This position is located in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of General Counsel, Office of Program Enforcement.
DutiesThe following are the duties of this position at the GS-14. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
As a Trial Attorney, you will:
- Represent the Department in affirmative litigation before HUD's Office of Hearings and Appeals. Representative matters include civil money penalty actions, Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act actions, suspensions and debarments, and actions on behalf of the Mortgagee Review Board.
- Work with the Department of Justice and HUD's Office of Inspector General (for matters in federal courts) to litigate civil cases based on the submission of false statements, false claims, or breach of contract; prosecute criminal matters concerning HUD programs; and defend challenges to enforcement actions undertaken by HUD.
- Represent the Department in administrative reviews of debt determinations by HUD program offices; Departmental takeovers of troubled Public Housing Authorities; and determinations of liability for retaliatory acts against protected whistleblowers by recipients of HUD contracts and grants.
- Analyze the legal sufficiency of assigned cases and recommend a litigation strategy to supervisors prior to initiating an administrative enforcement action.
- Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and memoranda of law for cases in litigation.
- Conduct discovery, including drafting discovery requests and responses, collecting, and reviewing documentary evidence, and taking and defending depositions.
- Perform legal research on conventional as well as novel and difficult questions of law, and prepare memoranda based upon this research.
- Negotiate settlements determined to be in the best interest of the Government and prepare recommendations and memoranda in support of those settlements.
- Provide advice, guidance, and assistance to the Associate General Counsel and their deputies on a variety of legal issues affecting HUD.
SalaryConditions of EmploymentThe official duty station for this position will be in Washington, District of Columbia. Failure to report to duty at this location may be grounds for a disciplinary action, including removal.
Key Requirements:
- Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
- A 2-year trial period is required. (unless already completed)
- Must successfully complete a background investigation.
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
- Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
- File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
QualificationsYou must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Basic Requirements:
Applicants MUST:
(1) be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LL.B. or J.D.;
(2) be a current member of a bar with a valid license to practice law in a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(3) meet all specialized experience requirements as described in the vacancy announcement.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-14 grade level, you must have one year (52 full weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
- Litigation experience, including experience drafting complaints or other pleadings, drafting substantive motions (e.g., motion to dismiss, motion for summary judgment, or motion in limine), or conducting and responding to discovery, or taking depositions, or engaging in oral advocacy, or representing a client at a substantive hearing or trial; AND
- Experience providing legal advice to a high-level client on a wide range of complex legal issues; AND
- Experience conducting complex legal research and writing memoranda on novel and complex issues, including discussing facts and legal authority, and providing legal recommendations or conclusions; AND
- Experience obtaining successful outcomes for clients, such as favorable judgments or settlements.
AND
For the GS-14, you must:
Have a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) plus four (4) years of professional legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-13 level in the Federal service.
OR
Have a second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus three (3) years of professional legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-13 level in the Federal service.
OR
Have a first professional law degree (LL.B., or J.D.), plus superior law student work (academic standing in upper 1/3 of the law school graduating class, high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, winning of a moot court competition with other law schools, significant work or achievement on the school's official law review, significant summer clerkship or other evidence of clearly superior achievement) plus three (3) years of professional legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-13 level in the Federal service.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-13 grade level, you must have one year (52 full weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
- Litigation experience, such as experience drafting complaints or other pleadings, drafting substantive motions (e.g., motion to dismiss, motion for summary judgment, or motion in limine), or conducting or responding to discovery, engaging in oral advocacy, or representing a client at a substantive hearing or trial; AND
- Experience providing legal advice to a high-level client; AND
- Experience conducting complex legal research and writing memoranda including discussing facts and legal authority, and providing legal recommendations or conclusions.
AND
For the GS-13, you must:
Have a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) plus three (3) years of professional legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-12 level in the Federal service.
OR
Have a second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus two (2) years of professional legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-12 level in the Federal service.
OR
Have a first professional law degree (LL.B., or J.D.), plus superior law student work (academic standing in upper 1/3 of the law school graduating class, high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, winning of a moot court competition with other law schools, significant work or achievement on the school's official law review, significant summer clerkship or other evidence of clearly superior achievement) plus two (2) years of professional legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-12 level in the Federal service.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-12 grade level, you must have one year (52 full weeks) of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
- Litigation experience, such as experience drafting complaints or other pleadings, drafting motions, or conducting or responding to discovery; AND
- Experience providing legal advice to clients, supervisors, and team members on various matters; AND
- Legal research and writing skills and experience giving oral presentations on legal matters.
AND
For the GS-12, you must:
Have a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) plus two (2) years of professional legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-11 level in the Federal service.
OR
Have a second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus one (1) year of professional legal experience, at least one of which must be specialized experience at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-11 level in the Federal service.
The experience may have been gained in either the public or private sector. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/date/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your resume.
EducationAttorney positions do have an education requirement. Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LL.B. or J.D. For positions with an education requirement, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. In addition you must provide proof of bar or your bar number in the vacancy questions. The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions.
Other InformationOTHER INFORMATION:
- We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
- Relocation expenses will not be paid.
- Relocation incentive will not be paid.
- Recruitment incentive will not be paid.
- This is a bargaining unit position.
- This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- HUD offers alternative and flexible work schedules.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (CONTINUED):
HUD employees are subject to a number of government-wide and HUD specific ethics laws and regulations, including restrictions on working in a real estate related business, and having Section 8 tenants, along with other prohibited interests and activities.
Required DocumentsA complete application includes:
- A resume: All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional.)
- Vacancy assessment question responses: All applicants are required to complete vacancy question responses by clicking the apply online button of this vacancy announcement.
- Submission of any required documents identified below, if applicable:
- VETERANS' PREFERENCE DOCUMENTATION:
- If you are claiming veterans preference, please see applicant guide for required documentation.
- ACTIVE BAR MEMBERSHIP:
- You must submit evidence of an Active Bar Membership as described in the Qualifications Section of this announcement.
- EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION:
- Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with an LL.B. or J.D. For positions with an education requirement, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent.
How to Apply
HUD has partnered with the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service to provide certain personnel services to its organization.
Please review the entire announcement before applying. The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday).
For additional information on how to apply, please visit the Partnership for Public Service's Go Government website.
To preview the assessment questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12562617
BenefitsA 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. Learn more about federal benefits.
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