Attorney Adviser

Summary

As part of its challenging, multi-faceted mission, the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) is responsible for (a) registering attorneys and agents to practice patent law before the USPTO, (b) developing and administering the patent registration exam, (c) investigating allegations of misconduct by practitioners, (d) overseeing USPTO programs, (e) supporting Patents and Trademarks business units regarding anti-fraud initiatives, (f) federal administrative rulemaking, and (g) outreach.

Duties

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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.

This role is the ideal next career step for you if:

• You enjoy undertaking unbiased, thorough, and timely investigations of alleged professional misconduct to determine appropriate action for protecting the public and the legal system from patent and trademark practitioners who fail to meet professional obligations to clients, the public, and the legal system.
• You are excited to be part of an energetic outreach program educating the public and patent and trademark practitioners on applicable professional standards and best practices, including monitoring legal developments, creating public training materials, and coordinating with third party CLE providers and stakeholders.
• You have confidence in programs to support pro bono legal services to under-resourced innovators and to develop the next generation of patent and trademark practitioners.
• You have a passion for diligently assisting in screening candidates seeking recognition to practice in patent matters before the USPTO to determine if the candidate possesses the required scientific and technical training qualifications as well as good moral character and reputation.
• You look forward to contributing and preparing a nationwide examination of a candidate's proficiency in patent law and USPTO regulations, policies, and procedures to be registered as a patent attorney or agent.
• You enjoy assisting with developing policies and procedures for the preparation and submission of an online registration statement to be submitted by registered patent attorneys and agents.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Applicants will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Suitable for Federal employment.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a two-year trial period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• This position requires the completion of OF-450 Financial Disclosure.
• You are required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.

Qualifications

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has not issued qualification standards for attorney positions. However, the USPTO sets minimum qualifications for attorney positions and sets forth these qualifications in each vacancy announcement. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.

Specialized Experience is 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, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.

To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Applying professional law experience in handling various legal problems, and
• Preparing and/or presenting cases, including unbiased investigation and analysis of underlying factual and legal issues, and
• Applying applicable statutes and regulations, preparing legal documents and reviewing documents for legal sufficiency, and
• Providing sound legal recommendations in areas of which little or no legal precedent has been established.

To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Possessing professional law experience in handling complex legal problems, and
• Preparing and presenting cases, including unbiased investigation and analysis of underlying factual and legal issues, and
• Interpreting applicable statutes and regulations, preparing legal documents and reviewing documents for legal sufficiency, and
• Developing sound legal decisions and recommendations in areas of which little or no legal precedent has been established.

In addition to the specialized experience listed above, you must have:

GS-12: One (1) year post J.D. of the professional legal experience listed below.

GS-13: Two (2) years post J.D. of the professional legal experience listed below.

Professional Law/legal experience, post J.D. is defined as: Having 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 in the area. This experience is characterized by breadth and depth of experience in rendering professional legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of a Federal government agency, private sector, law firm, or other organization; 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; conducting investigations to obtain facts; determines questions of law; studies, analyzes and evaluates 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 competing interests; and has broad or wide-scope impact on an economy, industry, private or public interests. 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.

Education

You must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or Master of Laws (L.L.M) degree from an American Bar Association from an accredited law school and an active bar membership 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 your application not being considered.

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.

Additional information

This is a Non Bargaining Unit position.

This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "MODERATE" from grades GS-12 through GS-14. GS-15 risk level is "HIGH" risk.

Financial disclosure statement (OGE Form 450) is required for this position. For more information, please visit www.OGE.gov.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.