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The Attorney Honors Program (AHP) is the FCC’s primary vehicle for hiring entry-level attorneys. AHP participants serve in a two-year employment and training program designed to introduce them to the field of communications law and policy. The FCC encourages law students in their final year of study and current judicial clerks with superior academic credentials and an interest in public service and communications law to apply. Visit www.fcc.gov/attorneyhonorsprogram for details.
Learn more about this agency10/06/2022 to 11/30/2022
$74,950 - $97,430 per year
GS 11
Many vacancies in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Not required
No
Term - Excepted Term Appointment Not to Exceed 2 years. Failure to pass the Bar exam within 14 months of appointment will result in termination of the appointment.
Full-time - Full-time - This is a full-time position. Work schedules, including telework, are at the discretion of the supervisor, consistent with agency policy and reentry planning.
Excepted
11 - Position is at the full performance level
No
No
HonorsAtty-OGC-2022-001
681677300
Honors Attorneys gain valuable experience and benefit from a wide variety of learning experiences. Attorneys at the FCC draft decisions in adjudicatory and rulemaking matters, work with internal and external constituencies to resolve complex policy issues before the agency, participate in international negotiations, represent the FCC in dealings with other government agencies, Congress and the private sector, and defend FCC decisions in the federal courts. Additionally, Honors Attorneys benefit from a specialized training and career-development curriculum designed specifically for the program. Typically, Honors Attorneys:
General Eligibility Requirements. You are eligible to apply during the fall application window for the 2023 Attorney Honors Program if you are a:
Before making a selection, the FCC reviews many facets of a candidate's background as outlined below. Graduating law students and current judicial clerks with strong qualifications are encouraged to apply. (Current judicial clerks should apply to the companion vacancy announcement "HonorsAtty-OGC-2021-002".)
Current federal employees must meet one year of time in grade requirements.
A. Educational Requirements
Candidates must either (a) be enrolled in an accredited degree-seeking program in pursuit of a J.D., LL.M. or other graduate law degree and be scheduled to complete their course of study by the summer of 2023; or (b) have successfully completed their J.D., LL.M. or other graduate law program and be currently serving as a judicial clerk. (See “General Eligibility Requirements” for additional criteria).
Transcripts must be submitted to verify education. If transcripts (official or unofficial) are not submitted, candidates will not be deemed eligible for this position. If you are unsure if your school is accredited, please use the following link to verify: Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
NOTE: Candidates must have successfully completed their J.D. or LL.M. program by the summer of 2023 in order to be eligible for appointment as an Honors Attorney at the FCC.
B. Qualifying Experience
Examples of qualifying experience include but are not limited to: academic achievement, writing skills, law review and/or moot court experience, clinic or extracurricular activities, and interest in government service and/or the communications industry.
See "Educational Requirements" above.
EEO Policy StatementReasonable Accommodation Policy StatementVeterans InformationLegal and Regulatory Guidance
If you are not a U.S. Citizen, you may be eligible for federal employment and may apply for the Honors Program if you fall into one of the following categories of individuals:
(Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-260, Div. E, Title VII, § 704, December 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1182.)
In addition to meeting one of the criteria listed above, you are still subject to the requirements of immigration law. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to being hired. If you are selected as an FCC Honors Attorney, you must also successfully complete a background investigation.
For more information about citizenship requirements for federal employment, please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/. If you have additional questions about the eligibility of non-U.S. citizens for the FCC Attorney Honors Program, please contact Dionne Butler in the FCC Office of Human Resources at Dionne.Butler@fcc.gov or at (202) 418-0141.
Other:
- Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.
- If applicable, you will be required to serve a trial period of one year.
- In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
All candidates will be considered without regard to political or religious affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other non-merit factor. THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
All applicants will be evaluated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position.
Each of the following documents should be submitted as a separate PDF file, with your last name as part of the file name.
1. Cover letter
2. Resume (We strongly prefer that you upload a standard professional resume rather than use the resume-builder.)
3. Transcripts (official or unofficial)
4. Writing sample (preferably not more than 15 pages)
5. List of three professional references
Applicants will be deemed ineligible if they do not provide any one of the documents outlined above.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
For the Fall 2023 Honors Program, applicants should apply online using the Commission’s automated recruitment system. You must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If applying online poses a hardship, please contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time) prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
For more information on applying for federal jobs, please check this webpage https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Main_Page.
Selected applicants may be invited for interviews. The FCC reviews applications as quickly as possible. Our typical review and selection process involves both interviews and reference checks.
All positions for the Attorney Honors Program are located at the FCC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Honors Attorneys are placed in one of the agency's operating bureaus. Specific placements within the agency will be based on the participant’s interests and experience and the needs of the FCC. Honors Attorneys may have the opportunity to rotate to a new placement within the agency after their first year. Participants who enter the fall 2023 class will be expected to begin their employment with the agency by September 2023.
All appointed candidates are required to pass the Bar exam within 14 months of their appointment. At the end of the two-year program, Honors Program attorneys will be eligible for consideration for continued employment at the FCC.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/681677300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The FCC is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions. Attorneys at the FCC work on cutting-edge legal and policy issues in the communications and technology arenas. They advance access to communications that are essential for all Americans, including Americans with disabilities, to work remotely, learn remotely, receive healthcare, and engage in commerce; pave the way for a 5G future and advance rural broadband; protect the rights of consumers; review major mergers and acquisitions; and promote public safety.
