GENERAL ATTORNEY

Do you desire to be a part of the vibrant United States immigrant admission process, to protect American interests and to secure our nation while building a meaningful and rewarding career? If so, United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS), and its Office of the Chief Counsel are calling!

The Office of the Chief Counsel (OCC), is seeking an attorney for an Associate Counsel position to handle immigration law issues with the Adjudications Law Division (ALD). The attorney will serve as advisor to the Chief of the ALD, the Chief Counsel, and to USCIS and other Departmental components on issues relating to the adjudication of immigration benefits. ALD attorneys provide advice to the Director and USCIS Operations on the legal consequences of laws, policies and initiatives that affect immigration benefit processing and adjudications (including nonimmigrant visas, inadmissibility, parole, adjustment of status, I-130, abandonment, I-90, and naturalization issues). ALD attorneys' responsibilities include, but are not limited to, reviewing regulations, policy memoranda, and field guidance for legal sufficiency. ALD attorneys also provide litigation support to the Department of Justice in federal lawsuits involving USCIS regulations, adjudications, practices, and/or policies. You qualify at the GS-13 level if you: are currently an attorney in federal employment with the equivalent of being a GS-12 and at least one year experience at that level, or if not a federal employee and you have at least one year of post-J.D. professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

You qualify at the GS-14 level if you: are currently an attorney in federal employment with the equivalent of being a GS-13 and at least one year experience at that level, or if not a federal employee and you have at least two years of post-J.D. professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

You qualify at the GS-15 level if you: are currently an attorney in federal employment with the equivalent of being a GS-14 and at least one year experience at that level, or if not a federal employee and you have at least three years of post-J.D. professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Applicants must possess a J.D. or LL.M. degree from an ABA-accredited law school or serve a legal apprenticeship in California, Virginia, Vermont, or Washington and pass the bar exam in order to be permitted to practice law in one (1) of those jurisdictions.

Bar Requirement GS-13 thru GS-15: Be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction).

Prior to entering on duty, all selected attorneys must provide a Certificate of Good Standing in holding an active Bar License to practice law in any state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

All applicants will be rated against the following factors:

• Ability to resolve questions and provide accurate legal advice to both attorneys and non-attorneys on complex legal matters.
• Ability to handle a heavy workload and meet deadlines.
• Legal aptitude as reflected in the resume provided.
• Quality of writing sample not to exceed 10 pages.
• Quality of the cover letter addressed to OCC summarizing interest in the position not to exceed 1 page.
• Quality of recommendations provided (No more than 3 recommendations total).

To preview the job questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12402870.