The general counsel is the principal legal officer of the Commission and director of the Office of General Counsel. The general counsel reports to the staff director and is responsible for representing the Commission and serving as the principal advisor to the Commissioners and staff on all legal matters.
The general counsel is the principal legal officer of the Commission and director of the Office of General Counsel. The general counsel reports to the staff director and is responsible for representing the Commission and serving as the principal advisor to the Commissioners and staff on all legal matters. As the director of the Commission's legal unit, the general counsel is responsible for supervising a team of 10-12 attorneys and support staff, the operation of the unit, and the legal advice and representation provided by the unit to the Commissioners and staff regarding criminal law, the federal sentencing guidelines, statutory and constitutional developments relating to criminal law and federal sentencing, agency rules and procedures, employment law, personnel matters, ethics, and administrative matters.
The position involves a variety of projects and responsibilities, many of which require management of tasks involving detailed analyses and review, recognition and consideration of all relevant legal principles and policy factors. The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
- Managing the mission and functions of the Office of the General Counsel by developing its work objectives, monitoring its performance, supervising and providing guidance to its staff, and formally evaluating the performance of the Office and its staff.
- Serving as a strategic advisor to the Chair, Commissioners, Staff Director, and senior staff leadership on legal, policy, governance, operational, reputational, and institutional risk matters affecting the Commission.
- Managing complex legal and policy projects for the Commissioners with principal oversight of the amendment cycle and broader policymaking processes, ensuring thorough and accurate briefing materials to Commissioners to aid in their consideration of policy matters.
- Collaborating with other members of the Commission's senior staff leadership to oversee the agency's work as it is conducted through cross-unit policy teams, reviewing and editing all team materials and recommendations provided to Commissioners.
- Representing the Commission in formal proceedings (including public meetings in which the Commission conducts its business) held in connection with the administration of the Commission's activities.
- Monitoring developments in federal sentencing for possible Commission action, including by reviewing staff reports of case law and circuit conflicts for use in policymaking and training.
- Providing legal advice and counsel to Commissioners and staff on issues related to federal sentencing, substantive criminal law issues, administrative law and federal agency practice, and personnel and administrative matters.
- Performing and overseeing in-depth legal research and analysis of legislation, regulations, and constitutional issues related to federal sentencing, criminal law, administrative law, and federal agency practice.
- Serving as the Commission's Ethics and Compliance Officer, who ensures the agency adheres to all federal regulations, policies, procedures, and ethical standards.
- Serving as the Commission's chief legal counsel in matters pertaining to federal procurement, interagency agreements, and cooperative agreements.
- Writing and overseeing the drafting/writing of legal briefs, legal memoranda, and other documents on matters pertinent to the work and administrative functioning of the Commission; and presenting legal research and analysis relating to federal sentencing for use in policymaking and other matters pertinent to the administrative functioning of the Commission.
- Preparing and making recommendations and interpretations concerning the Commission's Rules of Practice & Procedure and other rules that govern the agency's employees and operations.
- Issuing formal legal opinions and informal legal advice to Commissioners and agency staff, including by overseeing the attorney work necessary to provide such counsel.
- Collaborating and coordinating with federal agencies (including the Department of Justice), Congress, the federal judiciary (including the Judicial Conference of the United States, the Federal Judicial Center, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, and the Federal Public & Community Defenders), academic institutions, Commission advisory groups, and other stakeholders.
- Providing technical legislative drafting assistance in response to requests submitted to the Commission from Congressional committees and offices.
- Coordinating with outside counsel as appropriate, including coordination with the Department of Justice for suits filed against the Commission.
- Performing any other duties as assigned by the Commission or its Staff Director.
MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must have demonstrated experience which shows competence in the qualifications listed below.
Education & Bar Membership: Applicants must possess a law degree (J.D.) 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.
Legal Practice Experience: At least four of the applicant's years of experience must be as a practicing attorney subsequent to graduation from law school. Additionally, the applicant must have experience that provided a working knowledge of federal criminal law and federal sentencing, including the federal sentencing guidelines and relevant caselaw.
Management Experience: Applicants must have demonstrated leadership abilities and management experience. Progressively responsible experience in public service or in the private sector business which provides a thorough understanding of organizational, procedural and human aspects in management.
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized work experience (public or private) equivalent to the GS-15 level in the Federal Service to qualify for the SE level of employment. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position described above. This specialized experience includes:
- Effective leadership and management skills in formal and informal leadership roles. Skill in supervising, motivating, and training staff with diverse functions and varying skill levels; skill in planning, organizing, setting priorities, and completing multiple tasks of varying complexity, and skill in dealing effectively and advocating successfully with individuals at all levels both within and outside the agency.
- Excellent legal analysis, presentation, writing, and editing skills with the 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.
- Experience managing all administrative and/or technical aspects of a legal program or interdisciplinary policy team.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Ten years of experience working as an attorney subsequent to graduation from law school.
- At least three years of experience working as an attorney for an agency or other unit of the federal government, with service in a federal court or other entity in the federal Judiciary preferred
- Working knowledge of substantive legal areas necessary to conduct agency operations, such as personnel and employment law, contract law, ethics, and administrative practices and procedures.
In order to be considered, all applicants must submit an electronic resume (limited to 2 pages) and cover letter that together address all of the mandatory and preferred qualification requirements listed in this announcement, and if available, provide a recent job performance evaluation. Applicants are responsible for citing mandatory qualifications such as J.D. degree, bar membership, and experience to include institution name, state(s) for bar, and date(s) on their respective resumes. Failure to supply details will constitute incomplete applications. All mandatory qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants will also need to complete the online occupational questionnaire. All applications must be submitted at www.usajobs.gov.
