About this role
Job SummaryCorrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities. Our highly-skilled, diverse, and innovative workforce creates a strong foundation of safety and security. Through the principles of humanity and normalcy, we develop good neighbors.
QualificationsRequired Qualifications: Applicants must have a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction). Preferred qualifications: Prior and extensive experience in correctional law is preferred, but not required.
Major DutiesThe legal practice at the Southeast Regional Office covers a wide variety of issues focusing on correctional law, either through administrative channels or litigation in federal court. Issues include such matters as inmates' reasonable access to the courts (e.g., access to legal materials, legal correspondence, and attorney-client visits), conditions of confinement (e.g., medical care, diet and religious accommodations, housing assignments, hygiene & sanitation, and post-sentence administration (e.g., sentence computation and inmate discipline). The Southeast Regional Office covers the states of: Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina. The SERO CLC covers institutions and districts in Georgia, Alabama, and Puerto Rico. The CLC Attorney handles a wide variety of legal issues focusing on correctional law, which is a practice that relies heavily on constitutional law, tort law, and other administrative law. This practice is primarily civil in nature and involves providing extensive litigation support to the U.S. Attorney's Offices. This practice also involves providing advice and guidance to all levels of staff within the CLC, including senior leaders, and communication with defense attorneys, prosecutors, federal courts, and agency officials. The CLC Attorney will have 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 advocate for and explain the agency's rationale for its correctional management decisions. The legal issues covered include, but are not limited to inmates' access to the courts (e.g., access to counsel and legal materials, etc.), conditions of confinement (e.g., medical care, religious accommodations, etc.), post-sentencing processes (e.g., sentence computations and inmate discipline), and post-sentence administration (e.g., First Step Act eligibility determinations). The CLC Attorney will have the opportunity to work with regional and institution management and line staff with respect to policies within the purview of the Bureau of Prisons and institutions in the Southeast Region. The Practice areas related to this position are: Correctional Law, Constitutional Law, and Civil Litigation.RequirementsVeterans: 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, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later 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). Key Requirements: See Special Conditions of Employment Section. Selective Service Requirement: http://www.sss.gov U.S. Citizenship is Required.