Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities. Our highly-skilled, diverse, and innovative workforce creates a strong foundation of safety and security. Through the principles of humanity and normalcy, we develop good neighbors.
Duties
Serves in a Regional Office of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Perform legal research while selecting, assembling, summarizing and compiling substantive information by the use of statutes, regulations, and Department of Justice Orders in the preparation of draft responses to FOIA/PA requests and Tort Claims. Assists in the preparation for litigation; analyzes facts; recommends possible courses of action; drafts or examines legal documents relative to the bureau’s activities; interprets statutes, rules, regulations and new legislation; and performs other functions related to the overall operation of the Regional Legal Office. Determines if submissions are properly filed under the correct statute and advises institution staff, Consolidated Legal Center staff, and individual claimants of alternatives if the claim is more appropriately acceptable under another statute. Updates and alerts the Regional Counsel, the Deputy Regional Counsel, and other employees of relevant changes in the policy and law as they occur. Independently receives, reviews and analyzes suits under the Federal Tort Claims Act, Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, Constitutional complaints, habeas corpus, mandamus and Administrative Procedures Act and any other complaint or action related to the custodial environment or operation of the bureau.
Salary
Qualifications
To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements. Education GL-07: One full year of graduate level education OR Superior Academic Achievement. GL-09: A Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B or J.D., if related. Graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. OR Experience GL-07 and GL-09: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level in federal service. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GL-07 Experience that demonstrates knowledge of the statues and regulations governing the adjudication of claims pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act and Civilian Employee’s Claims Act. Experience in collecting, developing and analyzing non-routine data and information to support litigation activities. Experience in conducting legal research using a variety of legal reference materials, drafting general motions, pleadings, and memoranda of law. GL-09: Experience researching exemptions and case law, summarizing factual situation and legal basis of complaint, and developing persuasive arguments supporting an agency's position in response to requests under FOIA/PA and other litigation. Experience conducting extensive legal research and analysis, preparing factual investigative reports and position papers, based on policy, statutory authority and case law in response to legal inquiries, litigation, interrogatories and other discovery procedures. Experience researching relevant regulations and precedents, gathering responsive material, coordinating with other staff resources/departments, and determining releasable documents or segregable portions of record pursuant to FOIA/PA in the preparation of pleadings and legal documents respective to FOIA/PA and/or other litigation. Experience reviewing and analyzing variety of legal instruments, identifying pertinent issues, selecting and compiling substantive information, applying statues and appropriate legal precedents, and preparation of responsive legal documents and pleadings (such as, interrogatories, complaints filed by opposing parties, declarations, litigation reports, and/or requests for representation). OR Combination of Education and Experience Equivalent combinations of education and experience that must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above. If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities. **Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**
Education
See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable. ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. Superior Academic Achievement. (S.A.A.) applicants MUST provide a transcript in order to be considered under S.A.A. In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.
Required Documents
Resume showing relevant experience (cover letter optional) In order to receive credit for experience contained in an application, your employment history must be documented in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date and include the number of hours worked per week. Failure to follow this format may result in disqualification. Current or former Federal employees NOT employed by the Bureau of Prisons MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment, tenure group, and salary. If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. If you are applying for a higher grade, and your experience was gained at a Federal agency other than the Bureau of Prisons, you MUST provide the SF-50 Form which verifies the length of time you have been in your highest grade and supports your claim for time in grade. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. Current federal employees NOT employed by the BOP and former federal employees MUST submit a copy of their latest yearly performance appraisal/evaluation. CTAP, Click Here, if applicable. A college transcript which includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded, if applicable. (Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.) Failure to provide these documents could possibly result in removal from consideration for this vacancy. If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc. Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD214, or Transcripts. We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.
How to Apply
You must apply through the online application system at www.USAJOBS.gov. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions and submit all required documents. NOTE: Submission of a resume alone is not a complete application. This position may require the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described under the Required Documents section. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment. Required supporting documentation must be electronically uploaded or transferred from USAJOBS (uploaded). All required supporting documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the closing date of the vacancy announcement. You MUST include the vacancy announcement number on your supporting documentation. NOTE: Failure to follow these application procedures will result in the applicant losing consideration for this position. Paper applications: If applying online is impossible, please contact the Consolidated Staffing Unit at the telephone number listed below, prior to the closing date of the announcement for the alternate application procedure. Contact for Assistance in Applying On-Line: DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons Consolidated Staffing Unit 346 Marine Forces Drive Grand Prairie, TX 75051 E-Mail: BOP-HRM-HRSC-ConsolidatedStaffingUnit-S@bop.gov Phone: 972-352-4200
