General Attorney (Procurement Law)

Are you a client-focused Procurement Attorney with experience advising on information technology, software, and systems acquisitions?

Are you excited to work on cutting-edge legal issues in a collaborative office while advancing USPTO's intellectual property mission?

If so, then apply to join our team - we're excited to meet you!

You must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or Master of Laws (L.L.M) degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school and an active member of the Bar in Good Standing of any State, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any Territorial Court under the U.S. Constitution.

If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualification Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per calendar year.

Every office within the USPTO contributes to the agency's mission of furthering innovation. In doing so, OGL prides itself on delivering legal advice to clients that is fast, right, and aware. OGL attorneys work closely with clients, and get involved early in projects, in order to ensure that important agency work is accomplished successfully with any legal issues appropriately handled. In order to maintain consistent high-quality service, OGL promotes an environment of continuous improvement, high standards, and collegiality. We look forward to meeting applicants who share these values.

The individual selected for this position will…

• Thrive as part of a diverse and talented office that advises on complex and interesting questions that are frequently on the cutting edge of acquisition law issues.

• Excel at providing legal advice on information technology procurements within the USPTO. Specifically, review and provide guidance on all tasks associated with source selection and contract administration, to include: market research, statements of work, contract specifications, solicitation packages, claims/disputes, and other contract documents for clarity and legal sufficiency.
• Thoughtfully analyze proposed and existing USPTO policies and procedures concerning source selection, supply chain risk, and contract administration.
• Enthusiastically research and analyze applicable laws, regulations, and guidance relating to federal procurement, to include the unique USPTO procurement authorities as outlined in the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act (PTOEA) and the Patent and Trademark Office Acquisition Guidelines (PTAG); and provide interpretations of those laws and regulations to the USPTO General Counsel and other USPTO officials and personnel.
• Zealously represent the USPTO in litigation involving USPTO contract awards or disputes. Act as the Attorney-of-Record for USPTO bid protests filed before the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and assist the Department of Justice (DOJ) when protests are filed at the Court of Federal Claims. Represent USPTO in contract appeals filed before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) and assist DOJ when appeals are filed before the United States Court of Federal Claims or the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
• Considerately provide training to the Office of Procurement or other business units as needed on matters such as: source selection, contract administration, conflict of interest, procurement integrity, Small Business Administration acquisition rules/guidance, suspension and debarment, Foreign Ownership and Control, and supply chain risk.

• Impress with top-notch oral and written communication skills, creative problem solving, excellent interpersonal skills, and a commitment to continual improvement.
• Be a flexible teammate, willing to support OGL's other general law functions as needed by providing legal advice and litigation services in other disciplines.

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at General Attorney Series - 0905.

Specialized Experienceis experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least one year at the next lower grade level in the federal service. For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-14.

In order to qualify for this position at the GS-15 level, you must possess at least (1) one-year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal service AND at least (4) four-years of professional legal/law experience post J.D. performing attorney duties as defined below:

Specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience advising clients and/or representing clients in on federal procurement involving the purchase of information technology hardware, software, systems, and networks: to include source selections, litigation, drafting memoranda of fact and law, motions, pleadings, litigation reports and other legal documents, and/or reviewing policies, procedures and other agency publications for legal sufficiency.

AND

In addition to the required one-year specialized experience, applicants must possess four (4) years of Professional Legal/Law experience post J.D. performing attorney duties as defined below:
Experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. This experience is characterized by breadth and depth of experience in rendering professional legal advice and services with respect to questions about statutes, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of a Federal government agency, private sector, law firm, or other organization; investigating matters, such as related to Congressional or Inspector General inquiries; preparing interpretative and administrative orders, rules, or regulations to give effect to the provisions of governing statutes or other requirements of law; drafting, negotiating, or examining contracts or other legal documents; drafting, preparing formal comments, or making substantive recommendations regarding proposed legislation; editing and preparing for publication statutes enacted by Congress and opinions or decisions of a court, commission, or board; drafting and reviewing decisions for consideration and adoption by an organization or official; determining questions of law; and/or studying, analyzing and evaluating legal precedents to present findings. Legal work is described as extremely complex and difficult and requires a high order of original and creative legal endeavor in balancing conflicting interests; has broad or wide-scope impact on an economy, industry, private or public interests; and may involve directly or indirectly very large sums of money. Work may also involve acting as principal attorney in charge of the preparation and presentation of cases; recommending policies and developing procedures and regulations to implement new or amended legislation; and acting as legal, general or senior counsel to a major firm or organization.

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.