SummaryThis position is in the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (OUS). The incumbent provides authoritative legal advice on highly complex patent and trademark laws, regulations, policies, and procedures and high-level strategic guidance and organizational support as an expert resource on complex matters.
DutiesHelp
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 leave year.This rewarding career role is ideal for you if:- You are committed to providing expert legal advice to agency leadership and senior management on complex patent and trademark laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and emerging issues.
- You are interested in representing the legal perspective in working groups, executive meetings, policy discussions, and interoffice consultations.
- You are experienced with analyzing proposed patent and trademark policies, initiatives, operational changes, regulations, guidance documents, and related materials for legal sufficiency and potential impact on agency programs.
- You are capable of developing review plans, establishing timelines, identifying required stakeholders, and tracking the status of legal reviews through completion.
RequirementsHelp
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.
- 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.
- Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
QualificationsThe 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.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, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position includes: - Experience providing authoritative legal advice on highly complex patent and trademark laws, regulations, policies, and procedures and high level strategic guidance and organizational support as an expert resource on complex matters.
- Experience researching and interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, and administrative decisions.
- Experience preparing executive-level legal analyses, briefing materials, decision memoranda, and recommendations for senior leadership.
Professional Legal Experience:In addition to the required specialized experience, applicants must possess the following professional law/legal experience listed below:
- GS-15: 4 years of professional legal experience, post JD.
Professional Legal/Law Experience is defined as having experience including judicial clerkship(s), in the area of Trademark procurement/examination, litigation and/or counseling. Trademark litigation includes federal district court trademark cases, trademark appeals to the U.S. federal courts of appeal, and trial proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. 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 valuableExperience 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.
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.
EducationTo meet minimum eligibility requirements for this position,
applicants must possess at least a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA accredited law school.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.Additional informationThis is a Non Bargaining Unit position.
This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "
HIGH".
Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.
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.
All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
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.
BenefitsHelp
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.
