DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
RESIDENT LEGAL ADVISOR IN IRAQ
GS-905-15
OFFICE OF OVERSEAS PROSECUTORIAL DEVELOPMENT, ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING (OPDAT)
CRIMINAL DIVISION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Announcement Number: 09-CRM-OPDAT-004
Application Deadline: Open until filled.
About the Office: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom since May 2003. In February 2007, DOJ was requested to take the lead on the rule of law effort in Iraq. In response, a senior DOJ official was selected to serve as the Rule of Law Coordinator (ROLC) to provide leadership and executive oversight of US Government initiatives in support of Iraq’s effort to implement the rule of law. Fourteen organizations and approximately 300 persons have been placed under the ROLC’s coordinative authority.
The Rule of Law Program consists of several components with varying missions, including:
• Office of the Rule of Law Coordinator (ROLC) - supports the ROLC in its mission to provide leadership and oversight of various initiatives.
• Office of the Justice Attaché – supports the Attaché as the senior DOJ representative, who serves as a liaison to the Iraqi Chief Justice; and provides recommendations to top-level officials on justice sector goals.
• Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training (OPDAT) Resident Legal Advisors (RLAs) – supports the ROLC by serving in the Embassy and on Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) to train, mentor and advise Iraqi justice sector (judges, prosecutors, and investigators).
Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered:
OPDAT seeks experienced attorneys to serve as Resident Legal Advisors (RLAs) to the Iraqi courts. These temporary duty assignments are for a term of 14 months with the possibility of an extension, contingent upon available funding.
The Resident Legal Advisor will represent the Department of Justice and OPDAT during the implementation phases of a justice sector assistance program. The program has been designed to foster United States Government interests through the establishment of the rule of law in Iraq. While in Iraq, the Resident Legal Advisor will work closely with the indigenous justice sector officials in one of Iraq’s 18 provincial government centers. Duties include providing technical assistance and advice to the Iraqi courts hearing serious criminal cases and creating and providing skills development assistance on a broad range of criminal law and procedure to Iraqi judges, prosecutors, and judicial investigators.
Qualifications:
Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia. In addition, the applicant must have at least four or five years of post J.D. experience to be qualified at the GS-14 or 15 level.
Preferred qualifications: Applicants must have excellent interpersonal, administrative, and mentoring skills, be mature and self-sufficient, communicate effectively orally and in writing, and possess extensive prosecutorial experience.
Experience and/or training with legal systems in the Middle East or experience with other civil law systems is desired.
Written and spoken language proficiency in Arabic is also desired, but not required.
Excellent academic credentials, substantial expertise in criminal investigation and prosecution, including experience investigating or prosecuting gang-related matters or other complex cases, strong speaking and writing skills, sound judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to public service.
Travel: Extensive travel to/from Iraq and within Iraq will be required.
Salary Information: Current salary and years of experience determine the appropriate salary level. The pay range for a GS-15 position is $120,830 - $153,200 per annum. The employee is eligible for applicable Danger Pay and Foreign Post Differential Pay, which are subject to change. Currently, Danger Pay at the rate of 35% and Foreign Post Differential at the rate of 35%, is expected for the time the employee is on duty in Iraq.
Location: RLAs will be assigned to one of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) located throughout Iraq and within secured boundaries.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Submission Process and Deadline Date: To apply for this position, please submit a resume and/or OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment), a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience), a writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), and a current performance appraisal (if applicable). A current SF-171 (Application for Federal Employment) will be accepted as well.
Submission Process and Deadline Date: To apply for this position, please submit a resume and/or OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment), a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience), a writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages), and a current performance appraisal (if applicable). A current SF-171 (Application for Federal Employment) will be accepted as well.
Submission Process and Deadline Date: Applicants may choose one of three job application procedures. You may:
(1) submit Optional Form (OF) 612, Optional Application for Federal Employment, a fillable version of which can be found at: http://opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/of612.pdf
(2) a resume – please note that there are minimum requirements for resume content which are detailed below described and described in OPM Pamphlet OF-510, Applying for a Federal Job (copy of which is available at: http://opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/of0510.pdf); or
(3) Standard Form 171, Application for Federal Employment.
Preference is to receive an application via e-mail at andrew.norman2@usdoj.gov or faxed to (202) 616-8426.
For additional information, please contact:
Andrew Norman
Iraq Program Manager
OPDAT, Criminal Division
(202) 616-2539
The initial cut-off will be February 20th. Thereafter, the cut-off will be the 1st and 15th of each month.
This position may be selected as a detail instead of as a term position. Apply under vacancy announcement 09-CRM-DET-002 if you want to be considered for a detail.
Internet Site: Other attorney vacancy announcements can be found at: www.usdoj.gov/oarm/attvacancies.html
Department Policies: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination based on color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, status as a parent, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization, or personal favoritism. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys’ Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. citizens are extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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 are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.