Summary

This position is in the Benefits Review Board's Black Lung and Longshore Divisions. The Boards, is an independent adjudicatory body with exclusive nationwide jurisdiction to consider and decide appeals raising substantial questions of law or fact taken by any party-in interest from decisions concerning claims filed under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its extensions, and the Black Lung Benefits Act (the Acts).

Duties

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Major Duties

• Independently evaluates assigned cases by confirming that the briefing schedule is complete, checking for any pending motions, and ensuring all relevant documents are included for the appeal's resolution.
• Conducts research on statutes, regulations, decisions, legislative history, and other legal sources pertinent to each case, providing thorough analysis of legal points, and discussing relevant issues and evidence for case disposition.
• Advises the Board, drawing upon existing precedents or applying statutory rules to analyze factual and legal matters rationally.
• Supports and may attend oral arguments in unique cases before the Board; offers recommendations through written memoranda or outlines discussed at Oral Presentation; drafts decisions and orders per Board instructions and votes; prepares dissenting or concurring opinions in complex or novel cases; revises decisions and orders as directed by the Board; finalizes decisions and orders for Board approval and signature.
• Mentors junior staff by offering guidance in case development, processing, and drafting memos, decisions, and orders; reviews the technical aspects of their work; ensures final decisions meet formatting standards and are free from typographical errors.
• Manages project assignments and monitors ongoing casework; identifies and resolves potential problems to maintain progress toward case completion; reviews group outputs for legal quality, consistency, and policy adherence.
• Acts as liaison to the Clerk's Office, ensuring timely transfer of cases to the Division. Uses Board procedure expertise and legal knowledge to advise the Clerk's Office on preparing cases for processing.
• Maintains accurate records tracking case assignments, deadlines, and other essential details to ensure efficient case management.
• Regularly determines the proper classification (Type I, II, or III) for cases referred to the Office of General Counsel, based on complexity, novelty, and number of issues involved.
• Estimates preparation time for proposed decisions, orders, and memoranda, notifies the Associate General Counsel of potentially complex or novel issues, and assigns cases to attorneys for timely resolution.
• Provides counseling and instruction to new attorneys regarding style, key legal concepts, precedents, and overall Board policy.
• May be assigned special projects such as developing, compiling, or revising policy directives, legal research instructional materials, and staff training aids.
• Performs additional duties as required.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Requires a trial period if the requirement has not been met.
• Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
• You will be required to submit to Suitability/Fitness for the Trust Determination Process.

Qualifications

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Position titles alone cannot be used to determine if you are qualified. Please list dates in MM/DD/YY format. This is imperative in determining if you have at least one year of creditable specialized experience. Dates will not be assumed. To qualify for an attorney position, applicants must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.); be a member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the U.S.; and have acquired the amount of experience indicated below.

For the GS-14 grade level: Applicants must have three (3) years of post-law school legal experience of a professional nature which demonstrates the ability to perform the work at this level. At least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying experience must be specialized experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position at a level close to the work of this job that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the job.

Specialized Experience: One year (52 weeks) of post-J.D. specialized experience at or equivalent to, the GS-13, in or directly related to this position.

Specialized Experience that is qualifying for this position is described as:

• Having a proficient knowledge of the Black Lung Benefits Act or the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its extensions
• Litigation experience through appellate or federal law, such as workers' compensation experience.
• Experience working independently to review and analyze cases, make recommendations, and draft legal opinions or arguments.

NOTE: A LL.M. may be substituted for a maximum of one year of experience.

Education

A LL.B or J.D. is a requirement for this position. If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements.

This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit.

This position is at the full performance level.

For more information, click Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy.

Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

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.

Review our benefits

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.