Attorney-Advisor (VCF)

Full Job Description

The VCF is administered by a Special Master appointed by the Attorney General, with operational assistance from the Civil Division Torts Branch, and provides compensation for physical harm or death caused by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, or the debris removal efforts in the aftermath.

The VCF compensates individuals who were present at a 9/11 crash site or in the VCF New York City Exposure Zone and who have since been diagnosed with a 9/11-related illness.

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member in good standing of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), be a U.S. citizen, and possess at least 1 year post J.D.

(or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience. The minimum years of post-law degree experience commensurate with the grade level of eligibility is shown below.

Possessing the minimum post law degree legal experience does not guarantee the applicant will be selected at that grade level.

To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have minimum 4 years post-JD legal experience.

Examples of the experience described above include: Working with the highest degree of independence and initiative; and developing and implementing policies, procedures, systems, and/or controls to support program/project implementation.

The experience should also reflect excellent analytical, verbal, presentation, and writing skills.

Preferred Qualifications: Applicants should have a broad background of experience and knowledge of areas such as compensation claims for personal injury and wrongful death, and experience participating in hearings, trials or other adjudication procedures.

A background working with crime victims, their families, attorneys and other advocates, as well as working in a trauma informed work environment, will be given high consideration.

Five years of post-JD legal experience is preferred. Major Duties:

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) seeks an experienced attorney to be part of a team tasked with fact-finding and adjudication of VCF eligibility and compensation claims.

The Attorney-Advisor works under the authority of the Special Master.

The Attorney-Advisor reviews and processes Personal Injury and Wrongful Death eligibility and compensation claims submitted to the VCF, with a focus on economic loss claim review and eligibility and compensation appeals.

During the eligibility review, the Attorney-Advisor is responsible for making recommendations as to whether a claimant meets all statutory and regulatory requirements for eligibility, paying particular attention to proof of presence and eligible medical conditions.

During compensation review, the Attorney-Advisor applies statutory and regulatory requirements, VCF policies and procedures, and uses proprietary complex loss models to make recommendations as to the appropriate amount of loss suffered by a claimant.

The Attorney-Advisor renders eligibility and compensation claim decisions as directed/delegated by the Special Master.

The Attorney-Advisor participates in appeal hearings as a member of the hearing panel or presides over appeal hearings as the Hearing Officer on behalf of the Special Master, and drafts post-hearing recommendations with assessment of facts, testimony, documents, and other claim specific information.

The Attorney-Advisor also helps plan and participates in VCF outreach activities in the New York area, representing the VCF at in-person and virtual events.

To execute these duties, the Attorney- Advisor works with other Attorney-Advisors; VCF leadership, VCF attorneys; VCF staff; claimants; attorneys representing claimants; federal, state, and local agencies; stakeholders; and other third-parties.

For more information about the work of the Victim Compensation Fund, please see the following: https://www.vcf.gov.