the Chief Counsel, recommending approaches to legal issues where precedents and prior interpretations must be innovatively adapted. Developing, or overseeing the development of legal positions, legislative proposals, regulatory documents, policies, and operations that involve significantly broadening or restricting agency activities affecting the agency's security posture and the public interest and recommending legal approaches regarding novel issues for which the importance of the legal action/position as precedent is highly significant. Advising clients at the Assistant Director (AD) level responding directly to the ADs/Deputy Assistant Directors (DADs) and their staff with immediate assistance. Recognizing issues with national and/or international importance and providing relevant information directly to the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsel, the ADs and/or other senior staff. Providing written and oral counsel, legal reviews, opinions, regulations, or decisions in the application of the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, legislation, or policies to programs conducted or assisted by DHS components, and to DHS policies. Serving as an attorney on the staff of the Deputy Chief Counsel to provide legal advice concerning the statutory and regulatory basis for environmental compliance, real property transactions, standards of conduct (ethics), tort claims, and internal agency regulations and policies. Providing assistance to Department of Justice attorneys representing the agency in tort, environmental, and real property legal actions. Serving as the agency subject matter expert in the Federal Tort Claims Act and the Military Personnel and Civilian Employee Claims Act. Providing legal advice on a broad array of matters related to fiscal and contract law. Providing legal review and advice concerning employee compliance with federal standards of conduct (5 C.F.R. part 2635). Responsible for the administration of the agency's training of federal employees on the federal standards of conduct and providing such training to agency employees. Such training includes oral and written presentations, and the use of electronic media. Providing advice on all environmental and occupational health issues and statutes such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Toxic Substance Control Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and state and local statutes and regulations implementing the federal programs. Managing the agency's tort claims act process to ensure proper research, analysis, and advice is presented to the agency decision authority. Remains proficient in the principles of tort law. Providing legal review and advice to the agency's Training Accident/Incident Review System to ensure reports thoroughly analyze the incident, accurately convey the cause of accident, and present realistic, future preventive measures, all in the context of a report which may not be privileged from public disclosure. Serves as the legal advisor to the accident/incident review process. Developing legally sound approaches regarding sensitive matters, such as privacy and civil rights and liberties of the staff, and delicate personnel and other matters. May be assigned other legal actions in the Office of Chief Counsel practice area to include labor and employment law, Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act matters, or any other legal issue arising from the FLETC's operations. Representing OCC in conferences and meetings with representatives of other FLETC Directorates and offices, and federal, state, and local governmental entities, regarding legal matters of interest. Serving as the subject matter expert to the FLETC client organizations within his/her subject matter area. May provide technical legal and administrative supervision to various working groups. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Please visit www.fletc.gov/site-page/employment-faqs website for further guidance regarding this page limit. All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Selective placement factor (screen-out): To be considered for this position, you must be an active member of a state bar in good standing in a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in good standing in every jurisdiction in which you are licensed. Provide a copy of your Bar memberships. Basic Educational Requirements: All applicants must possess one of the following law degrees. Please provide a copy of your transcripts. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD); OR the second professional law degree (LL.M) Specialized experience GS-14: Applicants must possess specialized professional legal experience in excess of three years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of an individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three years equivalent to the GS-13 or higher demonstrated by substantial legal writing and communication skills, conducting original legal research and legal analysis, providing advice for administrative law matters, providing technical review of proposed rules of practice and procedures for interpretation, and preparing reports and briefing papers on administrative law matters. Specialized experience GS-13: Applicants must possess specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position or two years of judicial clerkship. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years equivalent to the GS-12 or higher demonstrated by substantial legal writing and communication skills; conducting original legal research and legal analysis; interpreting laws, statutes, regulations and/or rule-making documents; analyzing legal issues, identifying potential problems and proposing solutions. All applicants must submit a recent (within last 2 years) legal writing sample, such as a legal brief, a legal memorandum, or a legal article of law journal quality, demonstrating your legal analytical ability for which you must be the principal author. Writing sample should not exceed 10 pages. 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. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Education Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. Additional Information The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Secret clearance as a condition of placement in this position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. This is a permanent appointment in the excepted service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment are required to serve a two (2) year trial period, unless already completed. Upon successful completion of the required trial period, this position will be permanent. This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.