GENERAL ATTORNEY

Full Job Description

Do you desire to be a part of the vibrant United States immigrant admission process, to protect American interests and to secure our nation while building a meaningful and rewarding career?

If so, United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS), and its Office of the Chief Counsel are calling!

The Office of the Chief Counsel (OCC), is seeking attorneys for Associate Counsel positions to handle regulatory-related immigration issues and support agency law enforcement priorities.

You qualify at the GS-13 level if you: are currently an attorney in federal employment with the equivalent of being a GS-12 and at least one year experience at that level, or if not a federal employee and you have at least one year of post-J.D.

professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

You qualify at the GS-14 level if you: are currently an attorney in federal employment with the equivalent of being a GS-13 and at least one year experience at that level, or if not a federal employee and you have at least two years of post-J.D.

professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

You qualify at the GS-15 level if you: are currently an attorney in federal employment with the equivalent of being a GS-14 and at least one year experience at that level, or if not a federal employee and you have at least three years of post-J.D.

professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.M.

degree from an ABA-accredited law school or serve a legal apprenticeship in California, Virginia, Vermont, or Washington and pass the bar exam in order to be permitted to practice law in one (1) of those jurisdictions.

Bar Requirement GS-13 thru GS-15: Be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction).

Prior to entering on duty, all selected attorneys must provide a Certificate of Good Standing in holding an active Bar License to practice law in any state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

All applicants will be rated against the following factors: Ability to resolve questions and provide accurate legal advice to both attorneys and non-attorneys on complex legal matters.

Ability to handle a heavy workload and meet deadlines. Legal aptitude as reflected in the resume provided. Quality of writing sample not to exceed 10 pages.

Quality of the cover letter addressed to OCC summarizing interest in the position not to exceed 1 page. Quality of recommendations provided (No more than 3 recommendations total).

To preview the job questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12884366. Major Duties:

As an Associate Counsel with the Regulatory and Verification Law Division (RVLD), responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing legal advice to the Chief Counsel, RVLD Chief, USCIS personnel, and other Departmental components on the application of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) to agency actions, policies, and interpretations of the Immigration and Nationality Act and other immigration laws; reviewing, revising, and drafting rulemakings, information collection packages, and policies in conjunction with subject matter experts; coordinating reviews and clearance within OCC; providing training on the regulatory process, APA, PRA, and related matters; coordinating issues with Privacy and Verification attorneys as appropriate; and providing litigation support to the U.S.

Attorney's office on cases arising from USCIS adjudications.

Strong preference will be given to attorneys with recent experience in these areas and in-depth knowledge of immigration law and USCIS adjudicatory processes