Staff Attorney

To ensure that vaccine claimants have readily available a competent bar to prosecute their claims, Congress provided for the award of attorney's fees and costs. The Vaccine Act provides for an award of fees in most cases, regardless of whether the petitioner prevails. Thus, the candidate must have expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and court procedures, in addition to superb skill in legal research, analysis, computations and mathematical calculations, and writing. The candidate will also review legal documents, specifically attorneys' applications for fees and costs submitted to OSM for completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness. The candidate must have skill in analyzing legal concepts and issues and skill in legal reasoning and critical thinking. The candidate must have the ability to manage time effectively, set priorities, meet tight deadlines, and work independently with limited guidance and direction regarding the following duties: Work closely with the Chief Special Master in managing the OSM attorney's fees and costs case docket: reviewing attorney fee and cost applications in order to prepare and draft decisions either awarding or denying fees, where appropriate; communicating with counsel to provide information on Vaccine Act fees request compliance; assisting with drafting necessary orders; drafting decisions, scheduling orders and other documents as required; conducting status conferences (as necessary) with the parties to review fee applications with compliance with Rules and Guidelines; performing legal research, analysis and draft decisions and scheduling orders and other documents for the Chief Special Master and other Special Masters; serving on OSM committees and ad hoc tasks forces as directed by the Chief Special Master; providing staff support for court events, including the Court's Annual Judicial Conference and Law Day Observance; and performing other duties as assigned.