Legal Careers
General Counsel
Washington, DC 20530 - United States
Are you interested in a rewarding and challenging career? Join the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General!
The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is one of the premier federal inspector general offices, and performs audits, evaluations, investigations, and special reviews of the personnel and programs of the DOJ components. The OIG is an independent entity that works to detect, deter, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in DOJ programs and personnel, and to promote economy and efficiency in those programs. This position is located in the OIG's Office of the General Counsel, in Washington, DC.
The General Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor to the Inspector General (IG), and provides oversight, guidance and direction regarding OIG legal matters. The General Counsel is responsible for supervising a staff of seven attorneys, three Government Information Specialists, and other staff, with the objective of providing a cohesive, full-service legal team. The General Counsel operates within the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 and all subsequent amendments.
The DOJ OIG offers a wide range of federal benefits and a flexible work schedule, depending on position requirements. For more information on the OIG, please visit our website at https://oig.justice.gov/.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
The General Counsel is a member of the OIG's senior leadership team and provides consultation and advice to the IG and other OIG staff. The General Counsel also provides executive leadership over the day-to-day administration and operations of OGC. The General Counsel establishes OGC's program policies, objectives and priorities and develops the strategic plan for accomplishing the office's mission, including exercising the following responsibilities:
Provides legal opinions or memoranda on complex and difficult issues of law relevant to general OIG operations, or to particular OIG audits, investigations, inspections or reviews, which encompass criminal, national security, ethics, and other issues.
Formulates and recommends OIG positions on proposed or new legislation. Interacts on legislative matters with the IG, other Departmental Components and counterparts in the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE). Identifies and integrates key legal issues and legislation affecting the key organization including political, economic, social, technological and administrative factors impacting on the functions and work of the OIG.
Serves as the Designated Ethics Official (DAEO); executes the OIG Ethics Program, ensuring accurate reporting of financial interests by suspense dates established in law, rule or regulations; effective annual ethics training; and timely responsive ethics advice and information to OIG employees.
Oversees the analyses and preparation of recommendations for OIG responses to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and reviews OIG reports for Privacy Act protected and proprietary information to clear such reports for public release.
Engages in the consultation and coordination of OIG investigations, to include preparing recommendations for suspensions and debarment actions by the Department against financially irresponsible parties doing business with the Department.
Engages in the review and preparation of recommendations for OIG responses to subpoenas and other requests for production of materials in OIG custody. Reviews OIG investigators' requests for IG subpoenas for documents, records, and tangible things to be issued to third-parties; prepares recommendations as to whether the subpoenas should be issued; and assists in obtaining court orders, under the Right to Financial Privacy Act or otherwise, as may be required.
Oversees the preparation of OIG's responses to Giglio inquiries by United States Attorneys' Offices that are non-routine and present unique issues.
Engages to provide the necessary legal input on Attorney General and Congressional inquiries relating to OIG matters.
Participates in the overall management and supervision of the OGC; assigns special projects and work load, determines staffing requirements, and exercises executive management authority in carrying out the functions and activities of the OGC.
This position requires a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov.
To receive full consideration you MUST provide proof of bar membership. Applications submitted without proof of bar membership will not receive consideration.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
This position is in the Senior Executive Service (SES). As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience indicative of senior executive-level management capability. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector.
To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, in addition to a J.D., applicants must demonstrate in resume and narrative statements possession of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) listed below. It is recommended that your resume emphasize levels of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, and program accomplishments, and results.
The recruitment process for this position is the Traditional Method.
A sample executive-level resume and ECQ narratives are available at:
http://www.opm.gov/ses/references/GuidetoSESQuals_2012.pdf
Applicants must submit written narratives to each of the three MTQs and five ECQs, and should limit narrative statements to two pages per MTQ and ECQ. Applicants who upload the same narratives for each MTQ/ECQ, use "see resume" as a response, or whose narratives extend beyond the page limits, limit their chance for further consideration.
Mandatory Technical Qualification(s)
- Thorough knowledge of legal principles and federal law, including familiarity with the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, employment law, contract law, and federal ethics regulations.
- Extensive experience analyzing complex legal issues, making statutory interpretations, and developing sound legal decisions and recommendations.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate program efforts with other internal and external offices, represent the Office of the Inspector General to key individuals and groups outside the immediate work unit, as well as serve as spokesperson for the organization.
Executive Core Qualifications - Mandatory
ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
Additional information on the Executive Core Qualifications is available at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/qualify.asp
NOTE: ECQ narratives are required for all applicants unless any of the following conditions are met:
- You are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment,
- You are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or
- You have successfully completed an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Monday, June 18, 2018, to receive consideration.
* To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
* Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
* It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
* To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
* To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must upload your resume and other supporting documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be considered incomplete. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements.
Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Only U.S. citizens are eligible.
$126,148 to $189,600/ Per Year
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Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.
Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.
Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
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This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.