Job Description
Launch a prestigious career as an Attorney with ICE's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA)! Rejoin a legal team dedicated to defending the nation's immigration laws and safeguarding the United States with expertise and integrity.
This role offers up to$50,000 in signing and retention bonuses. If you're a passionate legal professional and ready to serve your country, join OPLA and become a vital part of homeland security!
This job is open to
The public
Clarification from the agency
Retirees under Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who are eligible for re-employment as a Federal Annuitant AND previously worked as an 0905 for any Federal Government Agency. Retired applicants must be retired on or before the opening date of this announcement.
Duties
OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing over 1,500 attorneys nationwide. In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 24 OPLA Field Locations in more than 60 cities throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.
OPLA attorneys provide legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal and employment law. OPLA attorneys represent the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Contract Board of Appeals. OPLA attorneys support the Department of Justice in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE.
The selected attorney will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft legally supportable policies to address the needs of agency operational components. The attorney will be expected to routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and DHS's Office of the General Counsel Headquarters. The selected attorney will be required to assess litigation risk and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice.
As a General Attorney, you will perform the following duties at the full performance level:
- Represent the United States Government in removal proceedings before immigration judges, frequently involving applicants for asylum or for other forms of relief under immigration laws;
- Provide expert legal counsel in the interpretation of highly complex immigration and customs laws including comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of statutory, regulatory and case authorities;
- Prepare cases for litigation by conducting legal research; prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, stipulations, affidavits, and other legal documents;
- Prepare witnesses for litigation; conduct direct examination and cross examination; present oral arguments advancing ICE's legal position; negotiate the disposition of cases with opposing counsel; and advise the Chief Counsel and/or Deputy Chief Counsel on cases potentially warranting deferred action or other exercise of prosecutorial discretion;
- Construct litigation reports for United States Attorney's Offices on civil matters pending in the federal courts involving ICE, and serve as liaison between Department of Justice's Office of Immigration Litigation and the local Enforcement and Removal Field Office on immigration matters pending in the Circuit Courts of Appeals;
- Provide legal advice and support to the other ICE components and litigation support to United States Attorney's Offices in immigration and/or customs matters. The position also involves appellate advocacy before the Board of Immigration Appeals, including the preparation of briefs and other pleadings.
You have the opportunity to identify one location preference. Note that multiple duty locations fall within the area of responsibility (AOR) of each office. Your location preferences are NOT guaranteed.The duty locations offered will be based on the needs of the agency. If you decline the duty locations offered during the official job offer, you will be removed from further consideration.
Retired applicants must be retired on or before the opening date of this announcement.
This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within OPLA.
Organizational Location: This announcement will be used to fill multiple vacancies at Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Field Locations.
This is a not-to-exceed term position and may be extended based on the needs of the agency.
The salary range listed is the General Schedule (GS) base rate. Click here to access the GS locality pay tables.
Recruitment incentives available to eligible candidates require a service agreement.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug screen for federal employment.
- If you are a male born after 12/31/59, you must certify registration with the Selective Service.
- You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs).
- You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- You may be required to serve a two-year trial period, if the requirement has not been met.
- You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Qualifications
Dual Compensation Off-Set Waiver for General Attorneys Approved for Rehires:
This announcement is being used to recruit CSRS and FERS annuitants on a limited basis with a waiver of salary offset (if a dual compensation waiver is requested) under certain specified circumstances not to exceed 07/31/2028 excluding annuitants with early voluntary and buyout retirements.
Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset (dual compensation) waiver are eligible for:
- Full annuity and full Federal salary.
- Annual and sick leave (not applicable for an intermittent work schedule)
- Full-time work schedules.
- Receive overtime (on a full schedule). Overtime hours are counted towards maximum hour limitations.
- New hires under this authority will be offered a non-status, not-to-exceed term appointment in the excepted service which may be extended based on the needs of the agency.
- Additional retirement coverage (other than Social Security coverage).
- TSP Contributions.
Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on
Applicants should possess an ability to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, be detail oriented, prioritize competing assignments, and work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units. Applicants should have a strong interest in supporting and providing stellar client services to diverse program offices including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership, and must be able to tailor communications to a particular audience. Applicants should be able to demonstrate an ability to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner. Applicants should possess the following characteristics and competencies: integrity, sound professional judgment, organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, stellar client services, the ability to function independently and cooperatively, and superior written and oral advocacy skills.
To qualify for the GS-14: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing and have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.
Examples of specialized experience include:
- Skills in litigating cases before courts and must demonstrate proficiency in objecting to the admission of excludable evidence during trial;
- Trial advocacy skills, including proficiency in the development of case strategies, direct examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and oral argument;
- Experience involving contact with government witnesses, immigration judges, and opposing counsel in trying cases before an immigration court;
- Reviewing memoranda of understanding, applications for search and/or arrest warrants, personal assistance agreements, requests for certification and recertification of undercover operations, affidavits in support of wire-taps, and related matters of investigatory concern to ICE officers and agents;
- Outstanding written, oral advocacy and judgment skills; proficient organizational, communication and interpersonal relationship skills and the ability to function independently and as part of a team.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education
All applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Please see Required Documents for more information.
Additional information
This is a not-to-exceed term position and may be extended based on the needs of the agency.
This position is at the full performance level.
Bargaining Unit Status: This is a bargaining position. The exclusive representative for this bargaining unit position is the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), with representation provided by AFGE, Local 511.
E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, OPLA considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.
Financial Disclosure: If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment.
Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
Background Investigation: DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo a background investigation and successfully obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and tax obligations, and a review of certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
Drug Test: Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. All applicants tentatively selected for employment are subject to pre-employment drug testing and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative result.
One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
A 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
All information and documents submitted as set forth in the Required Documents section will be reviewed to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.
Qualified candidates will be rated by comparing each candidate's qualifications to the skills and experience pertinent to the position to be filled. Experience, education, training, awards, and performance will be considered. An applicant need not have specific knowledge and experience regarding each item listed in the Qualifications section in order to qualify for the position.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.
Required Documents
You must include all required documentation, as set forth below, with your application package before the closing date. Please ensure all required documents are written in English and are not password protected. No extensions will be granted. Failure to follow instructions and/or to provide the required information as specified in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating.
Cover Letter: Your cover letter must discuss your interest in the position; your pertinent knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience; and your personal characteristics and competencies that qualify you for the position as detailed in the Duties and Qualifications sections of this announcement. Your cover letter must also include your full name; home address; home or work e-mail address(es); phone number(s) where we may contact you (cell, work, and/or home); name of law school, year of graduation, and year admitted to the bar.
Resume: Your resume must include your complete contact information(physical address, phone number, email address), work experience and education. For each work experience listed, please include job title, duties, employer's name, employer's telephone number, employer's address, and starting and ending dates (MM/YY). Please indicate whether we may contact your current supervisor.
Writing Sample: A writing sample demonstrating your legal analytical abilities must be submitted as part of your application package, for which you must be the principal author. It should not exceed 10 double-spaced pages.
Transcript: All applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree If you have practiced law for less than five years, you must submit a copy of your law school transcript. Your transcript must include your full name, name of law school, grade-point average or class ranking, and date conferred. A copy of your diploma is not sufficient documentation. If you have practiced law for 5 years or more, your transcript is not required.
Bar Membership/Certificate of Good Standing: Submit a copy of your bar card, certificate of good standing, or other documentary evidence to prove that you are an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, a U.S. a territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Are you a retired federal annuitant? Submit a copy of your retirement SF 50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing your tenure code, position occupied and highest grade and step. In addition, if you have or had service in a Federal Law Enforcement position covered by law e
Qualification
Juris Doctor (JD)
Practice Areas & Specialty
Immigration, Labor & Employment
Designation
Key Skills Required
Job Overview
Job Function: Legal Services / Legal
Job Type: Full Time
Workplace Type: Not Specified
Experience Level: Not Specified
Salary: $106,382 - $138,296 / Annual Salary
Experience: 0 - 0 yrs
Contact Information
Company Name: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Recruiting People: HR Department
Website: N/A
Location
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