Closing Date: 24th May, 2024

Description:

Summary:
Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Our highly-skilled, diverse, and innovative workforce creates a strong foundation of safety and security. Through the principles of humanity and normalcy, we develop good neighbors.

Duties:
The legal practice at the Los Angeles Consolidated Legal Center (MDC Los Angeles) covers a wide variety of issues focusing on correctional law, either through administrative channels or litigation in federal court. Issues include such matters as inmates' reasonable access to the courts (e.g., access to legal materials, legal correspondence, and attorney-client visits), conditions of confinement (e.g., medical care, diet and religious accommodations, housing assignments, hygiene & sanitation, and post-sentence administration (e.g., sentence computation and inmate discipline).

This position is part of the Los Angeles CLC, a legal team that oversees legal matters in the Central District of California associated with A Government Entity operations, which includes the following correctional institutions: Metropolitan Detention Center at Los Angeles (MDC LA), Federal Correctional Institution at Terminal Island (FCI Terminal Island), Federal Correctional Complex at Lompoc (FCC Lompoc), and the Federal Correctional Complex at Victorville (FCC Victorville).

As a member of the Los Angeles CLC, the incumbent is expected to provide advice and guidance to all levels of staff at these correctional facilities, including members of the Executive Staff. The incumbent may also be required to handle other A Government Entity legal matters as assigned, which are outside the Central District of California and pertain to other A Government Entity institutions. The incumbent will also be expected to communicate with defense attorneys, prosecutors, federal courts, and agency officials. The incumbent must have thorough knowledge of all aspects of A Government Entity policy and practice as he/she may be required to appear in District Court on short notice to explain and advocate the agency's rational for its correctional management decisions.

This is a primary law enforcement position. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3307, the maximum entry age of 36 has been established for initial appointment to a position in a A Government Entity correctional institution. If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage, you must submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage. Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the maximum age. The duties of this position may at times require frequent and direct contact with individuals in confinement who are suspected or convicted of serious criminal offenses. It has also been determined that the duties of this position require experience and knowledge of the on-the-job responsibilities of a primary law enforcement officer working in a detention facility. A prerequisite requirement of this position is the successful completion of 'Introduction to Correctional Techniques, Phase I' locally and, the satisfactory completion of a mandatory course in 'Introduction to Correctional Techniques, Phase II' at the Staff Training Academy.

Because of the nature and mission of this position, it requires "hands-on" understanding of the issues encompassed in working within an institution. The incumbent may be called on to perform as a law enforcement officer in a correctional environment during training, emergency situations, times of staff shortages, and under any other type of correctional operating crisis. Specific correctional responsibilities may include custody and supervision of inmates, responding to emergencies and institution disturbances, participating in fog and escape patrols, and assuming correctional officer posts when necessary. The incumbent may be required to conduct pat down and visual searches of inmates and search inmate work or living areas for contraband." The incumbent must be prepared to use physical control in situations where necessary, such as in fights among inmates, assaults on staff, and during riots or escape attempts.

The Practice areas related to this position are: Civil Litigation, Correctional Law, and Constitutional Law

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
Selective Service Requirement: http://www.sss.gov
U.S. Citizenship is Required.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Qualifications:
Applicant must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least 1 year of post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.

Preferred qualifications: Prior and extensive experience in correctional law and/or federal civil litigation is preferred, but not required.

Education:
See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. (http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation)

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. (https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html)

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.