The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the General Counsel is seeking one or more attorneys to join the Office of the Chief Counsel for International Commerce. OCCIC identifies legal solutions that enable the International Trade Administration (ITA) to carry out its mission of advancing U.S. economic growth and strengthening U.S. industry's global competitiveness. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
Qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the Department of Commerce Attorneys and Law Clerks standards for Hiring and Advancement guidelines. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has no Group Coverage Qualification Standard for this series. Basic requirements: You must be a graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or Master of Laws (L.L.M.) degree from an ABA accredited law school; AND You must have bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Minimum Requirements: A minimum of one year of specialized professional legal experience interpreting and advising on U.S. and international law, ideally as these impact U.S. international trade, commercial, and investment policy and ideally as relating to intellectual property or competition issues. For purposes of this position, specialized professional legal experience may consist of paid or unpaid experience post bar-admission, including Federal or State Government experience, law firm or legal practice, judicial clerkship, and/or unpaid or volunteer legal work. 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. GS-12 Level: Performs a variety of legal duties such as interpreting and advising on U.S. and international law as these impact U.S. international trade and investment; researching legal issues which are often factually complex; handling and being responsible for a variety of assignments with short, time-critical deadlines; reflecting excellent interpersonal skills suitable for successfully working on a team on projects that require legal analysis; and analyzing legal risks and development of recommendations to minimize these risks. We are seeking a candidate with the following additional qualifications: strong research, editing, and writing skills; effective analytical and reasoning skills with respect to identification and recommended minimization of legal risk; professional communication skills needed to successfully engage with peers, colleagues, supervisors, and clients; ability to handle and be responsible for a variety of assignments with short, time-critical deadlines; and interpersonal communication skills suitable for successfully working on a team on projects that require legal analysis. We are also seeking a candidate with familiarity or experience with Government work, or other demonstrated interest in public service, and a demonstrated ability to meaningfully contribute to OCCIC's workplace culture. Ideally, the candidate will also have knowledge or experience in intellectual property and/or competition law, but such background is not required.
The Attorney Advisor position at the entry-level is GS-12 and the duties may vary with increasing responsibilities and promotion potential to the GS-15 level. As an Attorney Advisor in OCCIC, you will perform the following duties: Serve as a legal advisor to ITA concerning the interpretation and application of U.S. and international law and international trade and investment agreements. Support ITA in working with other U.S. Government agencies on trade and investment policy, trade negotiations, monitoring compliance by foreign trading partners, and trade compliance and enforcement actions. Advise on matters relating to export and inward investment promotion programs and activities. Analyze U.S. law, U.S. trade and investment agreements, and foreign trade agreements, laws, regulations, and policies. Coordinate with legal offices in other parts of the Department of Commerce and in other U.S. Government agencies. Perform duties on a range of legal issues that will vary in legal and factual complexity, often of a novel nature, and with limited if any applicable precedents. With supervision, conduct research, develop legal strategies, and develop and present recommendations to policy officials. Work on matters that can have an important impact on a major U.S. industry or industries whose economic position affects the health and stability of the general economy. Thoroughly and thoughtfully research and develop legal options in a fast-paced environment with short deadlines.