Description
POSITION TITLE: Trial Attorney, Legal Service Section, Child Support Services Division (2023-113; Closes September 22,2023)
LOCATION:
Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
Child Support Division (CSSD)
400 Sixth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
REMOTE WORK STATUS: A hybrid remote telework/in-office schedule option is available.
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT: 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, including timely received booster vaccine, or you must request an exemption from your representative.
JOB REQUISITION NUMBER: 2023-113
NUMBER OF VACANCIES: ONE (1)
OPENING DATE: September 8, 2023
CLOSING DATE: September 22, 2023
SALARY RANGE: $109,019.- $119,924.
This salary range is within the Legal Service salary schedule. The salary range is based on a multitude of factors including applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines.
PAY PLAN, SERIES, AND GRADE: LA-905-13
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 internal and external applicants.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: The Child Support Services Division (CSSD) of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia is seeking a Trial Attorney for the Legal and Integrated Services Section. CSSD administers the district’s child support services program that includes locating non-custodial parents, establishing legal paternity, establishing support orders, enforcing legal support obligations including medical support, and modifying support orders. The Division is also responsible for the State Disbursement Unit that processes all child support payment collections and disbursements.
Incumbent reviews information presented and relevant case law to determine whether a proceeding or filing should be initiated. Reviews for this purpose include interviewing agency officials, other potential witnesses, available documents, and sources of information.
Incumbent is responsible for preparing complaints, motions, legal briefs/memoranda as appropriate.
Prepares for and conducts litigation including the preparation of witnesses and exhibits; collection and organization of evidence; preparing for and conducting preliminary proceedings; identification, procurement and preparation of expert services; examination of witnesses; and oral arguments.
Negotiates resolution of cases and determines, with the approval of the supervisor, when continued proceedings are no longer in the best interest of the District of Columbia and prepares documentation and necessary court papers to implement negotiations.
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.
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).
Performs other related duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS: At least 4 years of relevant related specialized experience 1 year of which must have been equivalent to LA-12 level.
ELIGIBILITY: The successful candidate must have a law degree and be an active member in good standing of the bar of any jurisdiction. The candidate also must be a member of the District of Columbia Bar or sworn in within 360 days of her/his initial appointment with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A substitution of education for required experience is not allowed per defined in OPM’s Qualification Standards.
HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates must apply online by 11:59 pm of the closing date. All applications must include the completed questionnaire, along with a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and a list of three professional references including supervisors. Please ensure that all required documents are included prior to submitting the application.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS
GENERAL SUITABILITY SCREENING: The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation including reference checks. Your 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.
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 the 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, maybe 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.
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 the conviction of or a plea of guilty to a violation of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.
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.
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.
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 that 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.