This position is located in the Office of Chief Counsel, within the Legal Training Division in the Specialized Legal Branch at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. As a Attorney - Advisor (Instructor), GS-0905-13/14.
The position is responsible for providing legal advice, and for researching, developing, designing, conducting, delivering and supporting law enforcement training provided by the FLETC to its partner organizations and various other customers. The position is responsible for conducting a variety of more than 60 basic and advanced legal training courses for law enforcement personnel for numerous Federal Participating Organizations, as well as state and local government entities. In addition to the training carried out at FLETC, the position may export the courses to on-site locations of the agencies serviced.
Typical duties may include:
- Serving as a senior instructor, subject-matter expert, and program/course developer in the assigned legal program/course areas of law enforcement. Students in these courses are routinely from the most high-profile law enforcement agencies in the world, including the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshal's Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Immigration Customs Enforcement, and many others. The program/courses taught cover subject-matter that involves highly specialized knowledge of complex and difficult legal areas that impact close to 90 Federal agencies that train at the FLETC.
- Providing expert training in areas such as: Constitutional Law; Fourth Amendment; Self-Incrimination; Use of Force; Federal Court Procedures; Authority and Jurisdiction; Federal Fraud Statutes; Federal Firearms Violations; Rules of Evidence; Military law; Electronic Law and Evidence; Officer Liability; Criminal Law; Administrative Law; Obstruction of Justice; Terrorism and National Security Law; False Statements; Indian Law; Courtroom Testimony; Assault; Bribery; other emerging areas of the law.
- Planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing a legal training program, while balancing the needs and concerns of the DHS training mission.
- Working with other attorneys, managers and supervisory Federal law enforcement personnel to identify objectives to be met by a specific class.
- Selecting appropriate methods, equipment and materials, and developing the courses and providing instruction, guidance and direction to the class in accomplishing specific learning objectives.
- Keeping abreast of developing training goals and objectives, and continually restructuring the courses to reflect the current laws, identifying specific areas where study and research is required, searching literature for existing documentation, gathering and analyzing data, producing papers for publication and disseminating for internal use.
- Conducting extensive advanced export training (off-site) at other Federal, state, and municipal facilities around the country.
- Monitoring progress of students, documenting results, and/or recommending remedial and corrective action to include additional training and changes in training and/or operational procedures and instructions. Evaluates both individual and group performance in various training settings.
- Overseeing and participating in developing course and program material on the legal aspects of law enforcement. Initiating content changes and developing different approaches and methods of instruction and recommending any other changes needed to improve the course/program and achieve course/program objectives.
View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- Must successfully pass a background investigation to access, safeguard, and store classified national security information on a regular basis; must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
- This is a non-bargaining unit position.
- You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
- Must possess and maintain a valid state issued driver's license to conduct official government business.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain FLETC Law Enforcement Instructor certification within 12 months of employment.
- This position is subject to Lautenberg Amendment. Persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence are prohibited from occupying this position.
- Working on weekends and federal holidays may be required.
- Overtime may be required.
- Travel of 75% or less may be required.
- This position is eligible for situational-only telework based on agency policy.
- Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
- You must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
- You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
A resume must be no more than two pages. If an applicant's resume exceeds two pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted. For additional assistance, please visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Selective placement factor (screen-out): To be considered for this position, all applicants must be an active member of a state bar in good standing in every jurisdiction in which you are licensed of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and have a license to practice law. Provide a copy of your Bar memberships;
AND
Basic Educational Requirements: All applicants must possess one of the following law degrees. Please provide a copy of your transcripts. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD); OR the second professional law degree (LL.M);
AND
Specialized Experience GS-13: In addition to the requirements listed above; to qualify at the GS-13 level, applicants must possess specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position or two years of judicial clerkship. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years equivalent to the GS-12 or higher demonstrated by substantial legal writing and communication skills; conducting original legal research and legal analysis; providing instruction in legal subjects related to the criminal justice system or for a law enforcement audience for a period of at least one year; authoring and publishing articles on substantive legal matters; experience presenting substantive material at nationally recognized conferences; and demonstrated expertise in a significant field of law related to law enforcement.
OR
Specialized experience GS-14: In addition to the requirements listed above; to qualify at the GS-14 level, applicants must possess specialized professional legal experience in excess of three years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three years equivalent to the GS-13 or higher demonstrated by substantial legal writing and communication skills; conducting original legal research and legal analysis; providing instruction in legal subjects related to the criminal justice system or for a law enforcement audience for a period of at least one year; authoring and publishing articles on substantive legal matters; experience presenting substantive material at nationally recognized conferences; and demonstrated expertise in a significant field of law related to law enforcement.
This position may be filled at the GS-13 or GS-14 level. If selection is made at the GS-13 level, promotion to the GS-14 level may occur without further competition.
Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement.
Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows "position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1" or "2"), "tenure group" (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.
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.
Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, FLETC requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for suitability/fitness as a condition of placement in this non-sensitive, moderate risk position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
Physical Demands: This work requires walking, standing, bending, sitting, lying down, or kneeling/crouching in positions that may be tiring or uncomfortable. There is the need to carry weapons, equipment, and packages or containers such as ammunition. Required and at times frequent travel to off-site locations to coordinate and/or deliver training activities will be involved. Work also involves considerable physical exertion while demonstrating weapons positions, techniques and tactics in a variety of law enforcement settings.
Work Environment: The normal workplace is a classroom and inside/outside training venues. Duties will require exposure to varying climate and environmental conditions, both cold and warm, for extended periods of time and/or exposure to varying levels of noise and hazardous substances. Position may be required to drive a government-owned or government-leased vehicle to perform duties at locations on and off-site. Appropriate safety practices will be utilized at all times. Safety equipment, such as hearing and eye protection, will be used when needed.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Re-employed annuitants' annual salaries will be reduced by the amount of their retirement annuity and by further cost of living increases. FERS retirees receiving a FERS annuity supplement must also be aware that, like social security benefits, their FERS annuity supplement is subject to an earnings test and may be reduced if the salary earned is more than the social security exempt amount of earnings. Additional information is available on OPM's website or by contacting OPM.
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
A recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is not authorized.
Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
This is a permanent appointment in the excepted service and will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Employees hired under an Excepted Service appointment are required to serve a two (2) year trial period, unless already completed. Upon successful completion of the required trial period, this position will be permanent. This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.
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.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be used to review your resume.
To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process, including the application, Writing Sample and Presentation.
Writing Sample: You must submit a writing sample with your application package. The sample must be authentically written/prepared by the applicant. Plagiarized material and use of AI tools such as ChatGPT will be grounds for immediate disqualification and removal from further consideration.
Criteria: All applicants must submit a recent (within last 2 years) legal writing sample, such as a legal brief, a legal memorandum, or a legal article of law journal quality, or a legal training course curriculum development document/presentation.
Presentation: Applicants who pass the Writing Sample Criteria, will be invited to prepare and conduct a 15-20-minute presentation on a topic related to the Fourth Amendment. Examples include presentations concerning Reasonable Expectation of Privacy, Terry Stops / Frisks, Exceptions to the Warrant Requirement (Protective Sweeps, Searches Incident to Arrest, Mobile Conveyance, Exigent Circumstances, Consent, Inventory, Administrative Searches), Plain View Seizures, or Use of Force.
If you are the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire and application, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13023269
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) will evaluate qualified applicants by comparing each candidate's qualifications to those pertinent to the position. OGC will consider relevant skills and experience, education and training, performance, and awards.
If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be removed from consideration or your score may be lowered.
Application of Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Homeland Security considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD form 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
Consideration may be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience.
Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.
