Job Title: Attorney-IN

Become an Attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel (OCC), Office of Assistant Chief Counsel, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), located in Indianapolis, IN.

In this General Attorney position, you will become a key member of the legal team for The Office of The Chief Counsel.

At ACC-Indy, each day we advise and represent the nation’s largest law enforcement agency, providing CBP clients nationwide with legal guidance and advocacy across a wide variety of practice areas. Customs and international trade law – sure, we do that. Border security issues – yep, that too. Federal contracting got it covered. Real property and leasing, you betcha. Labor and employment law, indeed. Government ethics, to be sure. Fiscal and appropriations law, without a doubt. It’s challenging work and always something new, but that’s our mission. What’s yours? Join our team – we’re hiring!

Typical work assignments include:

• Providing legal advice to, and legal representation of, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offices located in Indianapolis and throughout the United States, including CBP's Financial Accounting Division; Revenue Division; Procurement Directorate; Office of Facilities and Asset Management, including its Environmental and Energy Division; Office of Trade; Office of Field Operations; and U.S. Border Patrol.
• Providing legal advice on a wide variety of fiscal and trade issues to clients and other counsel offices, and performing legal research into laws, regulations, decisions, and other precedents bearing on legal issues involving CBP, particularly in the areas of federal appropriations, bankruptcy, collections (primarily customs duties, liquidated damages, fees and charges), contracts, construction, employment, environmental, international trade, real property, and tort law.
• Assisting the Department of Justice in civil actions involving CBP by preparing litigation reports, affidavits, and other pleadings, and participating in discovery, motion drafting, settlement discussions, and providing litigation support in a variety of matters such as complex trade cases generally involving the collection of revenue, actions brought under federal statutes such as the False Claims Act, procurement disputes filed in federal courts, and condemnation actions. Also directly representing CBP in various third-party administrative hearings involving matters such as employee discipline and adverse actions, arbitrations, EEO discrimination complaints, Merit Systems Principles Board (MSBP) appeals, contract, and travel/relocation disputes before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, bid protests before the Government Accountability Office, and employee overpayment hearings.
• Advocating, identifying, and pursuing affirmative claims and counterclaims on behalf of the Government and providing legal opinions, negotiations assistance, and advice concerning resolution of claims filed against the Government arising out of CBP operations; and
• Training, developing, and providing formal legal instruction and presentations to both client offices and other counsel colleagues.

Salary and Benefits

These four available positions may be filled at the GS-11, 12, 13 or 14 grade level depending upon your background, including your level and quality of experience. The GS-11 grade level starts at a salary of $69,741.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $152,698.00 (GS-14, Step 10) with promotion potential to $152,698.00 (GS-14, Step 10).
Employees receive the full package of federal employment benefits that include health and insurance plans, a generous annual and sick leave program, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, a retirement plan akin to a traditional 401(k) offering.

Qualifications

For the GS-11 grade level: Applicants must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Recent law school graduates may be appointed to attorney positions at the GS-11 level with the following additional qualifications: rank in the top 1/3 of graduating class; participation on the school's official Law Review; membership in the Order of the Coif; or winning of a moot court competition. An interim appointment of 14 months may be made pending the selectee's admission to the bar. Selectees will be required to provide admittance and standing to the Bar and must provide a copy of their official law school transcript.

For the GS-12, 13 and 14 grade levels: Depending on background and years of relevant experience, a candidate will be offered a position and placed at the appropriate GS pay level.

How to Apply – READ CAREFULLY:

The closing date for this employment opportunity is October 12, 2023.

To apply, prepare the documents listed below and send them via email to: accindyadmin@cbp.dhs.gov –– You must reference “Indianapolis Vacancy Announcement CC/23-41” in the subject line of your email.

Cover letter: Your application package must include a cover letter expressing your interest in this position. Please do not exceed two pages. Application packages received without a cover letter will not be given consideration.

Resume: A resume that includes announcement number, veteran's preference, your full name, address, phone number and the last four digits of your Social Security Number and a detailed description of your experience, education, training and self-development and the dates you performed them (MM/DD/YY), as well as your work schedule and salary. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade, and accessions.

Transcripts: From an ABA approved law school or equivalent is required. Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Writing Sample: A writing sample is required as part of the application package and may not exceed five pages.

Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process, which may include personal interview(s) and a writing exercise.

APPLY by October 12th following the instructions above, including exactly where and how to send in your complete application. For additional details about this opportunity, click this site’s APPLY link to access the official JOA on USAJOBS.gov.

Interested in other career opportunities with CBP? Visit www.cbp.gov/careers and check the CBP calendar at www.cbp.gov/cbp-events-calendar frequently for upcoming informational webinars, in-person recruiter events, and virtual career events.