Summary This position is in the Office of the Chief Counsel (OCC) within the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA), The Senior Special Counsel is primarily responsible for advising the Chief Counsel and the Deputy Chief Counsel of OCA on complex legal matters. Responsibilities At the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), we are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) and value a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the communities we serve. As such, we welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds who share our commitment to public service. Typical Duties: Serves as an expert legal adviser and consultant for the programs of the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA). Renders interpretative advice and opinions on legal and policy aspects of a broad spectrum of matters which come before OCA, including interpretation and analysis of existing and proposed rules, regulations, and policies of the Commission and other government entities and private organizations, including Self-Regulatory Organizations and third party independent standard-setters, as applicable to the work of OCA. Assists in analyzing and commenting on SEC Enforcement recommendations and ongoing legal support for any contested matter in terms of briefing and filing support for Division of Enforcement trial attorneys. Prepares and presents briefings to various parties on legal issues, including to Commissioners' Counsels and Commissioners when they have questions regarding OCA views on legal theories. Performs extraordinary legal research, prepares high-quality legal memoranda and engages in a high order of creative interpretation and reasoning in order to formulate advice and recommend legal courses of action that fulfill the SEC's mission and contributes to SEC compliance with existing laws and regulations. Provides legal expertise related to the operations of OCA in its enforcement liaison function to help support the work of the SEC's Division of Enforcement in matters pertaining to accounting, auditing and controls Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. 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. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following J.D. or LL.B. degree --AND-- Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Note: proof of bar membership will be required before entry on duty. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement. SK-16: One year of experience at the SK/GS 14 level, four (4) year(s) of post J.D. work experience and three (3) year(s) of which specilaized which includes: Interpreting and applying the provisions of the laws, rules, and regulations that govern the securities industry, in particular, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; AND Providing guidance and expertise in the evaluation of legal and policy issues; AND Addressing securities law issues that often lack clearly applicable precedents due to the novelty of the issues; AND Developing and justifying recommendations or conclusions related to the Federal securities laws. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional Information SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade; however, a selectee's initial pay is always set below the maximum rate of the range. Please click here for additional information. Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, please visit http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/ IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be minimally qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP eligibles will be considered minimally qualified if they meet the minimum requirements for this position. Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the SEC application process due to a medical disability, please contact reasonableaccommodation@sec.gov. For religious-based accommodations, please contact religiousaccommodation@sec.gov . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. Click here for additional information. The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by contacting the Legal and Policy Office in the Office of Human Resources at ElliottT@sec.gov.