Job Listing: Attorney-Advisor (General)

Duty Locations

 1 vacancy - Shreveport, LA 1 vacancy - Little Rock, AR 1 vacancy - Dallas, TX 1 vacancy - Oklahoma City, OK 1 vacancy - Albuquerque & Kirtland AFB, NM 1 vacancy - Alexandria, LA 1 vacancy - Houston, TX 1 vacancy - Metairie, LA 1 vacancy - New Orleans Metro area, LA 1 vacancy - Tulsa, OK 1 vacancy - San Antonio, TX 1 vacancy - Fort Smith, AR 1 vacancy - Ft. Worth, TX Millions of Americans depend on the Social Security Administration (SSA) for their well-being. Social Security programs offer protection against the risk of reduced income due to retirement, disability or death, and assist aged, blind, and disabled people in financial need. SSA offers challenging careers and professional advancement. Make a difference in people’s lives and your own. Join our dynamic team and work for an Agency ranked in the top 10 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government!

THIS IS AN EXCEPTED SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THIS POSITION IS FULL-TIME PERMANENT.

NOTE: Selectee(s) will be required to attend a mandatory 3-week training session.

This position is located in the hearing office of the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), Social Security Adminsitration (SSA).

 

Major Duties

The incumbent serves as an Attorney Adviser to one or more Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) rendering advice and assistance in pre hearing development and preparation of cases for hearing, post-hearing development and other post hearing actions. Analyzes, researches and develops cases, formulates comprehensive decisions and, otherwise, acts on requests for hearings held under Titles II, XI, XVI and XVIII of the Social Security Act, as amended. Drafts decisions in extremely sensitive and/or legally complex cases involving significant policy issues and questions regarding the interpretation of Federal Circuit Court opinions or the applications of Acquiescence Ruling in particular cases. Drafts interrogatories to medical and vocational experts. Recommends action to the ALJ with respect to reopening and revision of a prior decision or determination. Prepares hearings decisions in final form for the ALJ's approval. Prepares written correspondence in response to inquiries from Congressmen, attorneys and claimants.

How to Apply

Applying for this position requires three steps: 

1. Submission of a resume.

2. Completion of the occupational questionnaire.

3. Submission of any supporting documentation such as a DD-214, Veterans' Administration letter, or educational transcripts.  Please see the Required Documents section below for details.

Please click on the Apply Online button at the bottom of the page to complete these three steps. 

First, you will be required to complete and submit a USAJOBS resume.  After you have submitted the resume, you will enter Application Manager.  If you have an Application Manager account, you will be prompted to login.   If not, you may select "Create an Account" at the bottom of the page.  Please answer all parts of the assessment questionnaire.  After you have finished the questions, you will have the opportunity to upload any supporting documents or additional resume items.  In order to complete your application, you must click "Submit my Answers". If you complete all steps successfully, you will see a confirmation of submission page and an automated receipt will be sent to your email account.

Electronic applications must be completed by midnight Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of the announcement.

Due to our security procedures, we will not accept any applications submitted via email. Email addresses are listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process. In order to be considered, applicants must follow either the Apply Online process described above or one of the Alternate Application Methods described below.

Alternate Application Methods

You must complete all three of the application steps described above in order to be considered.  You are encouraged to complete all three steps online since it is the most efficient way to process your application.  If you are unable to complete an application step online, you may submit a hardcopy document via fax.

Each fax must have a United States Government Application Cover Page.  All items on the cover page must be completed, including the VIN: ST186273.  One cover page may be used for multiple documents.  Documents with completed cover pages may be faxed to the following number: 1-478-757-3144.  Faxed documents must be received by midnight Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of the announcement.  

We no longer accept application materials by mail - you must either upload or fax your application materials.  If you are unable to submit an application via the Internet or fax, you may contact the following person for assistance:

Mary E. Coleman 
(214)767-8538 
Mary.Coleman@ssa.gov

The hard copy of the occupational questionnaire form (1203-FX - Form C) is available for you to print out from this address:

http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf

If you decide to complete the questionnaire offline, we suggest that you print this vacancy announcement and refer to it as you answer the questions.  Use the following step-by-step instructions as a guide to filling out the required fields for this questionnaire.  You must provide responses to all required questions. However, you may omit any sections marked "optional."  Be sure to double check your application before submission.

Please ensure that you answer all questions.  When answering the statements, remember that you may be required to provide specific examples or documentation of your experience or education as proof at a later stage in the selection process.  The following questions ask you to describe your educational background, your work, and other experiences to determine your
qualifications for the grade levels to be filled.  Although you may not meet each of the education or experience statements, you should respond to all questions regardless of the grade level you are seeking or your experience level.

Social Security Number

Enter your Social Security Number in the space indicated. Providing your Social Security Number is voluntary, however, we can not process your application without it.

Vacancy Identification Number

ST186273

1. Title of Job

Attorney-Advisor (General)

2. Biographic Data

3. E-Mail Address

If you would like to be notified by E-mail, please enter your E-mail address in the space provided.

