[blindlaw] DOJ CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SECTION SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL, GS-15, vacancy announcement

[Nightingale, Noel]

Link:
http://www.justice.gov/oarm/jobs/oarmvacspeciallitcoun.htm

Text:

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SECTION
SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL, GS-15
[X]

About the Office:
The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division<http://www.justice.gov/crt/index.php> is seeking one or more experienced attorneys for the position of Special Legal Counsel (SLC) in the Educational Opportunities Section<http://www.justice.gov/crt/edo/> (EOS) in Washington, D.C. The Division is primarily responsible for enforcing federal statutes, regulations and executive orders that prohibit, among other things, unlawful discrimination in voting, education, employment, housing, police services, public accommodations and facilities, and federally funded and conducted programs. EOS enforces federal statutes which prohibit public school officials from engaging in discriminatory practices. These statutes include Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion in public schools; the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, which, among other things, requires state education agencies and school districts to ensure that appropriate services are provided to limited English proficient students; and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public and private educational institutions. In addition, EOS has certain enforcement responsibilities for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Section may initiate litigation, intervene or serve as amicus in private suits that allege violations of education-related anti-discrimination statutes and the Fourteenth Amendment. EOS works closely with the Department of Education (ED), including representing ED in federal court.
Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered:
The SLC will serve on the Section's management team and be responsible, under the supervision of the Chief, for developing and supervising investigations and litigation addressing all aspects of the Section's enforcement duties. The SLC will provide advice and assistance to other attorneys and monitor the work of less experienced attorneys to ensure that they are provided appropriate guidance and review. Together with the Chief and Deputy Chiefs, the SLC will assist in planning and selecting matters for investigation, litigation and policy guidance, and determining the strategy and tactics to be employed. The SLC will monitor developments in the areas of education law and other relevant federal law and procedure related to the work of the Section, and keep the Section informed of significant issues and developments. The SLC will assist the Section's management in developing guidance and policies concerning the Section's areas of enforcement and with commenting on proposed legislation, policy, guidance, and testimony. The SLC will also assist with the management of the Section by assuming responsibility for certain administrative and operational tasks, engaging in outreach to Section stakeholders (including representing the Section in meetings with other federal agencies and at education-related conferences and convenings.)The SLC will be expected to handle other special assignments to be made by the Chief to assist in operation of the Section.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction), have a minimum of five (5) years post-J.D. substantive experience, including significant experience conducting litigation, negotiating settlements in civil rights cases, and investigating complaints of discrimination, including in the Section's enforcement areas. Applicants must demonstrate passion and commitment to the work of the Section; exceptional interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills; superior oral and written communication skills; solid professional judgment; professional and personal integrity; be a demonstrated team player; and be able to excel in a fast-paced, highly demanding environment. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding supervisory and mentorship skills, including the ability to manage a diverse workforce.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience handling discrimination and harassment cases in the education context is preferred, including: (1) experience litigating discrimination and harassment cases involving educational institutions, including handling discovery, litigation strategy, motion practice, trial preparation, and trial; (2) experience negotiating settlements in discrimination or harassment cases involving school districts; (3) experience investigating allegations of discrimination and harassment in schools, including interviewing witnesses, reviewing documents, and reviewing applicable case law to assess the merits of a case; (4) experience supervising and mentoring attorneys in the development of and preparation for litigation; (5) experience drafting regulations, guidance documents and other policy directives, including experience working with diverse coalitions on legal and/or policy initiatives, and (6) substantive knowledge of and expertise in education discrimination law. In addition, while not required, preferred candidates will have relevant civil rights experience outside of the core competencies of the Section, but within the critical responsibilities of the Division, such that the candidate could play a supporting role in the Division's initiatives.
Travel:
The position requires extended hours and a moderate amount of travel.
Salary Information:
Current salary and years of specialized experience will determine the appropriate salary level within the GS-15 range ($123,758 to $155,500 per annum). Final selection for these positions will be subject to budgetary funding constraints.
Location:
Washington, DC
Relocation Expenses:
Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.
Submission Process and Deadline Date
To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter and a writing sample (a brief or comparable analytic legal exposition that is your work product) to:

Diane Turner
Phone: 202-514-3934
Fax: 202-514-6603
Email: crd.attyvacancies at usdoj.gov<mailto:crd.attyvacancies at usdoj.gov>

No telephone calls please. The position will remain open until filled, but applications must be submitted no later than July 1, 2011.
Internet Sites:
Other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at: www.usdoj.gov/oarm/attvacancies.html<http://www.justice.gov/crt/index.php>
Department Policies:
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<http://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).
* * *
The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.


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