Summary These positions are responsible for performing a variety of legal and technical assistance activities regarding legislation and its legal impact on intellectual property matters, agency policy, strategic planning, international treaty obligations and free trade agreements, and development and improvement of foreign intellectual property enforcement regimes pertaining to IP protection and enforcement. Responsibilities The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. This position is telework eligible per agency and business unit discretion/policy. Telework: This position is eligible for telework up to 04 days per week and reports to USPTO's Alexandria, VA headquarters for the remaining day(s) in the week. If selected for an interview, applicants are encouraged to discuss telework options and eligibility specific to the position in which they applied with the hiring manager. This position is located in the Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA), Enforcement Team. As an Enforcement Attorney, the incumbent will: Assist the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the USPTO in advising the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, and appropriate Federal agencies on domestic and international intellectual property enforcement issues as well as U.S. treaty obligations. Render legal advice, guidance, technical assistance, and analysis involving intellectual property enforcement policy, laws and implementation on an international scale, regarding obligations in bilateral and multilateral treaties and trade agreements. Prepare briefing materials, papers, analyses, and testimony, as needed for the Under Secretary and other senior USPTO and Department of Commerce officials with respect to legislative items or policy initiatives on which the USPTO is requested to testify. Support the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Department of State and other U.S. Government agencies in international negotiations and consultations, and assist with the drafting, reviewing, and implementation of intellectual property enforcement obligations in bilateral and multilateral treaties and trade agreements. Keep senior management apprised of all action on pending legislation, regulatory developments, or policy discussions of interest to the USPTO, in areas of the incumbent's responsibility; Provide current, accurate and complete information regarding domestic and international activities pertaining to intellectual property enforcement matters generally. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has not issued qualification standards for attorney positions. However, the USPTO sets minimum qualifications for attorney positions and sets forth these qualifications in each vacancy announcement. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: GS-14 Candidates for the GS-14 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-13 grade level in the Federal service and three(3) years of professional law/legal experience, post J.D. (described below) Specialized experience for this position at the GS-14 level is defined as: Representing government entities and/or non-governmental organizations or practicing before courts on intellectual property protection and enforcement issues Interpreting, applying, evaluating, and analyzing domestic and/or international intellectual property enforcement laws, policies and principles GS-15 Candidates for the GS-15 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-14 grade level in the Federal service and four (4) years of professional law/legal experience, post J.D. (described below) Specialized experience for this position at the GS-15 level is defined as demonstrating leadership in the following areas: Representing government entities and/or non-governmental organizations or practicing before courts on intellectual property protection and enforcement issues Interpreting, applying, evaluating, and analyzing domestic and/or international intellectual property enforcement laws, policies and principles Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. This experience is characterized by breadth and depth of experience in rendering professional legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of a Federal government agency, private sector, law firm, or other organizations; preparing interpretive and administrative orders, rules, or regulations to give effect to the provisions of governing statutes or other requirements of law; drafting, negotiating, or examining contracts or other legal documents; drafting, preparing formal comments, or making substantive recommendations regarding proposed legislation; editing and preparing for publication statutes enacted by Congress and opinions or decisions of a court, commission, or board; drafting and reviewing decisions for consideration and adoption by an organization or official; conducting investigations to obtain facts; determining questions of law; and studying, analyzing and evaluating legal precedents, to present findings. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education To meet minimum eligibility requirements for this position, applicants must possess at least a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school. If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Additional Information If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. This is a Bargaining Unit position and represented by The Patent Office Professional Association (POPA) This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "Secret". Financial disclosure statement (OGE Form 450) is required for this position. For more information please visit www.OGE.gov. Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website. Trial Period - If selected, you may be required to complete a two-year trial period. Supervisory Probationary Period-If selected, you may be required to complete an initial one-year supervisory probationary period. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice. Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid. More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued. All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. USPTO Job Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the USPTO at http://www.uspto.gov/accommodation. The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity via email (oeeod@uspto.gov) or phone (571-272-8292).