The mission of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) is to administer the federal financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Each year, these programs provide billions of dollars in federal loans, grants, and work-study funds to students and their families for education beyond high school. By funding America’s future, one student at a time, FSA is committed to keeping the promise made through the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Minimum Qualification Requirements for GS-13: You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, AND 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 Has three years professional legal experience, at least one of the three years MUST be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, OR Has two years professional legal experience, at least one of the two years MUST be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, PLUS a second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study OR Has two years professional legal experience, at least one of the two years MUST be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, PLUS record shows superior law schoolwork or activities as demonstrated by one of the following: Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class. Work or achievement of significance on his/her 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. Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement. NOTE: For purposes of counting the number of years of legal experience after graduating from law school, equivalent writing and legal analysis performed as a judicial law clerk will be considered even if the applicant was not admitted to the bar at the time. AND Specialized Experience for the GS-13: One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments. Experience adjudicating borrower defense to repayment claims or overseeing the review of borrower defense to repayment claims pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 685.222, 34 C.F.R. § 685.206(c)-(d). Experience and knowledge of borrower defense to repayment regulations, specifically 34 C.F.R. § 685.222, 34 C.F.R. § 685.206(c)-(d). Experience preparing memoranda/reports outlining facts and legal issues, analyzing the factual and legal issues involved, explaining the application of legal principles and precedents to the relevant facts, and justifying recommendations or conclusions. Minimum Qualification Requirements for GS-14: You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, AND 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 Has 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 immediately below the one being filled, OR Has three years professional legal experience, at least one of the three years MUST be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, PLUS a second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study OR Has three years professional legal experience, at least one of the three years MUST be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, PLUS record shows superior law schoolwork or activities as demonstrated by one of the following: Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class. Work or achievement of significance on his/her 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. Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement. NOTE: For purposes of counting the number of years of legal experience after graduating from law school, equivalent writing and legal analysis performed as a judicial law clerk will be considered even if the applicant was not admitted to the bar at the time. AND Specialized Experience for the GS-14 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-13 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: Experience in performing legal analysis and formulating recommendations to senior managers. Experience adjudication complex borrower defense to repayment claims and experience performing quality control adjudication reviews of borrower defense to repayment claims pursuant to 4 C.F.R. § 685.222, 34 C.F.R. § 685.206(c)-(d). Experience as a subject matter expert in applying borrower defense to repayment regulations, specifically 34 C.F.R. § 685.222, 34 C.F.R. § 685.206(c)-(d), to borrower defense applications and school investigations.
APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 150 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 150th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first. We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application. As a Attorney Advisor, GS-905-13, you will be responsible for: Exercising professional judgment on legal and factual matters relating to analysis, investigation, and adjudication of borrower defense claims or analysis and recommendations related to investigations. Devising and implements strategies to investigate, analyze, and decide borrower defense claims, or recommend actions on investigations working independently on projects of routine and moderate complexity and with supervision on more complex matters. Crafting legal memoranda detailing relevant evidence, applicable law, and bases for recommendations regarding alleged acts or omission by schools that may provide a basis for relief under the borrower defense regulation or may provide a basis for administrative actions arising from investigations. Participating in decision making for borrower defense or investigation matters. As a Attorney Advisor, GS-905-14, you will be responsible for: Exercising sound professional judgment on complex legal and factual matters relating to analysis and investigation of borrower defense claims or analysis and recommendations related to investigations. Devising and Implements strategies to investigate, analyze, and decide borrower defense claims, or recommend actions on investigations, working independently on projects of moderate complexity and with minimal supervision on more complex matters. Rendering legal advice to supervisor and EO resulting in formulation and implementation of management decisions. Producing well supported legal analyses of routine, moderate, and complex matters.