Description
LOCATION:
Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
Public Safety Division
400 6th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001WORK STATUS: A hybrid remote telework/in-office schedule option is available upon supervisor approval.
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT: The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) is committed to providing the highest quality legal and programmatic services to the District and its residents while ensuring the health and safety of employees, customers, clients, volunteers, contractors, and other visitors.
The District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General values the safety of our employees, our residents, and our visitors. In support of these values, OAG employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including having received a booster shot within five months from either the date of the second shot for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (or two months from the single-shot of Johnson & Johnson), except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are the selected candidate, as of your start date, you must provide proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which includes having timely received a booster vaccine, or you must request an exemption from your representative.
JOB REQUISITION NUMBER: 2023-99
NUMBER OF VACANCIES: One (1)
OPENING DATE: August 14, 2023
CLOSING DATE: September 4, 2023
SALARY RANGE*: $91,673 – $97,789
*This salary range is within the Legal Service salary schedule from Grade 12 step 1 to Grade 12, Step 3. Salary in this range will be based on a multitude of factors including applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines.
PAY PLAN, SERIES, GRADE: Grade 12, Step 1 – Grade 12, Step 3
TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Legal Service – Regular Appointment
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT: This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by AFGE Local 1403. If you opt to join the union, and consent, a service fee will be paid through direct payroll deduction.
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to the public
INTRODUCTION:
The Public Safety Division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for the District of Columbia is seeking a trial attorney for the Mental Health Section. The Mental Health Section represents the Department of Behavioral Health prosecuting involuntary civil commitment cases, guardianship, and Extreme Risk Protection Order cases.
If you are looking for an opportunity to hone your litigation skills in a fast-paced litigation practice where you prepare and present expert witnesses in contested hearings, the Mental Health Section is ideal. Attorneys enjoy a collegial and collaborative work environment, with an eager and supportive administrative team.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Attorneys in the Mental Health Section perform the following duties:
Litigate probable cause, emergency, revocation, status, motion, guardianship, and Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) hearings, bench and, on rare occasions, jury trials before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and hearings before the Commission on Mental Health (comprised of a judge and two clinicians).
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Incumbent reviews information presented for legal sufficiency to determine whether a petition or other court filing should be completed. For this purpose, the incumbent reviews legal, clinical, and other documents, and communicates with client agency representatives and contractors.
The incumbent is responsible for preparing petitions, motions, legal briefs/memoranda, and other pleadings as appropriate.
Prepares cases for litigation, which includes reviewing medical records, completing discovery, preparation of witnesses and exhibits, collection and organization of evidence, and interviewing expert and lay witnesses.
Prepares and conducts probable cause hearings which are scheduled within 24 hours of the respondent’s request for a hearing.
Argues evidentiary hearings, status hearings, motions hearings, emergency hearings, bench and, on rare occasions, jury trials.
Negotiates resolution of cases and determines, with the approval of the client agency and OAG supervisor, when continued proceedings should be dismissed. Prepares documentation and necessary court papers to implement negotiations and settlements.
Provide legal advice for its client agency, the Department of Behavioral Health.
Performs all functions related to case and calendar management, such as pretrial, motion, and trial scheduling, preparation of case transfer or close-out reports, case file entry updating, documentation of action taken or orders issued, timely preparation and service of filings, timely issuance of subpoenas, and any other administrative function associated with litigation.
The incumbent is responsible for keeping abreast of judicial, agency, and other changes in laws and regulations related to the function of programs and the recommendation of appropriate courses of action to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
Compiles monthly statistical and status reports on cases assigned.
Conduct training on mental health, guardianship and ERPO law.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE FOR THE POSITION:
The ideal candidate possesses the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Knowledge of laws, theories, principles, practices, and techniques of legal proceedings sufficient to represent the District of Columbia in litigation and related activities.
Skills in the analysis and resolution of difficult legal issues in an orderly, systematic, and effective manner.
Skills in interpreting and applying applicable laws, regulations, and practices, including agency policies and relevant judicial decisions.
Skills in identifying and isolating controlling legal issues from complex factual situations.
Skills in applying sound judgment in the review and analysis of matters and deriving logical conclusions.
