Attorney Advisor (Labor)

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Office of the Solicitor's Division of Employment and Training Legal Services and will be will be assigned to either the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Programs or Wagner-Peyser and Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) Employment and Training Counsel Areas.

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 each grade level.

Qualifying specialized experience for GS-13 includes: two (2) years of progressively responsible legal experience of a professional nature which demonstrates the ability to perform the work at this level.

Qualifying specialized experience for GS-14 includes: three (3) years of progressively responsible legal experience of a professional nature which demonstrates the ability to perform the work at this level.

At least one year of qualifying experience, at this level, must be specialized experience as defined below.

Specialized experience, for both grade levels, is defined as experience engaging in federal rulemaking, conducting federal and/or administrative litigation, or experience researching and analyzing legal issues involving federal immigration programs.

Note: An LL.M may be substituted for a maximum of one year experience. Major Duties:

The Office of the Solicitor is looking for a talented and motivated attorney to join the WIOA Programs or Wagner-Peyser and VETS Programs Counsel Area in the Division of Employment and Training Legal Services. The Division provides legal assistance to:

the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) in its administration of the foreign labor certification programs, the Federal-State unemployment compensation program, the national workforce investment and employment service programs, Job Corps, and apprenticeship programs.

the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) in its administration of employment and training programs for veterans and separating service members, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, and the provisions of the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 relating to the enforcement of Federal executive branch veterans' preference laws; and

the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) with regard to all international labor activities of the Department, including with regard to its efforts to eradicate child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking and to negotiate and enforce strong labor rights provisions in trade agreements.

The individual selected will primarily work either in ETLS' WIOA Programs or Wagner-Peyser and VETS Employment Training Programs areas.

ETLS' WIOA Programs team provides legal services with respect to ETA's administration of employment and training grant programs authorized under WIOA, including state formula grant programs, and competitive grant programs such as the National Farmworker Jobs Program, the Indian and Native American Program, national emergency grants, YouthBuild, and several demonstration grant projects such as Reentry Employment Opportunities grants.

ETLS' Wagner-Peyser and VETS provides legal services with respect to ETA's administration of employment and training programs and activities that are not authorized under WIOA, including programs and activities authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, and the H-1B Skills Training Grant Program, as well as with respect to VETS' administration of employment and training programs for veterans.

Staff on these teams regularly perform work in both areas. The individuals selected will provide legal advice, rulemaking, and litigation services to ETA's Office of Workforce Investment and VETS.

This work includes drafting formal and informal legal opinions regarding administration of ETA and VETS' workforce programs and on the administration of federal grants; verbally providing legal advice to client staff and leadership; drafting and/or reviewing regulations, policy and program guidance, and grant funding opportunity announcements; and drafting or reviewing legislation, regulations, program letters, memoranda of understanding, and testimony to assure conformity with Federal statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements.

This work includes addressing very difficult, highly complex and controversial questions involving problems of statutory construction and novel questions of law which govern the administration of the above-described programs.

This position requires the ability to work in a fast-paced environment responding to constantly evolving agency priorities, a strong dedication to public service, and an ability to develop and provide legal advice in a collaborative manner to further ETA's and VETS' program goals.

Background in grants law and/or administrative law, knowledge of the workforce programs administered by ETA and VETS, and experience in the Federal rulemaking process is preferred.

The selected attorney will be expected to exercise sound judgment and discretion in the discharge of duties, including providing advice directly to DOL officials and staff, subject to the overall supervision of Division management.

The selected attorney will from time-to-time meet with Federal officials in other Federal agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, and the Office of Management and Budget.

This position is inside the bargaining unit.