Attorney-Adviser (Case Review Division)
What you'd do
OSC is seeking recent law school graduates, early-career attorneys, and experienced attorneys to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will handle the initial review and assessment of whistleblower disclosures and complaints of prohibited personnel practices (PPP), evaluating the merits of the allegations. You will collaborate closely with OSC leadership, attorneys, investigators, and support staff to ensure cases are reviewed and processed in compliance with federal laws and regulations.
Major duties
Why Join OSC? OSC consistently ranks highly in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) for workplace satisfaction! Unit Overview The Case Review Division (CRD) is the initial point of intake for all disclosures and PPP complaints received by OSC. It also processes third-party referrals from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), agency Offices of Inspectors General, and referrals from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for disciplinary action investigations. CRD ensures that allegations within OSC's jurisdiction are efficiently resolved or forwarded to the appropriate OSC division for further review or investigation. CRD also manages the Office of the Clerk functions, as well as OSC's programs for controlled unclassified information (CUI), the Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and records management. Duties Under the supervision or mentorship of experienced attorneys, you may: Serve as an intake officer for whistleblower disclosures and PPP complaints filed with OSC. Conduct initial reviews of complaints to assess jurisdiction and legal sufficiency. Analyze allegations to identify potential prohibited personnel practices and whistleblower disclosures under OSC's purview. Prepare detailed memoranda summarizing findings and offering recommendations for further action or dismissal. Communicate with complainants and whistleblowers to clarify allegations, gather additional information, and provide updates on case status. Collaborate with investigative and legal staff to ensure the comprehensive and timely processing of cases. Maintain accurate case files in compliance with OSC policies and federal recordkeeping requirements. Stay updated on relevant developments in whistleblower and personnel law. Assist in developing and refining intake policies, training materials, and best practices. Ideal Candidate We are looking for candidates who embrace the privilege of public service, bring enthusiasm and dedication to such service, and work well within a team setting. Flexibility and a strong commitment to OSC's statutory mission are essential. Positions may be filled at any GS grade level (11 through 14) depending on applicant experience. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with the first review no earlier than 10 business days after the date this announcement posts. Additional reviews of applications will be conducted periodically, after the initial review, as needed to fill vacant positions.
What you need to qualify
Education Qualifications for all positions: A professional law degree (L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. In addition to Education, applicants must meet the minimum Experience Requirements outlined below: Position Title Bar Membership Legal Experience Requirements GS-11, Attorney-Adviser Required ** None GS-11, Law Clerk N/A Law school graduates who have not yet been admitted to the bar and who have not served in a judicial clerkship may be temporarily employed at the GS-11 level, not to exceed 14 months as law clerk trainees GS-12, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 1 year of professional legal experience post bar admission. GS-12, Law Clerk N/A Law school graduates who have not yet been admitted to the bar and who have served one year in a judicial clerkship may be temporarily employed at the GS-12 level, not to exceed 14 months as law clerk trainees GS-13, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 2 years of professional legal experience post bar admission, with at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 GS-14, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 3 years of professional legal experience post bar admission with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 level **An active membership in good standing in a bar of a state, U.S. Territory, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth or Puerto Rico. Your resume must explicitly outline your qualifications. We will not make assumptions about your experience. NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0905 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards 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; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above. Annual Leave Accrual Credit Selectees for their first Federal position may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credited will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant resume and documentation submitted.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.