The Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) is looking for highly motivated attorneys with strong legal writing skills and diverse backgrounds to join its ranks. The DAB offers a range of employment opportunities for attorneys at all stages of their legal careers. Current career opportunities are listed below. To learn more about career opportunities at the DAB, you may also contact our recruitment team at [email protected].
Current Openings:
- Attorney Advisor (3-year term/100% Remote) — Multiple positions, open until filled
Attorney Advisor (3-year term/100% Remote) — Multiple Positions
The Departmental Appeals Board at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is currently seeking applications for attorney advisors in the Medicare Operations Division. The positions are three-year term appointments and will be 100% telework.
WHO MAY APPLY: This announcement is open to all US Citizens and may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
DUTY STATION: Nationwide (100% telework)
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Term — NTE 3 years (for additional information on term appointments, see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/)
GRADE: Positions at the following grade levels may be filled through this announcement:
- GS-905-09/11/12/13 Career Ladder* Attorney Advisor
*A career ladder position means the employee is eligible for a promotion to the next higher grade level, up to the full performance level of their position, after certain time-in-grade and performance requirements have been met. For example, if an employee is hired at the GS-9 level, the employee may be eligible for promotion to GS-11 after 52-weeks of performance at the "Fully Successful" level, and so on, up to GS-13.
TELEWORK ELIGIBLE: Yes, the position is 100% remote
OPEN PERIOD: Announcement will remain open until all positions have been filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
JOB SUMMARY: The Departmental Appeals Board (DAB), a staff division within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is seeking attorney advisors with varying degrees of experience to join our Medicare Operations Division (MOD).
The DAB provides impartial, independent hearings and appellate reviews, and issues final agency decisions under more than 60 statutory provisions governing HHS programs. The DAB also provides alternative dispute resolution and mediation services for DAB cases and the HHS workplace. DAB's mission is to provide fast, low-cost, high-quality adjudication and other conflict resolution services in administrative disputes involving HHS, and to maintain efficient and responsive business practices. Cases typically involve outside parties who disagree with a determination made by an HHS agency or its contractor.
MOD staff support the Administrative Appeals Judges on the Medicare Appeals Council (Council). The Council serves as the final level of agency review for individual claims of entitlement to Medicare and for Medicare coverage and payment. The Council conducts de novo review of decisions issued by Administrative Law Judges in the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA).
DUTIES:
Duties may include:
- Provide authoritative legal advice on substantive and procedural issues to Administrative Appeals Judges on the Medicare Appeals Council.
- Prepare drafts of decisions, orders or memoranda relating to requests for Medicare coverage and payment, Medicare Secondary Payer cases, and entitlement and income-related monthly adjustment amount cases.
- Provide assistance to lower level attorneys in particular types of cases, as assigned.
- Complete other assignments and special projects, as assigned.
TRAVEL REQUIRED: Not required
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed on this announcement. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
All applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications:
Education: Must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). (Must provide transcripts prior to selection)
Bar Membership: Must possess a current active bar membership in good standing. Admission to the bar of any State, territory, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, or Federal Court is acceptable. (Must provide a copy of active bar membership prior to selection)
Applicants with a law degree who have not passed the bar may be hired as a Law Clerk and converted to the General Attorney 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.
Starting grade will be determined based on the selectee's professional experience, as well as available positions and budget.
Additional experience may be required depending on starting grade level*:
- At the GS-9: No or minimal professional legal experience post bar admission. You must meet the minimum qualifications as stated above.
- At the GS-11: You must possess one year of experience after law school as a practicing attorney. Pre-bar admission judicial clerkship experience may be considered.
- At the GS-12: You must possess at least two years of professional legal experience post bar admission, with at least one year of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-11 level.
- At the GS-13: You must possess at least three years of professional legal experience post bar admission, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level. *Preference will be given to candidates who possess four years of professional legal experience post bar admission and relevant work experience.
*The above requirements are minimum qualifications for each grade level, and are provided for reference only. Actual salary and grade level may vary based on relevant work experience and assignment, as well as administrative need and available budget.
Prior clerkship, litigation, and/or substantive legal writing experience preferred.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Must be willing to accept a TERM position and serve a 1-year trial period.
- To be eligible for 100% telework, the incumbent must agree to the terms and conditions of the agency's Telework Agreement. The incumbent must maintain a safe and secure work area, adequate for the performance of official duties, and must maintain reliable and secure internet access. Salary will be adjusted based on the locality pay of the duty station for which you are located.
- Registered or exempt from Selective Service (www.sss.gov)
- 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.
- A "Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with specific ending date.
- 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.
- All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
- Financial disclosure statement may be required.
- Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses may be paid: No
- Bargaining Unit Position: Yes
- Drug Screening Required: No
- Recruitment incentives may be authorized: No
- Student loan repayment incentive may be authorized: No
- Annual leave for non-federal service may be authorized: No
- Telework Eligible: Yes (100% telework)
- Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service.
- This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service.
INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY:
Please submit the following documents by email at [email protected]:
- Cover letter (Optional)
- Resume
- One legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages).
- For current or former federal employees, please include a copy of your most recent SF-50.
