Job Summary

This position is located in U.S. Department of Education, Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), in Washington, DC. The incumbent serves as the Clerk of Court for the Office of Hearings and Appeals and Office of Administrative Law Judges; principal leagal advisor to the Director of OHA/Chief Administrative Judge, the Chief Administrative Law Judge (Chief ALJ); and other ALJs; as a hearing officer of designated cases; and as the day-to-day supervisor of all non-judge OHA staff.

Job Description

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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience. Education Graduation from an accredited university with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.). Qualifying Experience: Proof of admission to the Bar of the highest court of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and current membership in such Bar as would permit the practice of law. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar, AND Have five years professional legal experience, at least one of the five years MUST be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade of GS-14, OR Have four years professional legal experience, at least one of the four years MUST be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade of GS-14, PLUS a second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study, OR Have four years professional legal experience, at least one of the four years MUST be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade of GS-14, PLUS an academic record that shows superior law schoolwork or activities as demonstrated by one of the following: Academic standing in the upper third of your law school graduating class; Work or achievement of significance on your law school's official law review; Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif; Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools; Full-time or continuous participation, for one year or two semesters of law school, in a legal aid program (as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation); Significant summer law office clerk experience after beginning law school; OR Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement. AND Specialized Experience: Have at least one year of specialized professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade of GS-14 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: Experience researching complex legal issues where there is often no clear applicable precedent and presenting legal advice, legal options, and their ramifications to judges, senior attorneys, or other senior executives. Experience supervising (formally or informally) or mentoring attorneys, legal interns, paralegals, or legal administrators. Experience managing an active docket of judicial or administrative law cases, either as a court staff attorney or advocate appearing before trial, appellate, or administrative courts. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement). Skill in communicating with the public, and budget and acquisition processes, assess case management and court automation (including AI) systems. Skill in drafting a legal opinion where factual situations are often complicated and clear precedents are not readily available or apparent. Ability to critically think and apply applicable agency policies, regulations, and statutes to arrive at a final decision on an issue. Skill in leadership of program management and administration.