General Attorney (Trade Regulation)-WRSF
About This Position
Individuals interested in applying for this job opportunity must visit the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection Careers webpage. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section at the bottom of this posting for further details. Applications will only be accepted by following the instructions provided on the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection Careers website. Applications will not be accepted via this posting.
Qualifications
Applicants must have attained the first professional law degree (LL.B.
OR
J.D.) from an accredited law school and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
Applicants must demonstrate excellent writing skills and be able to work effectively with other people, exercise sound judgment, and exhibit a strong interest in the work of the agency. Additional Requirements GS-12 Positions: For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 12 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. To qualify for the GS-12 level:
In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 12 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 12 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-11 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-11 level includes examples such as working on non-complex litigation matters and performing basic legal research, drafting, and legal analysis.
GS-13 Positions: For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 24 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. To qualify for the GS-13 level:
In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 24 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 12 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-12 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-12 level includes work on moderately complex, novel, or broadly significant matters.
This work entails solid drafting skills, original research, strong legal analyses, and effective oral communications. GS-14 Positions: For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 42 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 18 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-13 level For the GS-14 level: Qualifying experience at the GS-13 level includes examples such as independently plan, organize and conduct analysis of the matters on which you are working, based on preliminary background and policy information provided by the supervisor.
Written work is expected to be technically correct and not require detailed review. At this level, attorneys are journeymen attorneys whose work entails demanding legal research and analysis; drafting and reviewing motions, subpoenas, complaints, orders, rule proposals, and memoranda; and, where appropriate to the office, participating in investigational hearings, negotiating settlements, and trials. Such attorneys contribute to the tactical and policy decisions inherent in various matters and, where appropriate, they should be able to assist in the trial of these matters.
Attorneys at this level take charge of basic matters, moderately complex and novel matters, and make substantial contributions to the most complex, novel, or significant matters. GS-15 Positions: For attorney appointments: active member of the bar in good standing and 60 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 18 months of legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-14 level.
For the GS-15 level: Qualifying experience at the GS-15 level includes examples such as being an outstanding writer and highly effective oral advocate.
You must also exercise sound judgment, supervise, work well with, and motivate others, and make decided contributions to the work of the office.
You must function independently and your work should not require close supervision or substantive review.
Your supervisor(s) must have complete confidence in your judgment. At this level, you should be recognized for your competence. These attorneys should be able to represent the agency before any group or in any setting, and to effectively manage the preparation and trial of virtually any major case, all stages in the appeal of such a case, or conduct evaluation and analysis of the most complex cases of major significance for which little if any precedent exists.
Note: Legal and nonlegal experience gained in the Federal Government before completing law school does not satisfy post law school experience. requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience
Major Duties
The Western Region San Francisco office "WRSF" located in San Francisco plays an integral role in fulfilling the FTC's consumer protection mission by bringing law enforcement actions to stop unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices across a broad range of products and services in both the traditional and digital economy. Headquartered in San Francisco, WRSF serves the residents of Colorado, Northern California, Northern Nevada, and Utah. As a General Attorney (Trade Regulation), you will: - Make initial determinations as to whether matters should be investigated. -Determine legal theories and plans for investigations and litigation and carry them out. - Recommend whether cases should be closed, resolved informally or through administrative or federal court settlements, or litigated administratively or in federal court. - Investigate matters and engage in all aspects of civil litigation, including preparing cases for trial by securing and preparing evidence; conferring with witnesses; deposing witnesses; drafting motions and legal briefs; drafting and responding to discovery requests; participating in pretrial conferences; examining and cross-examining witnesses; trying cases; and negotiating settlements. - Prepare and prosecute difficult, complex, and important cases. - Confer with government agencies, public authorities and attorneys, business people and other members of the public, providing them with information on matters of law, Commission procedure and policy.
Education
This position has an education requirement.
You must submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official offer. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
For further information, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated based on the overall strength of your credentials as demonstrated by your cover letter, resume, writing sample, and experience. The most qualified candidates will be selected for interviews, which will also be considered in making the final decision. Application of Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Federal Trade Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.
If you are eligible for veterans' preference, you are encouraged to include that information in your cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214 or other substantiating documents) to your submission.
Additional Information
This position is in the Excepted Service (Schedule A). Individuals applying for this announcement are required to complete and submit an online application and all supporting documentation through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. Traditional rating and ranking procedures do not apply. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
How to Apply
Please visit the Bureau of Consumer Protection's Career website at Careers in the Bureau of Consumer Protection | Federal Trade Commission (link https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection/careers-bureau-consumer-protection) to apply to this FTC job opportunity. Applications will only be accepted by following the instructions provided on the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection Careers website. Applications will not be accepted via this posting.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 1.
Your reΜsumeΜ showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
- Other supporting documents: Cover Letter- REQUIRED Writing Sample- REQUIRED Graduate Transcript(s), if the position has an education requirement - REQUIRED Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF- 15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.) Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) Schedule A- In order to receive consideration under the Schedule A authority, you must provide a certification of job readiness printed on a medical professional's letterhead and signed. For more information, please visit USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/)