General Attorney

JobSummary

This position is located within the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), Headquarters, Office of General Counsel and reports directly to the General Counsel. THIS IS A TERM APPOINTMENT, NOT TO EXCEED 13 MONTHS WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL CLOSE AFTER 50 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

LowGrade

14

HighGrade

14

PromotionPotential

None

SubAgencyName

Office of General Counsel

OrganizationCodes

OT/FM00

Relocation

False

HiringPath

• public

MCOTags

TotalOpenings

6

AgencyMarketingStatement

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is a small, independent federal agency that plays a crucial role in sustaining the American economy by preventing, minimizing, and resolving work stoppages and labor disputes. These efforts help avoid costly disruptions in production, services, and supply chains, ensuring economic stability and growth. FMCS is neither a regulatory nor enforcement agency, but accomplishes this mission by offering mediation and facilitation services to employers and unions nationwide, fostering collaborative labor-management relationships. Additionally, FMCS enhances government efficiency by providing mediation, facilitation, and other alternative dispute resolution services to federal agencies, allowing them to operate more effectively and better serve the American people.

TravelCode

2

ApplyOnlineUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/Apply

DetailStatusUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/ApplicationStatus

MajorDuties

• Leads and independently manages research, formulation, and drafting of federal rulemakings in collaboration with OPM's Office of Workforce Policy & Innovation (WPI) and Office of General Counsel (OGC). Independently reviews proposed and final rules for legal sufficiency and consistency with governing statutes, Executive Orders, and court decisions; advise senior agency officials on necessary revisions. Leads coordination with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the regulatory review process, serving as principal point of contact on significant rulemakings. Directs the development of policies, precedent-setting decisions, and directives; exercise independent judgment in identifying emerging legal and policy issues requiring regulatory attention. Leads legal research on highly complex questions involving Federal personnel law, labor-management relations law, administrative law, and related statutory and regulatory frameworks, often in areas where legal guidance is limited or evolving. Prepares authoritative legal memoranda, analytical papers, and executive-level briefing materials for the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and agency leadership. Serves as the primary liaison between FMCS and representatives of other agencies such as the Department of Justice and the National Labor Relations Board with respect to matters of common concern; independently negotiates and coordinates on matters affecting FMCS programs. Provides legal advice to the Director and senior agency officials on the most sensitive and complex employment law, ethics, and administrative law matters affecting the agency.

Education

Must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or LLM degree, and be currently licensed as an attorney, in active (or equivalent) status and in good standing, with the bar of a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth.

Requirements

Evaluations

Selection(s) will be based on the judgment of the selecting official as to which applicant is best qualified to perform the duties of the position. Once this announcement closes, candidates will be evaluated based on the application package submitted. An oral interview may be conducted with some, none, or all candidates, depending upon the relative qualifications of the applicants.

HowToApply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is entered, uploaded (i.e. resume) and submitted prior to the closing date. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59PM (EDT) pm on 05/04/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account https://www.usajobs.gov/. 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 saved application at a later date, 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. Note: To update a previously Saved or Incomplete application follow these instructions: Log into your USAJobs account Click on "Application Status" button on the left-hand side of the page Click on the "Title" of the job you have applied to; it will take you back to the original page of that job announcement Click on the "Update Application" button in the box on the right-hand side of the announcement; this will take you back to the last page of your application where you uploaded your previous documents Refer to the "Please Note" statement at the top of the page and follow the instructions to update your application

WhatToExpectNext

You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Track Your Online Application."By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be terminated after you begin work, or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. You will be required to submit official documentation before appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., Professional Certification, Resume, Transcript, and Writing Sample.). Top ranked applicants will be referred to the hiring office for further review and consideration. The hiring office may directly contact recommended candidates for interview(s). When the selection is made, applicants will be sent a referral status notification and a final disposition notification.

RequiredDocuments

Required documents to be submitted online: Resume clearly stating your experience related to this position as described in the Duties and Qualifications sections--include specific dates (MM/DD/YY - MM/DD/YY) so we can determine that you have the required amount of experience (if applicable). Your experience description needs to be clear/specific (we may not make assumptions regarding your experience). Resume must not exceed 2 pages. If you do not submit a resume that is 2 pages or less, you will be ineligible for further consideration. Transcript: Official transcripts must contain the applicant's name, the name of the school, the degree awarded, date conferred, and all required courses as required by the position. Bar Membership: Proof you are licensed and a member in good standing with the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Proof is a "certificate of good standing" issued by your state of licensure within 6 months of the date of application or a screenshot of your bar status taken from your state of licensure website dated within 6 months. If there is no date on the screen shot, you must provide a statement signed by you on the date that the screen shot was created. Writing Sample: Legal briefs, memorandum, and/or letters. Regardless of the number of writing samples submitted, the page count of all writing samples combined cannot exceed 10 pages in length. Extracts of selected sections of larger documents are acceptable. Notification(s) of Personnel Action (SF-50) that includes Position Title, Grade or Level, and Duty Station. NOTE: Eligibility is based on your current position of record (if you are on a temporary promotion, the temporary promotion position is your position of record) (if applicable). Most recent completed annual performance appraisal dated within the last 18 months (if it is not dated within the last 18 months or you have not received a performance appraisal, you must upload a signed/dated explanation why). Your submitted performance appraisal must show the overall rating and manager/supervisor's signature that certifies the rating at the time it was given. If your performance appraisal was conducted virtually, a supervisory email certifying your end-of-year review/rating was completed and date it occurred is acceptable documentation in lieu of the supervisor's signature on the performance appraisal document; the overall rating must also be provided on either the email or performance appraisal document (if applicable). Veterans' Preference: Attorney positions with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) are in the excepted services, therefore, there is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to mediator appointments. FMCS, however, considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in the hiring process. If you are eligible for veterans' preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with supporting documentation, e.g., SF15, DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation. (if applicable).

Benefits

OtherInformation

Salary- The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum locality pay up to maximum locality pay for Washington, DC. Direct Deposit - Selectee is required to participate in the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service direct deposit of pay program. Security Background - A Public Trust background is a requirement for this position. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal. If you possess a security clearance, please indicate the level and termination date in your resume. The successful candidate will undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with FMCS. The successful candidate will also be enrolled in FBI's Rap Back program, which will allow FMCS to receive notification from the FBI of criminal activities (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time.

KeyRequirements

WithinArea

False

CommuteDistance

0

ServiceType

02

AnnouncementClosingType

03

AnnouncementClosingTypeOption

50

AgencyContactEmail

FMCSHR2@fmcs.gov

AgencyContactPhone

(202) 606-5494

SecurityClearance

Not Required

DrugTestRequired

False

PositionSensitivitiy

High Risk (HR)

AdjudicationType

• Suitability/Fitness