Senior Attorney – Training

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Applicants must possess a law degree (JD) from an accredited law school and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a Federal court of general jurisdiction. Applicants must have a minimum of five years of legal experience in or directly related to the line of work of this position. Applicants must possess excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact successfully with outside constituents and agency staff at all levels. Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level of the grade for which they are applying. For example, to qualify for the GS-15, one year of specialized experience must have been at the GS-14 level or equivalent. Applicants must have demonstrated work experience related to the mandatory requirements listed below and must address the qualification requirements in an attached cover letter or separate narrative statement. Knowledge of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 and the functions of the Commission. Expertise in federal sentencing law and guideline application. Excellent ability to express, orally and in writing, complex legal issues in clear and succinct language so that the concepts are understood by both lawyers and non-lawyers. Excellent legal analytical skills. Demonstrated aptitude as a trainer or instructor of adult learners in the legal field. Experience conducting legal research related to criminal law or sentencing involving analysis of statutes, proposed legislation, case law, and governmental and private reports. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with agency staff at all levels as well as with key individuals in a variety of other federal organizations and interest groups, including the Federal Judicial Center, Defender Services, Department of Justice, and United States Probation and Pretrial Services, among others. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Highly competitive applicants will have the following: Experience as a criminal defense attorney or prosecutor in federal court at the trial or appellate level. Experience as a trainer or instructor of graduate-level or adult learners in the legal field. BENEFITS The Commission participates in the following federal benefits: The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program federal retirement the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and the federal leave program In addition, the Commission participates in the Judiciary’s Flexible Spending Program for dependent care, health care, and commuter reimbursement, and the government-wide Long Term Care Insurance Program, unemployment, and workers’ compensation benefits. The Commission is conveniently located next to Union Station on Capitol Hill, and is easily accessible by public transportation, including the Metro, and the MARC and VRE commuter trains. In addition to the federal benefits package, the Commission’s location in the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building offers various amenities such as a health unit, credit union, day care center, food services, and free on-site fitness center. The Commission offers a monthly transit subsidy to employees who use mass transit to commute to and from work, subject to the availability of funds. The Commission offers alternative work schedules (AWS), which are fixed work schedules that enable full-time employees to complete the basic 80-hour biweekly work requirement in 9 workdays. The Commission offers regular telework (not full-time) to employees in positions deemed eligible by the staff director and who meet the requirements of an approved telework arrangement in which an employee performs official duties at home or at an approved telework site. The current policy allows this position to regularly telework up to three days per week. The Commission also offers training opportunities to employees through LinkedIn Learning, and the Judiciary’s Online University, which offers academic credit and professional credit programs through web-based learning. These training tools assist Commission employees with taking online courses in a flexible way, by offering training courses in the areas of: staff training and development; credit toward undergraduate degree programs; continuing education and non-credit certificate programs; executive education; contract training; credit credentials courses for continuing professional education and credit for individuals who hold credentials and achieve certifications associated with several globally-recognized sponsored organizations.
The U. S. Sentencing Commission is seeking a Senior Attorney – Training. The incumbent reports to the Deputy Director and the Director of the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice and provides training and assistance to probation officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges on the federal sentencing guidelines and related sentencing issues.