Attorney-Advisor (General)

⁠​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌⁠This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), General Law Division (GLD).

The primary purpose of this position is to render advice on topics related to appropriations and fiscal law, including grants and financial assistance programs, financial management, budget formulation, submission and execution; travel reimbursement; various DHS appropriations; transfers and reprogramming.

Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

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. As an Attorney-Advisor (General), GS-0905-13/14/15, your typical work assignments may include:

• Providing legal opinions on fiscal law issues within the Department. This includes advising on the proper application of laws, statutes, and regulations related to funding Departmental operations.
• Providing legal advice on the proper use and expenditure of funds, inter-agency agreements, federal travel, debt collection, grants and financial assistance and support to non-Federal agencies and organizations.
• Researching and analyzing applicable laws and regulations, providing interpretations of those laws and regulations to the DHS General Counsel and other DHS officials. Drafting legal opinions and analyses and make recommendations to DHS officials at all levels.
• Maintaining working relationships with Congressional Appropriations Committees, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the DHS Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and other DHS components and Federal agencies.
• Reviewing Anti-Deficiency Act investigations and providing fiscal law training for DHS.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. Basic Requirements:

GS-13:

1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
2. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two (2) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position, or two years of judicial clerkship.

GS-14 and GS-15:

1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
2. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.

Specialized Experience:
The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.

You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal government.

Specialized experience includes experience in federal fiscal law, including experience with grants and financial assistance, and the federal appropriations process.

Applicants must have two or more years of relevant post-JD experience.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.