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 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. 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/12868757. Major Duties:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing legal advice to the Chief Counsel, USCIS personnel, and other Departmental components on issues relating to the adjudication of immigration benefits, asylee and refugee processing, immigration enforcement matters, and related litigation.

OCC attorneys provide advice to the Director and USCIS Operations on the legal consequences of laws, policies and initiatives that affect immigration benefit processing and adjudications (including visas, inadmissibility, parole, adjustment of status, abandonment, deportability, citizenship, naturalization, and national security issues).

Our attorneys also review regulations, policy memoranda, and field guidance for legal sufficiency, and often provide litigation support to the Department of Justice in federal lawsuits involving USCIS regulations, adjudications, practices, and/or policies.

Strong preference for applicants with immigration litigation experience and/or prior positions handling federal litigation.