[blindlaw] Texas U.S. Attorney posting, uncompensated

[Daniel McBride]

Ross:

This is the first posting that I actually have some interest in.  I am 57
and have been without "gainful" employment for almost 6 years.  I have been
trying to get on at the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office with no
success.  If I could get this uncompensated position to add to my resume in
12 months, I just might have a chance at getting on with the Tarrant County
DA.

I am seriously considering applying for this position.  If it is not an
undue burden, please keep posting same.

Dan McBride
Fort Worth, Texas

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Ross Doerr
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 8:01 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: [blindlaw] Texas U.S. Attorney posting, uncompensated

  Ross note: I see that this posting is for more than one position, and
that, if hired, you are not able to accept a job with the U.S. Attorney's
office until the 12 month duration of the term has been served.

  As a concerned member of this list, I try hard to post anything and
everything that a lister may be interested in. But these "uncompensated"
announcementsseem to be so unrealistic to so many of us, I will stop posting
them if the list wants me to stop cluttering up the list with them.

  Comments?

  Ross

  **

   

  SPECIAL ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY (Uncompensated)
  UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
  Northern District of Texas 
  Dallas or Fort Worth, TX
  Vacancy Announcement #12-NDTX-SAUSA-D04


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  About the Office: The Office of the United States Attorney for the
Northern District of Texas is the principal federal prosecution authority
for the North Texas area, with offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, and
Amarillo. The Civil Division is charged with defending agencies of the
United States, enforcing regulatory agency authority, and recovering funds
from violators of U.S. criminal, regulatory, and civil laws. The Criminal
Division prosecutes all federal crimes in our jurisdiction, including acts
of terrorism, public corruption, white-collar crime, organized crime, gang
activities, internet-related crimes, and many other criminal offenses. The
Appellate Division represents the United States in cases on appeal before
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, responds to post-conviction
litigation, and keeps the district informed of developments in the law. 

  Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: One or more positions are
available for uncompensated Special Assistant United States Attorneys
("SAUSAs") in the Appellate Division, Dallas or Fort Worth, Texas. Attorneys
in the Appellate Division handle all aspects of appeals from criminal cases
prosecuted in the District, writing appellate briefs and presenting oral
arguments on a variety of complex and novel issues involving the
constitution, statutory construction, evidentiary disputes, and procedural
matters. Appellate AUSAs also review draft briefs of their fellow AUSAs and
participate in moot courts. In addition to defending criminal convictions
from appellate challenge, Appellate AUSAs bring affirmative appeals to the
Fifth Circuit from adverse district court decisions.

  Aside from their work in the Fifth Circuit, Appellate AUSAs keep abreast
of changes and developments in the law, providing valuable guidance to the
U.S. Attorney and fellow AUSAs on significant legal issues. Additionally,
the Appellate Division responds to post-conviction matters, such as motions
to vacate, set aside, or correct criminal judgments and sentences. Finally,
Appellate SAUSAs consult with the Solicitor General's Office and the
Criminal Division of the Department of Justice regarding potential
government appeals, petitions for rehearing en banc, and U.S. Supreme Court
litigation stemming from criminal cases in the District.

  The uncompensated SAUSAs primary role will be assisting with the Appellate
Division's responses to post-conviction matters, such as motions to vacate,
set aside, or correct criminal judgments and sentences. The SAUSA may also
assist at hearings in post-conviction matters.

  The initial term of the uncompensated SAUSA appointment is 12 months, but
may be extended for an additional time frame. The SAUSA will not be
automatically hired by this office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney if a
position becomes available, but the SAUSA may apply for any AUSA position in
the office, or any office within the Department of Justice, after completing
service as a SAUSA.

  An uncompensated SAUSA may not engage in compensated practice of law
outside of the office. Attorneys are not eligible to serve as SAUSAs if they
have had an employment offer deferred by a law firm and received a payment
for the period of their deferral or if they will receive any payment from a
law firm during their unpaid employment with the Department of Justice.

  As needed, additional uncompensated Special Assistant U.S. Attorney
positions may be filled from this vacancy announcement.

  Qualifications: Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D.
degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar (any
jurisdiction), and have at least 1 year post-J.D. legal or other relevant
experience. United States citizenship is required.

  Preferred Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate a quick analytical
ability and the facility to accurately and precisely articulate the critical
issues involved with a case. Applicants must demonstrate superior oral
advocacy, writing skills, research abilities, interpersonal skills, and
judgment, and must exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and
professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and client
agencies. 

  Applicants must have a demonstrated capacity to function with minimal
guidance in a highly demanding environment. Applicants will be expected to
do their own legal research and writing and will be substantially
self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings.
Applicants must also demonstrate excellent computer literacy skills to
include experience with automated research on the internet, electronic court
filing, and electronic e-mail and word processing systems.

  Travel: Occasional travel may be required for district support or training
purposes. 

  Salary Information: This is a one-year appointment without compensation

  Location: This position is located in Dallas or Fort Worth, Texas.

  Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized.

  Application Process and Deadline Date: Please email a cover letter,
resume, writing sample, and list of references to usatxn-ausa.D02 at usdoj.gov.
Applicants not having internet access may mail their application to:

  Amanda Booth
  H.R. Assistant
  Burnett Plaza, Suite 1700
  801 Cherry St, Unit 4
  Fort Worth, TX 76102

  Please include vacancy announcement #12-NDTX-SAUSA-D04 on your resume and
all correspondence. The position is open until filled. The U.S. Attorney's
Office will begin interviewing as applications arrive; however, applicants
are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. No telephone calls please.

  Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a
satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprinting and
credit check. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable
adjudication of a background investigation.

  Internet Sites: Northern District of Texas:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/txn/index.html.

  This and other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at:
http://www.justice.gov/careers/legal/attvacancies.html

  Department Policies: Special Assistant United States Attorneys generally
must reside in the district to which he or she is appointed. See 28 U.S.C. §
545 for district-specific information.

  The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable
Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will
be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin,
political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age,
sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a
parent, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, on the
basis of personal favoritism, or any non merit factor. The Department of
Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and
mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its
affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that
persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on
the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. This agency provides
reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and
hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for
reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. 

  It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and
persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which
screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also
contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background
investigation. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the
Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys'
Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement,
non-U.S. citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but
should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. citizens are extremely rare;
such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the
Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements.
Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be
considered on a case-by-case basis. 

  There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to
attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of
Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in
attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include
that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting
documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from
Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions.
Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to
claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for
10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation
required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website,
www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the
types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s).
Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation
associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of
nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in
the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement
orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement
was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was
transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or
retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).