The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is seeking recent law school graduates and early-career attorneys for entry-level Law Clerk or Attorney positions in our Washington, D.C. office. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to OSC's mission of promoting accountability, integrity and fairness in the federal workplace.
Education Qualifications for all positions: A professional law degree (L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. In addition to Education, applicants must meet the minimum Experience Requirements outlined below: Position Title Bar Membership Legal Experience Requirements GS-11, Attorney-Adviser Required ** None GS-11, Law Clerk N/A Law school graduates who have not yet been admitted to the bar and who have not served in a judicial clerkship may be temporarily employed at the GS-11 level, not to exceed 14 months as law clerk trainees GS-12, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 1 year of professional legal experience post bar admission. GS-12, Law Clerk N/A Law school graduates who have not yet been admitted to the bar and who have served one year in a judicial clerkship may be temporarily employed at the GS-12 level, not to exceed 14 months as law clerk trainees **An active membership in good standing in a bar of a state, U.S. Territory, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth or Puerto Rico. Your resume must explicitly outline your qualifications. We will not make assumptions on your experience. NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0905 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above. Applicants qualifying through education, but who have not yet graduated or received final grades, may apply using their current grades at time of application. If selected, you will be required to verify final grades and/or provide additional documentation. Annual Leave Accrual Credit Selectees for their first Federal position may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credited will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant resume and documentation submitted.
Why Join OSC? OSC consistently ranks highly in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) for workplace satisfaction! Division Overview Selected candidates will gain hands-on legal experience working in one of OSC's many program areas, which may include: Case Review Division (CRD) Disclosure Unit (DU) Investigation and Prosecution Division (IPD) You can find additional information about our program units here. Duties Under the supervision of experienced attorneys, you may: Conduct legal research and draft memoranda; Investigate claims and interview witnesses; Prepare pleadings and litigate before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB); Participate in mediation and settlement efforts; Appear as amicus in federal court; Advise agency leadership on legal and policy matters involving federal personnel law, administrative law, constitutional law, and civil procedure. Ideal Candidate We are looking for candidates who embrace the privilege of public service, bring enthusiasm and dedication to such service, and work well within a team setting. Flexibility and a strong commitment to OSC's statutory mission are essential. Positions may be filled on a permanent, temporary, or term basis, depending on agency needs, and may be offered as Law Clerk positions (for applicants who do not have active bar membership) or Attorney-Adviser positions (for applicants who have active bar membership).