Market Abuse Unit Attorney

Summary

The Division of Enforcement, Market Abuse Unit (MAU) is seeking a General Attorney(Market Abuse Unit Attorney). As a Market Abuse Unit Attorney, you will investigate and prosecute matters involving large-scale abusive market practices by institutions, market professionals, and other individuals that harm or threaten the fair and efficient operation of securities markets.

Duties

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In this role as a Market Abuse Unit Attorney, you will be responsible for:

• Conducting complex SEC investigations involving potential violations of the federal securities laws, including but not limited to market manipulation, insider trading, front-running, cherry picking, and hack-to-trade schemes as well as potential violations by critical market-related entities such as broker dealers, exchanges, and alternative trading systems.
• Managing multiple complex investigations simultaneously, setting priorities, and developing innovative strategies to collect and analyze evidence. Developing investigative plans and adjusting such plans as appropriate during the course of an investigation.
• Drafting subpoenas and other requests for evidence, questioning witnesses through interviews, proffers, testimony or depositions.
• Preparing high-quality work product demonstrating command of the investigative record and the federal securities laws, including using sound judgment to evaluate evidence and make well-supported recommendations.
• Collaborating effectively with other SEC Enforcement staff, other SEC Divisions and Offices, the Commission, other regulatory bodies, criminal prosecutors, as well as communicating with courts, opposing counsel, and private industry representatives.
• Helping to represent the Commission in federal court litigation and administrative proceedings, including by drafting complaints, correspondence, and motions and participating in discovery.
• Working with MAU Specialists and others with the agency to generate new investigative leads including through analysis of securities trading data and other resources.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• CITIZENSHIP: You must be a US citizen.
• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
• SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position.
• DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements.
• PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized.
• DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• TRIAL PERIOD: Consistent with 5 U.S.C. a7 7511, you will be required to serve a two-year trial period (one year for preference eligible veterans) if the position to which you have applied is not the same or similar to your current position of record.
• You must possess a J.D. or LL.B Degree and you must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
• The selectee is required to report to the duty station(s) listed.

Qualifications

Applicants are responsible for confirming all required materials are submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Please check the HowYou Will Be Evaluated and Required Documents sections carefully, as missing documents will render the application incomplete and ineligible for review.

Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. 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. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following:

• J.D. or LL.B. degree AND
• Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Note: proof of bar membership will be required before entry on duty.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement.

SK-13: Applicant must have at least two years post J.D. identifying legal issues, conducting legal research, providing legal analyses, providing legal solutions/recommendations, and preparing legal documents, such as contracts, dispositions, pleadings, and motions,

which also includes at least one year:

1. Analyzing legal and/or factual issues, or conducting significant investigations or litigation; AND
2. Applying knowledge of federal securities laws.

SK-14: Applicant must have at least three years post J.D. independently identifying legal issues, conducting legal research, providing legal analyses, providing legal solutions/recommendations, and preparing legal documents, such as contracts, dispositions, pleadings, and motions,

which also includes at least two years:

1. Applying Federal securities laws, rules and regulations; AND
2. Conducting investigations, civil cases or administrative proceedings; AND
3. Applying knowledge of the securities market.

ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD COMPETENCIES: Your Accomplishment Record narratives should address the following competencies. See the How You Will Be Evaluated section below for more information:

Competency 1: Legal Analysis: Utilizes expert legal knowledge to apply relevant law to the facts of each case.

Competency 2: Development and Use of Record: Strategically collects, analyzes, and organizes an evidentiary record.

Competency 3: Critical Thinking: Considers a variety of factors, general and subject matter-specific, when making decisions and determining next steps in a case.

Competency 4: Case Management: Manages cases efficiently using best practices.

Education

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you must submit a copy of your unofficial transcripts or equivalent by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Internal Applicants: OHR will verify education qualifications for internal applicants using documents in the Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF). If required transcripts or certificates are not present in your eOPF, you will be required to provide them to OHR. If selected, a start date will not be established until official transcripts are received.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. For more information, click here.

Applicants may also find the following helpful:

National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an association of 19 credential evaluation services with admission standards and an enforced code of good practice.

Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) is an association of 10 credential evaluation services with a board of advisors and an enforced code of ethics.

Additional information

Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement and may be filled from any division or office within the agency.

SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: Total salary (base pay + locality) is dependent upon duty location. The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes; a selectee's initial pay will be established below the maximum rate of the range. The pay for current SEC employees will be determined according to the procedures specified in the agency's policy. Please click here for a compensation overview.

Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, click here.

Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the SEC application process due to a medical disability, please contact reasonableaccommodation@sec.gov. For religious-based accommodations, please contact religiousaccommodation@sec.gov . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.

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.