Summary This position is located in the Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Librarian. The position description number for this position is 366679. The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule. This is a non-supervisory, non-bargaining unit position. Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement. Responsibilities The mission of the Library of Congress is to engage, inspire, and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity. Making the Library’s unparallelled collections available through in-person research, exhibits, publications, programs, social media, and the Library website is fundamental to this mission and to the vision that all Americans are connected to the Library. Working in the Office of the General Counsel of the Library of Congress, the Senior Counsel provides expert legal advice and assistance to the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel, the Associate General Counsels, and other senior officials at the Library regarding access to and use of Library collections and other matters as assigned. The Senior Counsel applies a comprehensive knowledge of administrative law and a range of specialized areas of the law including the following: copyright, licensing, and permissions; gifts and contracts; First Amendment; social media; minors; privacy and publicity; art and entertainment; cultural patrimony; Federal records; and other laws regarding access to and use of library and museum collections. As an expert, the Senior Counsel must be able to work without immediate supervision on the most complex and important legal questions that often involve issues of first impression, with very wide latitude for independent judgment and decision-making. The Senior Counsel must be able to collaborate with agency leadership, program officials, and experts to develop and refine Library policies and procedures to ensure that they are effective, efficient, and consistent with law. Examples of duties performed may include, but are not limited to: conducting extensive legal research on highly intricate and exceedingly complex and novel questions of law and policy; performing analyses involving the interpretation and application of complex laws and regulations, or court rulings affecting the administration of the various applicable laws and regulations; advising Library leadership regarding the development, interpretation and implementation of sensitive public policies with long-range agency, national or international significance; serving as liaison with the U.S. Copyright Office regarding rulemaking and litigation; preparing complex proposals, responses to policy inquiries, letters, legal memoranda, litigation materials, testimony, regulations, procedures, and guidance for the public; representing the Library in discussions, negotiations, and consultations with outside counsel, other government agencies, and other external parties, including on high profile matters; developing a network of key individuals and organizations and communicates with those individuals and entities to share and receive information to further the Library's goals; and, serving as a principal authority on litigation matters related their areas of expertise. Requirements Conditions of Employment Conditions of Employment Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment. Qualifications Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision. Knowledge of multiple areas of law related to access to library and museum collections.** Ability to meet and deal with others in performing legal work.** Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in legal and programmatic settings.** Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing. Education Applicants must possess an LL.B. or J.D., or higher degree from a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association or a state-accredited school of law and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Appointees must maintain active membership in good standing of the bar throughout their employment. Legible copies of transcripts demonstrating that applicant is a graduate from an LL.B. or J.D., or higher degree program in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association or a state-accredited school of law must be attached to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of the application. Official documents will be required if selected. Also, a copy of bar membership demonstrating that applicant is a member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, a territory of the United States, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico must be attached to your online application. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application. Foreign Education – Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application. Additional Information Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid at step one of the grade. The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement. Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see: Vetting Process This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant’s college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM. The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service. The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement. Initial permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement. The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit. A “Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints. Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.