Counsel

Summary

The Counsel position is in the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), Office of the General Counsel (OGC). OGC provides legal advice and services to the Director and AO staff, judges, senior court officials, and the Judicial Conference and its committees. OGC renders legal opinions and provides advice on a wide range of issues in federal judicial administration.

Duties

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The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Ethics Staff is seeking an experienced Counsel to join its team. The incumbent serves as Assistant Chief of the Financial Disclosure Staff and Staff Counsel to the Judicial Conference of the United States Committee on Financial Disclosure.

The incumbent provides professional advice and guidance on the implementation and administration of the financial disclosure provisions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended, 5 U.S.C. §§ [redacted]1. The incumbent reviews and certifies reports for compliance with applicable laws as well as the management of staff. This position reports to the Assistant General Counsel, Chief of the Ethics Staff-Financial Disclosure.

The ideal candidate must have excellent legal research and analytical skills and the ability to write clearly and succinctly. The incumbent must have the ability to plan, organize, and work effectively under demanding circumstances and time constraints; to identify and resolve problems; and communicate to effectively with AO management, judges, other senior court personnel, and Executive and Legislative Branches employees.

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

1. Managing and supervising a team of paraprofessionals and administrative staff in examining and reviewing financial disclosure reports required to be filed by federal judges and qualifying judiciary employees in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
2. Managing and administering the redaction process in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and releasing reports that are posted to the AO's website or requested by the public.
3. Supporting the Committee on Financial Disclosure by providing policy and operational advice and guidance throughout the year and organizing and preparing agenda books, Judicial Conference reports, and other materials (statistical reports, research, and recommendations) related to biannual Committee meetings.
4. Providing advice and guidance concerning interpretations of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Committee procedures, financial disclosure reporting requirements for investment and financial instruments, and the public disclosure policies to the Director of the Administrative Office, General Counsel, judges, judicial employees and staff, and the public.
5. Managing, in consultation with the appropriate technology staff, the refinement, maintenance, and operation of the Judiciary Electronic Filing System.
6. Consulting and collaborating with designated Assistant General Counsels to develop and provide legal advice and recommendations on applying the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act, the Codes of Conduct, and related statutes and regulations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

1. All information is subject to verification. Applicants are advised that false answers or omissions of information on application materials or inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
2. Selection for this position is contingent upon completion of OF-306, Declaration of Federal Employment during the pre-employment process and proof of U.S. citizenship for competitive status positions or conversion to a competitive status position with the AO. If non-citizens are considered for hire into a temporary or any other position with non-competitive status or when it is confirmed by the AO Human Resources Office there are no qualified U.S. citizens for a competitive status position (unless prohibited by a law or statue), non-citizens must provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. and proof of entitlement to receive compensation. Additional information on the employment of non-citizens can be found at USAJOBS Help Center | Employment of non-citizens/. For a list of documents that may be used to provide proof of citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, please refer to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
3. All new AO employees will be required to complete an FBI fingerprint-based national criminal database and records check and pass a public trust suitability check.
4. New employees to the AO will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights/responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
5. All new AO employees are required to identify a financial institution for direct deposit of pay before appointment.
6. You will be required to serve a trial period if selected for a first-time appointment to the Federal government, transferring from another Federal agency, or serving as a first-time supervisor. Failure to successfully complete the trial period may result in termination of employment.
7. If appointed to a temporary position, management may have the discretion of converting the position to permanent depending upon funding and staffing allocation.

Qualifications

Applicants must have demonstrated experience as listed below. This requirement is according to the AO Classification, Compensation, and Recruitment Systems which include interpretive guidance and reference to the OPM Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions.

Bar Membership: Applicants must currently be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a federal court of general jurisdiction. Applicants are responsible for citing minimum qualifications such as J.D. and bar membership information (institution name, state(s) for bar, and dates) on their respective resumes. Failure to supply details will constitute an incomplete application. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Post J.D. Experience: Applicants must also possess at least 3 years of post J.D. experience.

Specialized Experience: Subsequent to graduation from law school, applicants must have at least one fullyear (52 weeks) (preferably 3 or more years) of specialized experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of this position. Specialized experience must demonstrate experience in ALL areas defined below:

• Providing legal advice and guidance on a broad range of issues, policies, procedures, and legislative matters as a practicing senior-level attorney for the federal government or private sector.
• Providing advice and guidance to senior-level officials concerning ethics law.
• Identifying financial disclosure reporting requirements for investment and financial instruments.

Education

Applicants must possess a law degree (J.D.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/.

Additional information

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.