Agriculture Jobs in Alexandria, VA

This Attorney Advisor position is with the Civil Rights, Labor and Employment Law Division of the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Agriculture. The incumbent serves as an attorney providing legal advice, research, and written briefs and pleadings in support of USDA and performs other legal services as assigned. The focus of the position is on defending judicial and administrative complaints of employment discrimination, with the need for defensive federal sector EEO litigation.DutiesProvide legal advice and counsel to Agencies of the USDA.Serve as liaison between agencies of the USDA and the Department of Justice in federal court litigation concerning labor and employment law.Represent and defend agencies of the USDA in formal administrative adjudication concerning labor and employment law.Conduct legal research.Draft and review legal documents, including briefs, contracts, legal opinions, and agency documents.Provide customer service and communication to client Agencies and Mission Areas.Conduct legal research and opinion-writing on novel and complex legal issues related to civil rights, labor and employment law.Assist in other litigation responsibilities as requested by management.Represent and defend the USDA in the administrative litigation of cases and appeals before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board.RequirementsYou must be a US Citizen or US National.Males born after 12 / 31 / 1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and / or fingerprint check.Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.Must submit Cover Letter, Resume, Proof of Bar membership, Law School Transcripts, and Narrative.Review of the OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) entries have been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory.Requires a favorable credit check as part of the background investigation.Additional selections may be made from this announcement.Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.Obtain and use a Government issued charge card for business-related travel.May be subject to satisfactory completion of a two year probationary or trial period, unless previously served.QualificationsFor consideration, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for attorney positions : Successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the America Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (J.D. or equivalent degree) (Law School transcript required); ANDCurrently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCEApplicants should have demonstrated specialized experience in legal research, excellent writing and communication skills, and a strong academic record. This experience should be clearly documented in the cover letter and resume.GS-11 : Meet minimum qualifications, above, and demonstrate : Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector / pay systems that has equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform as an Attorney Advisor. Examples of such experience include : Under direction providing legal advice, research, analysis and interpretation of federal, state, and local laws; Assisting in writing opinions, memoranda, pleadings, briefs, and legal support of agency / organization programs and litigation; Performing other legal services as assigned; Preparing various kinds of legal documents, both for specific case use in litigation and for general use as guidance; Ability to conduct legal research to handle cases involving labor and employment law, to manage a caseload primarily independently, and to meet litigation deadlines; Ability to apply legal analysis and make sound legal judgment to find appropriate precedent or distinguish applicable law or facts to support or justify legal positions with advice from senior attorneys.The duties listed below are described at the FPL GS-14. The GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13 levels are developmental levels that should eventually lead to the FPL GS-14 level of performance. Mastery of statutes, regulations, and legal precedents related to civil rights, labor and employment law, discrimination law, or relevant subject matter expertise to provide expert legal advice in regard to the assigned administrative and federal court labor and employment law litigation, develop or recommend litigation strategies and procedures, aid the Department of Justice in the litigation and trial of important or precedent-setting cases, and negotiate or participate in negotiating settlements on behalf of the Department.Mastery of a large and complex body of law in which precedents are frequently conflicting or non-existent, to make determinations and reach conclusions which guide the Department or the Agency in resolving subsequent, similar problems; provide legal advice to heads of programs and Agencies on complex and difficult legal questions or factual issues; and write opinions and case assessment memoranda after conducting detailed factual and legal research.Mastery of the principles and techniques of legal analysis and practice in order to prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, litigation reports, case assessments, and related documents in connection with suits by and against the Government and determine in each case the nature of action or defense, the legal issues involved, the most effective course of action, and optimal strategies and tactics to be employed.Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of missions and functions of the USDA and its agencies or relevant subject matter expertise, as appropriate in order to provide legal services in support of USDA programs and activities that are consistent with the strategic goals of USDA and the priorities of the Secretary of Agriculture.Mastery of the principles and techniques of written and oral communication, to speak and write with clarity and tact with adjudicative entities and with clients to provide guidance on complex legal issues, secure acceptance of recommendations, prepare complex legal opinions, meet litigation deadlines and independently handle a heavy case load, and effectively represent the Department in a variety of external interactions.NOTE : This experience must be demonstrated on your resume / supporting documents.#J-18808-Ljbffr