4. Work Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

5. Employment Availability

6. Citizenship

Are you a citizen of the United States?
7. Background Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

8. Other Information

9. Languages

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

10. Lowest Grade

Enter the lowest grade level you will accept.

091112
11. Miscellaneous Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

12. Special Knowledge

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

13. Test Location

14. Veteran Preference Claim

15. Dates of Active Duty - Military Service

16. Availability Date

17. Service Computation Date

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

18. Other Date Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

19. Job Preference

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

20. Occupational Specialties

001 Attorney Adviser
21. Geographic Availability

0333 Little Rock, AR0353 Shreveport, LA0355 Alexandria, LA0361 New Orleans Metro area, LA0377 Albuquerque & Kirtland AFB, NM0402 Oklahoma City, OK0407 Tulsa, OK0417 Dallas, TX0418 Ft. Worth, TX0440 San Antonio, TX0445 Houston, TX1064 Fort Smith, AR1740 Metairie, LA
22. Transition Assistance Plan

23. Job Related Experience

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

24. Personal Background Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX leave this section blank.

25. Occupational/Assessment Questions:

1. Do you have a current active bar membership?

A. Yes
B. No

2. Please select the response below which most closely describes your experience.

A. I have active bar membership (i.e.,card/certificate of standing in the highest court of a state, territory, the District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), for the current year. (I have included a copy of proof of active bar membership with my application.)
B. In addition to having a current active bar membership, I have one of the following: - 52 Weeks of professional legal experience as a practicing attorney in which assignments involved complex and difficult legal questions requiring extensive research, analysis and evaluation of information in controversial areas. Such experience must include: preparation of legal documents for filing by drafting complaints, orders to show cause, indictments, preliminary motions and supporting affidavits and briefs; drafting of pleading and motions for cases in litigation, conducting investigations to obtain facts, study of legal precedents and preparation of recommendations; and assisting attorneys in charge of court cases by cross-examining witnesses and drafting findings of facts, conclusions of law and orders based on the record (dates of employement and the hours worked per week are included on my resume). - A second professional law degree (LL.M) which requires one full year of graduate study. - The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) with a record that shows superior law student work or activities as demontrated by one of the following (documentation is required at the time of application): (1) Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduation class; (2) work or achievement of significance in the law school's official law review (explain duties and hours devoted per week); (3) special high level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif; (4) Winning of a Moot Court competition or membership on the Moot Court team, which represents the law school in competition with other law schools; (5) full time or continuous participation in a legal aid program equivalent to six months of full time work (dates of employmeent and hours worked per week are required); (6) significant law office clerk experience while attending law school equivalent to six months of full time work (dates of employmenet and hours woked per week are required); (7) other equivalent evidence of superior achievement while in law school.
C. I have a current active bar membership, in addition to one of the GS-11 requirements listed in B above, and I have one additional year (i.e. 52 weekfs full time) of professional legal experience involving ALL of the following: - complex and difficult legal questions requiring extensive research, analysis and evaluation, and - extensive legal/medical writing, and - detailed knowledge of Social Security Programs OR experience as a hearing examiner, magistrate, judge protem, administrative law judge, bankruptcy trustee, military judge or member of a Board of Military Review, or similar decision making positions.
D. None of the above.

 

Required Documents:

The following sections provide information on supporting documentation that must be submitted to claim certain types of preference or qualify on the basis of education.  Please see the How to Apply section above for information on the application process.

VETERANS PREFERENCE

If you are claiming veterans' preference under competitive procedures, submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD 214) or other proof of eligibility. To be acceptable, the document must show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF 15. You will be granted preference as appropriate based on the documents we receive.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP)

To be eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and exercise selection priority, applicants must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility: a separation notice, a Notice of Personnel Action (SF-50) documenting separation, an agency certification that they could not be placed after injury compensation was terminated, an OPM notification that their disability annuity has been terminated, or a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification showing they are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.  In addition, applicants must be well-qualified for the vacant position. Well qualified is defined as meeting or exceeding the fully successful level for the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position. For numeric examinations, a score of 85 or above (before adding any preference points) may be considered well qualified.

PROOF OF EDUCATION

If you are qualifying on the basis of education or training for experience or satisfying an educational requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of courses with title of course, number of credits, grade, and date of completion. To be used in meeting qualification requirements, a college or university degree must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Contact Information:
Mary E. Coleman

Phone: (214)767-8538

Email: Mary.Coleman@ssa.gov


Or write:
SSA Dallas
Personnel Operations Room 550
1301 Young Street Ste 130
Dallas, TX 75202-5433

USA


What To Expect Next:

After all of the applications have been evaluated, you will receive a notification explaining the status of your application. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made. Please note that because we send notifications for each step of the process, we will not respond to status inquiries.

If you applied incorrectly or submitted an incomplete application, we will be unable to send you a notification regarding the status of your application. Please read the How to Apply instructions carefully to ensure that you submit a complete application.