Student Internship: Law Clerk Intern (Paid) in Office of Inspector General, Department of Interior (Deadline: Sept. 11, 2013)

Job Title:Law Clerk Intern (Trainee)

Department:Department Of The Interior

Agency:Office of the Inspector General

Job Announcement Number:OIG-952219-13-33-CA

SALARY RANGE:	$20.22 to $26.29 / Per Hour
OPEN PERIOD:	Friday, August 30, 2013 to Wednesday, September 11, 2013
SERIES & GRADE:	GS-0999-07
POSITION INFORMATION:	Part Time 20 hours - Internships NTE 09/30/2014
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 09
DUTY LOCATIONS:	1 vacancy in the following location: Washington DC Metro Area, DC United States
WHO MAY APPLY:	Student/Internship Program Eligibles

JOB SUMMARY:

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent office within the Department of Interior (DOI) whose mission is to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability throughout DOI. The OIG conducts investigations, evaluations, and audits in order to enhance effectiveness and efficiency and to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and mismanagement in DOI programs and operations.

This position is located in the Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC).   The General Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice and services to the Inspector General with respect to: (1) audits, evaluations, inspections and investigations of the DOI's programs, operations and employee conduct; (2) the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act (PA); (3) investigation of employee complaints; (4) reports to Congress; and (5) the government ethics program. 

The incumbent serves as a Pathways Law Clerk Intern within the OIG, OGC, under the supervision of the General Counsel. The incumbent will work on legal issues of moderate complexity where established or easily determinable facts and clearly applicable precedents are involved.

KEY REQUIREMENTS



• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service
• Subject to initial and random drug testing
• Relocation expenses are not authorized
• Must be taking (at least) a half-time course load, as defined by the school
• Currently hold at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

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DUTIES:

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The Law Clerk (Trainee) performs a variety of duties such as: researching legal issues; drafting letters, memoranda, and legal documents for review and approval by a senior OGC attorney.   The incumbent personally conducts research on applicable laws, regulations, policies, case law, criminal proceedings and civil matters. Based on the specific facts and relevant legal research, the incumbent prepares memoranda or reports outlining the facts and legal issues involved, explaining the application of legal principles and precedents, and justifies recommendations or conclusions.

The incumbent researches, compiles, and presents facts and evidence in support of memoranda and recommendations for administrative and judicial hearings and/or trials. Incumbent reviews and processes Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by determining whether the OIG has responsive records and conducting legal analysis to determine what should be disclosed. Incumbent resolves conflicts between apparently conflicting case law and determines whether courts have ruled on particular matters or existing decisions have been changed, modified, overruled, or reversed.

Incumbent reviews relevant legislation, proposed and current policies, procedures, regulations, policy manuals, and other DOI and OIG guidance for comments or citations; incumbent studies federal statutes, court decisions, Comptroller General opinions, and legal publications to keep abreast of trends and changes in policies, procedures and precedence relating to acquisitions and financial assistance awards.

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QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

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Minimum Qualifications: One year of experience in the same or similar work equivalent to at least the GS-5 level requiring application of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position being filled. Candidates for this position must clearly demonstrate in their resume that they possess specialized experience which includes assisting in interpreting principles, concepts, and methods of legal research and analysis; interviewing potential witnesses and/or other clients; and preparing legal papers and conducting summaries of legal analysis. OR

Education: Law students who have completed at least one full semester of legal study by the application deadline are eligible to apply. Part-time law students are also eligible to apply OR applicants who meet eligibility requirements under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision after completing a bachelor's degree. OR

Combination of Education and Experience: If you have some, but not all, of the experience or education described above, you may still qualify by combining the amount of creditable experience and education that you possess. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education in excess of 18 hours (total semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify.

The candidate must also possess the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of the principles and methods of legal research, analysis, and reference sources such as federal statues, public laws, case law, Federal Rules of Civil Procedures, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, sufficient to locate appropriate precedence and applicable procedures, legislative history and commentaries, which bear on particular legal issues.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing to prepare summaries of analyses or graphics to support legal or factual arguments.
• Ability to research, compile and present facts in support of memoranda and recommendations.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Strong organizational skills are necessary to maintain a resource library.
• Knowledge of legal procedures and/or familiarity with the Freedom of Information Act.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Category Rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. Candidates will be placed into one of the following three categories:

• Best Qualified: Highly proficient with an overall comprehensive level of knowledge, skills, and abilities of the job based on a complete review of experience, education, and training as described in the qualification section of this vacancy announcement.
• Well Qualified: Competent in the position with an overall accomplished level of knowledge, skills, and abilities of the job based on a complete review of experience, education, and training as described in the qualification section of this vacancy announcement.
• Qualified: Overall basic level of knowledge, skills, and abilities of the job based on a complete review of experience, education, and training as described in the qualification section of this vacancy announcement.

Your responses to the self-assessment questionnaire will be validated against your resume to determine if you meet the qualification requirements for this position. NOTE: If a determination is made that qualifications and/or experience have been inflated, your score will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities.

Application of Veteran's Preference: The Category Rating method does not add veteran's preference points or apply the rule of three but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible who do not have a service-connected disability 10 percent or more will be assigned to the appropriate quality category based upon the job-related assessment and will be listed ahead of non-preference eligible within the appropriate quality category. Preference eligible who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the minimum qualifications requirements will be listed in the highest quality category.

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BENEFITS:

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The Department of the Interior offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance; health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement system. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees. http://www.opm.gov/Insure/health/enrollment/new_employees.asp

OTHER INFORMATION:

• Selected applicants must undergo and successfully obtain and maintain a background investigation for a Secret clearance. Failure to maintain a clearance is grounds for removal.
• You must meet initial and periodic suitability determinations based on favorable background investigations and updates.
• Failure to maintain a favorable suitability determination is grounds for removal.
• Selected applicants are subject to initial and random drug testing. Failure to pass a drug test is grounds for removal.
• Selectees must complete a one year probationary or trial period unless already completed or exempted by special authority.

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HOW TO APPLY:

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To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 to receive consideration.To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.

It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

• To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
• To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. NOTE: If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible. If you completed the occupational questionnaire online and are unable to upload supporting document(s):  To fax your documents, you must use the following cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdfand provide the required information. The Vacancy ID is 952219 Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.

If you cannot complete the Application Package online, you may fax all of your materials. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 to receive consideration. Keep a copy of your fax confirmation in the event verification is needed. To complete the occupational questionnaire and submit via fax:
1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire.
2. Print the 1203FX form, follow the instructions and provide your responses to the occupational questionnaire items http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/opm1203fx.pdf.
3. Fax all six pages of the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to 1-478-757-3144. Your 1203FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Resume - Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612), or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications.

Transcript (Required) - Official or unofficial college/university transcripts will be accepted. NOTE: An official transcript will be required prior to entrance on duty.

Veterans Preference documentation (if applicable) - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214-Member 4 copy), if applicable Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (SF-15) and an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying to the veteran's present receipt of compensation.

Other Documentation - supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment (e.g. severely disabled, eligible veterans, etc.).

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Catherine A. Stephens
Phone: (703)487-5382
Fax: (703)487-5208
Email: CATHERINE_STEPHENS@DOIOIG.GOV

Agency Information:
Interior Office of Insp General
Department of the Interior
Office of Inspector General
12030 Sunrise Valley Drive Suite 350
Reston, VA
20191
USA
Fax: (703)487-5208

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the closing date of the announcement, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be notified of your rating and/or referral of your resume to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. You will be informed of the outcome via e-mail. We expect to make a selection within 45 to 60 days of the closing date of the vacancy announcement.