Knowledge of legal reference materials and research techniques, including the use of Westlaw, or LexisNexis, and other automated legal and legislative retrieval systems.
Skills in communicating precisely and effectively, both orally and in writing.
Knowledge of legal advocacy tactics and strategy as well as negotiation pretrial and trial techniques.
Skills in working as a team player.
Possess a commitment to public interest work and helping individuals with mental illnesses who may be at risk of harm to self or others.
Possess the ability to produce quality work in a fast-paced environment as well as the ability to present the government’s case at probable cause hearings on short notice.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Prior litigation experience and knowledge of the D.C. Superior Court are preferred but not required. Excellent writing skills and the ability to work closely with other agencies is important. Newer attorneys are encouraged to apply as the Mental Health Section has a strong training program.
The Incumbent must have a law degree and be a member of the District of Columbia Bar or eligible for waiver into bar.
ELIGIBILITY: The successful candidate must have a law degree and be an active member in good standing of the bar of any jurisdiction. If not a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the candidate must be sworn into the District of Columbia Bar within 360 days of his/her initial appointment with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS: Incumbent must be a member of the District of Columbia Bar, or eligible for waiver into bar. The incumbent must be sworn into the District of Columbia Bar within 360 days of his/her initial appointment with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A substitution of education for required experience will be allowed as defined in OPM’s Qualification Standards. However, to receive credit, applicants must submit official proof of educational attainment at the time of application.
TIME-IN-GRADE RESTRICTIONS: Time in grade restrictions must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
HOW TO APPLY: Candidates should apply via Jobvite by 11:59 pm of the closing date indicated above. All applications must include the completed questionnaire, along with a cover letter, résumé, list of three references, and a writing sample.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS
GENERAL SUITABILITY SCREENING: The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation including reference checksYour position is of special trust, and as part of your duties you may reasonably be expected to affect the access to, or control of, security-sensitive systems or resources. Accordingly, your position is considered security sensitive. As a condition of employment, you must successfully pass a criminal background check, traffic record check (as applicable), and consumer credit check (as applicable). For the duration of our tenure, you must comply with requests (if needed) for periodic criminal background checks, as well as reasonable suspicion and post-accident or post-incident drug and alcohol screenings.
FLSA STATUS: Essential.
This position is designated as essential when then D.C. Superior Court is open.PRIORITY CONSIDERATION: Displaced Employee Priority Placement: Candidates who are eligible for the District of Columbia’s Displaced Employee Program (DEP) and Agency Reemployment Priority Placement Program (ARPP) will be given priority consideration for this position if found qualified.
EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave and will be covered under the District of Columbia government’s retirement plan. However, if selectee was previously employed in the District of Columbia’s government under an appointment for which he/she was eligible for Civil Service Retirement (CSR), contributions to CSR will resume upon re-employment.
RESIDENCY PREFERENCE: A person applying for a position in the Career Service, Education Service, Management Supervisory Service, an attorney position in the Legal Service (series 905) other than in the Senior Executive Attorney Service (SEAS), or an attorney in the Excepted Service (series 905) who is a bona fide District resident AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for the position, may be awarded a 10-point residency preference over non-District residents’ applications unless the person declines the preference points. If selected, the person shall be required to present proofs of bona fide District residency and maintain such residency for 7 consecutive years from the effective date of the appointment. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency for the 7-year period will result in forfeiture of employment. Please note, if the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service and the salary offered is at or above an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000), you must establish DC residency within 180 days of appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of employment.
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE: Applicants claiming veterans’ preference must submit official proof at the time of application.
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after conviction of or a plea of guilty to a violation of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering and maintaining a culture where every employee can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the best pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. We honor, respect, and celebrate all differences, both visible and invisible.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, genetic information or political affiliation.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, source of income, or place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.
OFFICIAL JOB OFFERS ARE TO BE MADE ONLY BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES SECTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Important: Your COMPLETE application is important to OAG hiring process. Please ensure that you have read through the requisition in its entirety. Any REQUIRED document/s i.e. Resume, Cover Letter, DC2000RP, and/or KSAs as applicable, are included BEFORE you SUBMIT the application. You will NOT be able to re-submit. Thank you.