This position is located in the Office of the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS), Office of General Counsel (OGC). The OGC is the legal office within the agency, providing legal advice and guidance to the Director, the leadership team, and programmatic staff across all departments.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Attorney Advisor will provide expert legal advice and conduct extensive reviews of various legal documents, such as Memorandums of Understanding and contracts. The incumbent will be responsible for drafting policies, statutes, and legislation. The Attorney Advisor will review and evaluate existing statutes and regulations to determine the need for new regulations or amendments or new administrative and enforcement procedures; and will recommend changes and draft new legislation and amendments of the same as needed.

Additionally, the incumbent will represent the agency in administrative hearings before the Office of Employee Appeals, the Office of Human Rights, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and will prepare necessary documentation to support cases. The Attorney Advisor will train and prepare all departmental staff for trial. The incumbent may need to respond to DC Freedom of Information Act requests or provide legal sufficiency for these responses. The incumbent may need to advise on contracts and grants.

Qualifications and Experience

The incumbent must possess a LLB or Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an American Bar Association accredited law school and have at least two years, five (5) years is preferred, of post J.D. legal experience, including one (1) year of experience at or equivalent to the LS-12 grade level in the District of Columbia government.

The Attorney Advisor will work independently on a wide variety of projects, will need to juggle deadlines and shifting priorities, and will be required to respond timely to multiple types of requests. Some litigation experience is necessary. Experience drafting legislation for the District of Columbia and with contracting and grants for the District of Columbia preferred.

Licenses and Certifications

The incumbent must be a member in good standing of the District of Columbia Bar or must be a member in good standing of another United States jurisdiction, file a timely application for admission, and be admitted into the District of Columbia Bar within 365 days of the appointee’s initial employment as an attorney by the District government.

Working Conditions/Environment

Work is normally performed in an office environment. Occasionally, the incumbent may be required to visit various locations within the District of Columbia.

Other Significant Factors

Tour of Duty: Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm

Pay Plan, Series, Grade: LS-0905-13

Promotion Potential: No known promotion potential.

Type of Appointment: Legal Service (LS) - Term Appointment, Not-to-Exceed (NTE) 13-months.

Collective Bargaining Unit (Union): This position is not covered under a collective bargaining agreement because this position will be required to represent the agency in employment matters.

Position Suitability: In accordance with Chapter 4 of the D.C. personnel regulations, Suitability, this position has been deemed security-sensitive. Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background checks, consumer credit check, traffic record checks, and drug screenings, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of your tenure.

Position Designation: This position has been designated as an emergency employee position under the provisions of District Personnel Manual, Chapter 12. As such, your services may be required in emergency situations to perform crucial duties. These duties may be performed when the government is closed or when most employees are dismissed early.

Residency Preference: Applicants claiming “Residency Preference” will be required to maintain residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of seven (7) years. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of employment.

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.