General Attorney (Employment Law)

Looking for the next step in your legal career? Join us at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)—America's Innovation Agency! The USPTO Office of the General Counsel, Office of General Law (OGL) is seeking an experienced attorney to provide expert legal advice on employment and investigations matters. The selected attorney will represent the USPTO in administrative litigation before the MSPB and the EEOC and will provide advice and legal opinions on personnel matters including disciplinary and performance actions, reasonable accommodations, and harassment.DutiesThe individual selected for this position will…Support OGL's employment law and investigations function by serving as the agency's representative in litigation before various administrative tribunals, including the EEOC, MSPB, and arbitrators. This duty includes investigating legal claims, engaging in discovery practice (including both written discovery and the taking of depositions), drafting dispositive motions and/or briefs, negotiating with opposing counsel, and participating in adversarial hearings. This duty also includes assisting the United States Attorney when litigations are filed in federal courts.Provide expert advice to all levels of management and fellow support organizations regarding proposed disciplinary and performance actions, compliance with anti-discrimination laws, merit systems principles, reasonable accommodations, employee compensation, and leave.Investigate allegations of unlawful harassment as well as potential fraud, waste, and abuse referred by the Department of Commerce's Office of the Inspector General.Thoughtfully analyze proposed and existing USPTO policies and procedures concerning personnel and compliance matters.Possess top-notch oral and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and a commitment improvement.Demonstrate initiative and creativity; the ability to set, manage, and balance evolving and challenging projects and priorities; and outstanding legal research skills.Be a flexible teammate, willing to support OGL's other general law functions as needed by providing legal advice and litigation services in other disciplines>> APPLY on USAJOBS by 4/8/2026>> LEARN MORE about the USPTO's comprehensive benefitsQualificationsQualified applicants should possess both specialized experience and professional legal/law experience as listed below:Specialized experience for this position includes:Experience advising clients and/or representing clients in litigation, drafting memoranda of fact and law, motions, pleadings, litigation reports and other legal documents, and/or reviewing policies, procedures and actions for legal sufficiency.In addition to the required specialized experience, applicants must possess four (4) years of professional law/legal experience, post J.D. as described on the USAJOBS announcement.Conditions of employmentApplications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals and your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies. If selected, you will be required to pass a background investigation.The full list of conditions and qualifications can be found on the USAJOBS posting.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 sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.