Log In
Sign Up
Duties Duties The incumbent serves as a Law Clerk in the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). Under direct supervision of the Supervisory Senior Counsel (SSC), the incumbent performs the following duties:
- The primary role of the law clerk is to review the evidentiary record and draft tentative decisions for review and decision by a Veterans Law Judge. Appeals relate to all benefits provided by VA but primarily are appeals seeking disability compensation.
- Reviews the record and prepares tentative decisions on appeals for benefits for review by a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ), including appeals involving formal personal hearings held before VLJs.
- The incumbent is assigned cases on a selective basis to progressively gain experience experience in the various types of appellate issues.
- Conducts research on questions encountered in case review or as directed by a VLJ. Drafts legal briefs, including bench memorandum for hearings, outlining the facts at issue, and containing recommendations for appropriate action by the VLJ.
- Serves under the general supervision of an SSC who makes assignments accompanied by information, important policy, and other considerations pertinent to development of work assignments. Completed work is subject to review for application of legal principles, soundness of approach and consistency with policies, procedures, and government regulations.
- Assists the attorney in charge of a court case or an administrative proceeding by interviewing and selecting appropriate witnesses, preparing them to give testimony, conducting direct examination, suggesting questions to be asked in cross-examination, cross-examining witnesses after the line of questioning has been settled, and drafting findings of fact, conclusions-of-law, and orders based upon the record.
- Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately.
- Prepares drafts of pleadings, motions, and interrogatories in connection with cases in litigation.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Law Clerk/PD20118TA
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, you must meet all requirements by the start date of the position, which is anticipated in July 2024 or later.
Basic Requirement
Citizenship: Be a citizen of, or owe allegiance to, the United States
Bar Membership: The occupational series, Law Clerk 0904, consists of employees who have completed the education and/or training required for admission to the bar and are pending admission. Employees serve in not-to-exceed positions and must earn admission to the bar of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia within 14 months.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Customer Service
- Administrative Law
- Interpersonal Skills
- Legal, Government and Jurisprudence
- Technical Competence
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, but requires periods of walking, standing, bending, or climbing, and employees may carry light items such as books, instruments, laptops, and other similar materials.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ .
Education
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .
Additional Information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified : applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM’s Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ .
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
