Assistant Regional Counsel

Vacancy Announcement: Assistant Regional Counsel (Closes September 30, 2022)

DUTY STATION: Chicago, Illinois

 

SALARY RANGE: $73,611 – $123,978

 

The Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeks to fill one or more attorney positions in our Chicago office. We anticipate that these positions will be filled at Grades 11 through 14 (salary range from approximately $73,611 –

$123,978 annually), depending on experience and other qualifications.

 

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the federal government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. For more information about the Department’s mission, please visit the HHS website at http://www.hhs.gov. The HHS Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in Region 5 (Chicago) seeks one or more licensed attorneys committed to supporting the development and implementation of the HHS programs by providing  comprehensive  legal  services to the Secretary of HHS and the Department’s various agencies and divisions.

 

The attorneys in this office provide advice and counsel to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and to the various agencies comprising HHS, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Administration for Children and Families (Head Start, welfare, adoption assistance), the Office of Civil Rights, and the Indian Health Service, among others.  The majority of our work involves administrative and court litigation with an increasing emphasis on preventing fraud and abuse and enforcing regulatory requirements to ensure the health and safety of program beneficiaries. Over the past year, we have also provided advice and counsel on several COVID-19 related matters. Further information concerning the Office of the General Counsel can be obtained by visiting our web page at http://www.hhs.gov/ogc.

 

For this position, we especially prefer applicants who demonstrate exemplary legal writing and oral advocacy abilities, possess excellent interpersonal skills, and display a capacity to work with diverse individuals and groups. Candidates possessing strong academic credentials and having a special interest in litigation, health care law and an enforcement practice are especially encouraged to apply. A collegial office comprising approximately thirty (30) attorneys and five support staff, attorneys in the Chicago office are expected to work independently and as a team with approximately 700 OGC colleagues around the nation. Each applicant must be an accredited ABA law school graduate or a licensed attorney who is admitted to practice law in the highest court of any state, territory of the United States, or a federal court and is in good standing. Applicants with a law degree who have not passed the bar may be hired as a Law Clerk and converted to the Assistant Regional Counsel position upon passing the bar. If hired as a Law Clerk, admission to the bar must be completed within 14 months of the date of appointment to the position.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

To be considered, interested candidates should provide a cover letter of no more than 950 words that discusses each of the following competencies:

 

General Legal – Writing ability, analytical and problem-solving skills, and experience preparing legal briefs and/or memoranda.

 

Litigation – Litigation experience before Federal trial and appellate courts and/or administrative tribunals.

Laws and Regulations – Experience in applying statutes, regulations, and policies; and

 

Client Advice and Relationships – Experience providing oral and written advice and ability to relate effectively with clients.

 

Candidates also should send a resume and a writing sample of no more than 15 pages. Individuals who have graduated from law school within the last five years should also send a copy of their law school transcript.  Interested individuals should promptly submit their materials as the position will be filled as soon as an exceptional candidate is identified; however, we will make every effort to consider applications received by September 30, 2022. These materials should be emailed to RegV HiringCommittee@hhs.gov. All interviews will be conducted virtually.

 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

The candidate must maintain active bar membership in good standing and the eligibility to practice law in the highest court of a state, territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia throughout employment in the Office of the General Counsel.

Upon final job offer from HHS OHR, the successful candidate must submit an official law school transcript.

Security and Background Requirements:  If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees.  Appointment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.  Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action.  In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time.  Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.  False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.

E-Verify:  If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS “E-Verify” System.  Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.

Direct Deposit:  All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Financial disclosure statement may be required.

Two-year trial period may be required.

Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.

HHS is an equal opportunity employer.  If you have any questions, please contact Alana Epkins at 312-886-1709 or Alana.Epkins@hhhs.gov, or Janice Rosiak at 312-886-1716 or Janice.Rosiak@hhs.gov.