Board of Veterans Appeals (Attorney Advisor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t all attorneys excepted service anyway?

Yes, attorneys are in the excepted service. But, they are still covered by Civil Service protections that require notice and due process prior to any adverse action. They can also challenge certain effectuated adverse actions, such as removals, by filing an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board. Under Trump's EO, countless federal employees, including BVA attorneys could be stripped by these protections and can fired without notice and due process and without any right to challenge the adverse action.

Well, luckily it looks like that executive order isn't going anywhere. Life remains the same with no job security at BVA though. If you don't make a strict quota you're fired and the union says they can't do anything for you. I wonder how that overtime/working off the clock lawsuit that they claim they filed over a year ago is going....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t all attorneys excepted service anyway?

Yes, attorneys are in the excepted service. But, they are still covered by Civil Service protections that require notice and due process prior to any adverse action. They can also challenge certain effectuated adverse actions, such as removals, by filing an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board. Under Trump's EO, countless federal employees, including BVA attorneys could be stripped by these protections and can fired without notice and due process and without any right to challenge the adverse action.

At-will employment is how most employees are employed in the US, including most attorneys employed at law firms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t all attorneys excepted service anyway?

Yes, attorneys are in the excepted service. But, they are still covered by Civil Service protections that require notice and due process prior to any adverse action. They can also challenge certain effectuated adverse actions, such as removals, by filing an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board. Under Trump's EO, countless federal employees, including BVA attorneys could be stripped by these protections and can fired without notice and due process and without any right to challenge the adverse action.

At-will employment is how most employees are employed in the US, including most attorneys employed at law firms.

Right. There is no "appeal" in the private, non-unionized sector - there is only unemployment, if you're employer doesn't prevail in denying it.

[Anonymous]

Aren’t all attorneys excepted service anyway?


Yes, attorneys are in the excepted service. But, they are still covered by Civil Service protections that require notice and due process prior to any adverse action. They can also challenge certain effectuated adverse actions, such as removals, by filing an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board. Under Trump's EO, countless federal employees, including BVA attorneys could be stripped by these protections and can fired without notice and due process and without any right to challenge the adverse action.

That is all only true once they have served a trial period (or probationary period for competitive service), which I suspect a lot of BVA attorneys do not make it through in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Aren’t all attorneys excepted service anyway?


Yes, attorneys are in the excepted service. But, they are still covered by Civil Service protections that require notice and due process prior to any adverse action. They can also challenge certain effectuated adverse actions, such as removals, by filing an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board. Under Trump's EO, countless federal employees, including BVA attorneys could be stripped by these protections and can fired without notice and due process and without any right to challenge the adverse action.

That is all only true once they have served a trial period (or probationary period for competitive service), which I suspect a lot of BVA attorneys do not make it through in the first place.

Which, despite what one of their advertisements said, is two years and not one year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t all attorneys excepted service anyway?

Yes, attorneys are in the excepted service. But, they are still covered by Civil Service protections that require notice and due process prior to any adverse action. They can also challenge certain effectuated adverse actions, such as removals, by filing an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board. Under Trump's EO, countless federal employees, including BVA attorneys could be stripped by these protections and can fired without notice and due process and without any right to challenge the adverse action.

At-will employment is how most employees are employed in the US, including most attorneys employed at law firms.

Whats your point? Government service is different from private sector. Personally, I would never work at BVA, but it's pretty rich that someone would compare at will employment at law firms (where 1st year associates make more than Schedule II appointees) with government attorneys.

[Anonymous]

This thread is so quiet these days. Perhaps, the elite BVA strike force attorneys are too busy to comment online?

[Anonymous]

What more needs to be said?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What more needs to be said?

The Board is a rumor mill. Knowledge is power. Speak out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What more needs to be said?

The Board is a rumor mill. Knowledge is power. Speak out

That's true. The JDU thread was entertaining, especially when the guy claiming to be Judge posted several times how awesome the job is.

I would like to think the incoming administration would foster an environment that is less hostile to employees, but somehow I doubt that's going to happen and not much will change for us.

[Anonymous]

I’m confident that the incoming administration will be less hostile to employees in both the private and federal sectors. But, I’m also confident that the toxic work environment at the Board will not change, as the climate at the Board has always been toxic for decades - even Carol couldn’t reform the Board.

[Anonymous]

I loved reading JDU. I certainly remember the BVA judge singing praises about the attorney jobs at BVA in response to criticism about management. Unfortunately, I also remember that same judge trying to intimidate people into not posting anything critical about the Board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m confident that the incoming administration will be less hostile to employees in both the private and federal sectors. But, I’m also confident that the toxic work environment at the Board will not change, as the climate at the Board has always been toxic for decades - even Carol couldn’t reform the Board.

The focus on numbers, whatever the cost, and the willingness to burn through staff, is just so damn stupid. The amount of talented and smart attorneys who leave is a tremendous waste to the government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confident that the incoming administration will be less hostile to employees in both the private and federal sectors. But, I’m also confident that the toxic work environment at the Board will not change, as the climate at the Board has always been toxic for decades - even Carol couldn’t reform the Board.

The focus on numbers, whatever the cost, and the willingness to burn through staff, is just so damn stupid. The amount of talented and smart attorneys who leave is a tremendous waste to the government.

There were several BVA job seekers who posted on here several months ago. I wonder how things are going for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confident that the incoming administration will be less hostile to employees in both the private and federal sectors. But, I’m also confident that the toxic work environment at the Board will not change, as the climate at the Board has always been toxic for decades - even Carol couldn’t reform the Board.

The focus on numbers, whatever the cost, and the willingness to burn through staff, is just so damn stupid. The amount of talented and smart attorneys who leave is a tremendous waste to the government.

There were several BVA job seekers who posted on here several months ago. I wonder how things are going for them.

I doubt its good. the fact that everything is virtual now has got to be even more frustrating than usual.