[blindlaw] General Attorney (Civil Rights for U.S. Dept. of Education in New York

[Nightingale, Noel]

______________________________________________
From:   Johnson, B.Sue
Sent:   Wednesday, May 13, 2009 11:42 AM
To:     Nightingale, Noel
Subject:        General Attorney (Civil Rights), OCR-R2- 2009-03

Link:
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=80850052&AVSDM=2009%2D05%2D07+00%3A03%3A00&Logo=0&q=OCR-R2-2009-03&FedEmp=N&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0

Text:
General Attorney (Civil Rights)

SALARY RANGE: 75,986.00 - 98,777.00 USD per year

OPEN PERIOD: Thursday, May 07, 2009
to Friday, May 22, 2009

SERIES & GRADE: GS-0905-12/12

POSITION INFORMATION:  Full-Time   Permanent

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 13 DUTY LOCATIONS:   vacancy(s) in one of the following locations:   1 vacancy - New York City, NY

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:   Applications will be accepted from United States citizens.

JOB SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office for Civil Rights, Region II, New York, is looking for the best and brightest to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation.  If you are a highly-motivated individual who would like to work for an agency that focuses national attention on key educational issues and prohibits discrimination and ensures equal access to education, ED OCR is the place for you.  The mission of the Office for Civil Rights is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights.

You will have responsibility for participating on a civil rights compliance & enforcement team that supports the mission of the Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights' (OCR) Strategic Plan.  OCR ensures compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act (Section 9525 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001) and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and their implementing regulations in school districts, colleges and universities through complaint investigations and compliance reviews.

Additional Duty Location Info:  1 vacancy - New York City, NY

MAJOR DUTIES:
The attorney provides legal and policy advice to the Site Director and the New York office components regarding the processing of complaints and compliance reviews, including investigations, negotiations, acceptance, and monitoring of corrective action plans. Participates in the investigatory process and conducts investigations through the evaluation of complaints and the gathering and analyzing of information needed to assess regulatory compliance. Conducts legal research/analysis of state and federal statutes, regulations and guidelines, and engages in research to resolve legal and policy issues when there are no clear precedents or where there are conflicting state and federal requirements. Prepares legal opinions including analysis of facts and evidence, resolution of factual and legal issues, and makes recommendations on jurisdictional questions. Prepares investigative plans and reports, letters of findings, and participates in the development of negotiation strategies and legal representation in negotiations with public and private educational institutions, state agencies and their legal representatives.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Applicants must meet all qualifications as of the closing date of the announcement.
Basic Requirements:

You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

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.

PROOF MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION.
Professional Legal Experience Requirement:

Applicants must have the years of professional legal experience as shown below.  For appointment at the GS-12 level, the following qualification requirements are needed:

One year of professional legal experience.  You must have one year of specialized experience at a level close to the work of this job that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform. Typically we would find this experience in work within this field or a field that is closely related.  This experience must be equivalent to that of the duties of a GS-11 Attorney in Federal service.

The one year of professional experience may be substituted as follows:

Advanced educational attainments which clearly indicate the ability to independently perform complex legal work.  The educational background should include course work beyond the first professional degree within this field or a field that is closely related; or

A second professional law degree (LL.M) which requires one full year of graduate study; or

The first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), provided the applicant's record shows superior law student work or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:

Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class; or

Work or achievement of significance on law school's official law review; or

Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif; or

Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team which represents the law school in the competition with other law schools; or

Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation; or

Significant summer law clerk experience (law clerk work which entailed legal research, brief writing, or negotiating in areas relevant to the work described in the description of duties for this vacancy); or

Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

Specialized Education:
You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.
You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.
You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed into this position.
You will be required to do some travel.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required; and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with this position as defined below. When describing your knowledge, skills, and abilities, please be sure to give examples and explain how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possessed, the level of the people you interacted with, the sensitivity of the issues you handled, etc.

Knowledge of generally accepted legal writing techniques, including proper format and structure of various legal documents and ability to conduct legal analysis in a thorough and complete manner.
Ability to produce written work in a clear, concise, persuasive and technically correct manner.
Ability to communicate orally in a clear, concise, persuasive and technically correct manner.
Knowledge of constitutional law and civil rights law; knowledge of and experience with investigative techniques.
Ability to perform legal tasks within stringent time frames to meet program objectives.

BENEFITS:
You may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, with costs shared with your employer. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#FEHB<http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp>.

Life insurance coverage is provided. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#life<http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp>

Long-Term Care Insurance is offered and carries into your retirement. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#ltci<http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp>

New employees are automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). If you are transferring from another agency and covered by CSRS, you may continue in this program. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#retr<http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp>

You will earn annual vacation leave. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#VACA<http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp>

You will earn sick leave. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#SKLV<http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp>

You will be paid for federal holidays that fall within your regularly scheduled tour of duty. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#HOLI<http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp>

Alternative work schedule options are available.

If you use public transportation, part of your transportation costs may be subsidized. Our human resources office can provide additional information on how this program is run.

You can use Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts for expenses that are tax-deductible, but not reimbursed by any other source, including out-of-pocket expenses and non-covered benefits under their FEHB plans. More Info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#FSA<http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp>

OTHER INFORMATION:
This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.

When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

You must submit all required information by the closing date. If materials are not received, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible.

The materials you send with your application will not be returned.

You will be required to serve a probationary period of 1 year.

HOW TO APPLY:
You must submit your application so that it will be received by the closing date of the announcement.

SUBMIT APPLICATION AND ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO:  Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, ATTENTION:  Timothy Blanchard, Vacancy Announcement #: OCR-R2-2009-03, 32 Old Slip Road, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005.

Although we do not require a specific format, certain information is required to determine if you are qualified.  To receive full consideration, you MUST SUBMIT the following information:

1)  You may apply for this position with a resume, Form OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment), SF-171 (Application for Federal Employment), or other application format of your choice.  Please identify the vacancy announcement number, including your current address, and business/home phone numbers and e-mail address (if available).  If you had at least one year of full-time professional experience, i.e. legal experience gained after your law degree was conferred, give a full description of the nature, extent and complexity of work performed.  Also describe any special educational qualifications such as a second law degree or evidence of superior law student work or activities; AND

2)  You must submit a legal writing sample;

3)  Submit a narrative response to each knowledge, skill or ability listed (See Section ' How you will be Evaluated'). Your response should describe what you did, how often you performed this activity, the guidelines available, the complexity of the assignment, and who you performed the activity for or with.

4)  You must submit a photocopy of current membership in such BAR as would permit the practice of law.  Membership must be in good standing; AND

5)  If you are an individual who wishes recognition of their Veteran's status, please submit form DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

Be sure work experiences listed on your application includes:  job titles, duties and accomplishments, employer's name, specify full-time or part-time (list # of hours per week if part-time), beginning/ending employment dates (month & year) and annual salary.

If you are a current or former federal employee with reinstatement eligibility, you must submit a copy of your last Notification of Personnel Action (SF50) showing your position, title, series, grade and eligibility.

Application mailed using government postage or through an internal federal government mail system will not be considered.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:
Top
Timothy Blanchard
Phone: 646-428-3800
Email: Timothy.Blanchard at ed.gov

Or write:
Department Of Education/Office for Civil Rights
32 Old Slip Road
26th Floor
New York, NY 10005
US

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:
Once your complete application is received we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection as promptly as possible after the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified if you are selected for an interview.