FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS
CONSOLIDATED LEGAL CENTER
METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
ATTORNEY-ADVISOR
GS-905–12/13
About the Office: The legal practice at the Consolidated Legal Center (CLC) covers a wide variety of issues focusing on correctional law and litigation, either through administrative or litigation channels and includes such matters as inmates’ reasonable access to the courts (through access to legal materials, legal correspondence, and attorney-client visits), conditions of confinement issues, such as medical care, diet and religious accommodations, housing assignments, hygiene & sanitation, and inmate discipline. This practice will also include prosecution assistance regarding crimes involving correctional operations, matters processed through the Federal Tort Claims Act, and Freedom of Information Act requests.
The position includes being involved in a legal office that oversees the legal operations associated with federal correctional institutions in the Central District of California, which currently include: Metropolitan Detention Center, Los Angeles, California; Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island, California, and the Federal Correctional Complexes at Victorville, California, and Lompoc, California. The Complexes include several different security-level institutions within them. The incumbent will be expected to provide advice and guidance to all levels of staff at these correctional facilities, including members of the Executive staff. The incumbent will also be expected to communicate with defense attorneys, prosecutors, federal courts and agency officials. The incumbent will need to develop a thorough knowledge of all aspects of BOP policy and practice as he/she may be required to appear in District Court on short notice to explain and advocate the agency's rationale for its correctional management decisions. In addition, the incumbent will be expected to conduct legal research, prepare litigation reports, and to draft legal documents as necessary in order to represent and defend the agency’s position, and to assist the U.S. Attorney’s Office with their representation of the BOP.
Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: 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 Federal Bureau of Prisons institution. 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 completion of "Institution Familiarization", and, the satisfactory completion of a mandatory course in "Introduction to Correctional Techniques."
Because of the nature and mission of this position, it requires "hands-on" understanding of the operating problems 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 shakedown inmates and conduct visual searches in their work or living area 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 riots or escape attempts.
Qualifications: Required qualifications: Interested parties must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least 1 year post-J.D. experience.
Preferred Qualifications: Prior experience in correctional law is desired, though not required.
Travel: Minimal travel may be required.
Salary Information: Current salary and years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range, including locality pay adjustments is: GS-12 ($75,125 to $97,658) or GS-13 ($89,335 to $116,137).
Location: Los Angeles, California
Relocation Expenses: Not authorized.
Applicants must submit a resume or current OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment), a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience) and a writing sample by May 1, 2009 to: U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons Western Regional Office 7338 Shoreline Drive Stockton, California 95219 Attention: Harlan W. Penn, Regional Counsel Submission Process and Deadline Date: Applicants must submit a resume or current OF-612 (Optional Application for Federal Employment), a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience) and a writing sample by May 1, 2009 to:U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Western Regional Office
7338 Shoreline Drive
Stockton, California 95219
Attention: Harlan W. Penn, Regional Counsel
No telephone calls please. This position is open until filled, but no later than May 1, 2009.
Department Policies: Equal Employment Opportunity and Security Clearance 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 because of color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization, or on the basis of 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. 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. Dual citizens of 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 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, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/sf0015.pdf for a copy of SF15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting documents). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of non-service-connected disability pensions to be dated within the last 12 months 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).