Attorney Advisor (Public Notice Flyer)

Qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the Department of Commerce, Office of the General Counsel Attorney and Law Clerk Hiring Process and Advancement Guidelines. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has no Group Coverage Qualification Standard for this series. Basic Requirements for All Grade Levels: EDUCATION: You must be a graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school and BAR MEMBERSHIP: You must have a bar membership in one of the 50 United States, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. AND In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must also meet the additional experience requirement. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in federal financial assistance (grants) law; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA); contracts law; administrative law; constitutional law; entrepreneurship or business development; or mergers, acquisitions, raising venture capital, tax, or other related issues facing small businesses. We are seeking candidates with the following additional skills: Customer-service-oriented approach to legal problems and solutions; Strong research, editing, and writing skills; Effective analytical and reasoning skills with respect to identification and recommended minimization of legal risk; Professional communication skills needed to successfully engage with peers, colleagues, supervisors, and clients; Ability to handle and be responsible for a variety of assignments with short, time-critical deadlines; and Interpersonal communication skills suitable for successfully working on a team on projects that require legal analysis. Familiarity or experience in federal financial assistance (grants) law is a plus, as is a demonstrated interest in public service and a demonstrated ability to meaningfully contribute to OCC-MBDA’s workplace culture. Salary and level of supervision will be determined based on the applicant’s level of experience and expertise, in accordance with the following guidelines. For purposes of this position, professional legal experience may consist of paid or unpaid experience post bar-admission, including Federal or State Government experience, law firm or legal practice, judicial clerkship, and/or unpaid volunteer legal work. GS-11: Applicants at the GS-11 level should have a J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands. GS-12: Applicants at the GS-12 level should have one year of professional legal experience or additional relevant experience. This may include: relevant non-legal professional experience, a superior academic record, specific course work or an internship in relevant legal areas, or another graduate or doctoral degree. GS-13: Applicants at the GS-13 level should have at least two years of professional legal experience in a government agency, private sector entity, or non-profit organization. GS-14: Applicants at the GS-14 level should have at least three years of professional legal experience in one of the fields listed above in this section. Experience in federal financial assistance law or experience advising companies on accessing capital or other commercial matters will be viewed most competitively. Applicants at the GS-14 level should also demonstrate the ability to work independently with lower levels of supervision. GS-15: Applicants at the GS-15 level must have at least five years of professional legal experience and a demonstrated expertise in federal financial assistance law or access to capital or other substantive issues facing businesses. Applicants at the GS-15 level must also have a demonstrated ability to work independently with minimum levels of supervision. Applicants may be hired at any of the grades shown in this announcement, commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications. You are encouraged to identify the grade level(s) or salary for which you wish to be considered.
This vacancy is for an Attorney Advisor in the Office of the Secretary, Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Chief Counsel for the Minority Business Development Agency (OCC-MBDA) within the Department of Commerce. OCC-MBDA is seeking dedicated, equity-focused attorneys to join its dynamic and growing team. OCC-MBDA provides legal and policy guidance that enables the MBDA to carry out its mission of advancing the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises.