• Office of the General Counsel (OGC)
• Types of Positions Available at OGC
• Summer Law Clerks
• Recent Law School Graduates
• Experienced Attorneys
• How to Apply for a Job at OGC
• OGC Employment Contacts

Office of the General Counsel

The OGC offers a singular opportunity to work with and help shape a complex statute vital to the financial security of millions of Americans. The Office oversees all of the litigation of the PBGC, most of it in the federal courts. Unlike most federal agencies, the PBGC has independent litigating authority, and an attorney here can expect to retain responsibility for a case in litigation.

The Office's litigation program involves a number of novel and complex legal issues. Large sums of money, ranging up to several hundred million dollars, are at stake in many of the cases. Because of the financial ramifications, as well as the importance of the issues, the parties in litigation with the PBGC are often represented by the top law firms in the nation.

With a staff of approximately 80 attorneys, the Office of the General Counsel expects practice for everyone to be diverse, ranging over bankruptcy, pensions, labor law, procurement and tax -- all in the context of substantial federal court litigation. In addition, the Office is involved in providing a wide range of legal advice and assistance to the PBGC's program and operating officials, and plays a significant role in ongoing legislative proposals and regulations relating to ERISA.

Types of Positions Available at OGC

Office of the General Counsel hires at three levels:

• Summer law clerks
• Recent law school graduates
• Experienced attorneys

Summer Law Clerks

Summer law clerks (second-year law students) are hired under the General Counsel's Program for Honor Law Graduates (Honor's Program). During the summer of 2003, law school students will be compensated at the GS-9 level (currently about $19.00 per hour).

Interested applicants should initially submit a resume, law school transcript, and a writing sample by October 31, 2002 (earlier is recommended). The writing sample can be a brief, pleading or other paper, exclusively your own work, which reveals your abilities in analysis and presentation of complex material and is at least 10 pages in length. The sample should include a statement of any facts necessary to enable the reader to understand the legal analysis; moot court briefs that include such a statement are suitable for this purpose. Law review or published articles are not acceptable.

Recent Law School Graduates

Recent law school graduates are hired under the Honor's Program. Law school students who graduate in the Spring of 2003 will be eligible to be hired at the GS-11, Step 10 salary (currently about $61,000 per year) provided they satisfy two or more of the criteria listed below:

• Top one-third of their graduating law school class;
• Outstanding undergraduate record (e.g., graduation with honors, election to an academic honor society);
• Graduate degree in an area relevant to pension issues;
• Judicial clerkship;
• Law review membership;
• Participation in clinical programs, advanced moot court, etc.;
• Professional work in corporate bankruptcy;
• Significant legal work while attending law school; or
• Legal experience involving pension law.

Students in their final year of law school should apply by October 31 of the year prior to their law school graduation (earlier is recommended) to ensure full consideration. They should initially submit:

• A resume;
• Undergraduate and law school transcripts; and
• A writing sample.

The writing sample can be a brief, pleading or other paper, exclusively your own work, which reveals your abilities in analysis and presentation of complex material and is at least 10 pages in length. The sample should include a statement of any facts necessary to enable the reader to understand the legal analysis; moot court briefs that include such a statement are suitable for this purpose. Law review and published articles are not acceptable.

Honors Program attorneys generally come on board sometime in late August through the end of September following their law school graduation. All recent graduates hired under the Honors Program must satisfy all requirements for admission to the bar of a state or territory within 14 months of entry on duty.

Experienced Attorneys

OGC occasionally has openings for experienced attorneys with specializations in ERISA, bankruptcy, administrative law, procurement or labor-management relations in the federal sector.

We generally publish announcements in major law publications when we seek to fill vacancies, which are usually filled at the GS-12 to GS-14 range (approximately $56,000 - $102,000) depending upon the experience and qualifications of the applicants. The announcements will list the documents needed for an application.

The journeyman grade for attorneys is a GS-14. The normal career ladder progression will be one year for a promotion from GS-11 to GS-12; 12 to18 months for a promotion to GS-13; and 18 months to two years for a promotion to GS-14. In order to progress up the career ladder, the employee must have:

• Demonstrated his/her ability to perform at the next higher grade level;
• Received a fully successful or higher rating on his/her most recent performance appraisal; and
• Satisfied the one-year, time-in-grade requirement.

Appointments of non-U.S. citizens to attorney and law clerk positions are infrequent. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor. If you are entitled to Veterans' Preference, please include a copy of form DD-214.

How to Apply for an OGC Position

To be considered for an appointment as an attorney/law clerk/summer legal intern with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, please submit these four documents:

1. Resume;

2. A writing sample — A brief, pleading or other paper at least 10 pages in length, exclusively your own work, which reveals your abilities in analysis and presentation of complex material (submit only one writing sample). Law review and/or published articles are NOT acceptable;

3. Law school and undergraduate transcripts (unofficial will suffice). If you have been out of law school for over three years, transcripts are not required; and

4. Privacy Act Notice and Certification — Please read and sign the Certification of Accurate Statements and Consent to Release Information.

All applications and attachments become property of PBGC and will not be returned. (Additional information may be requested at a later date.)

OGC Employment Contacts

Questions concerning application for employment should be directed to Ms. Marjorie Bloom, Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K St., N.W., Suite 340, Washington, D.C. 20005-4026, telephone: 202-326-4020, ext. 3050; email: bloom.marjorie@pbgc.gov.