Board of Veterans Appeals (Attorney Advisor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Management is all about more work & less pay/benefits. Using AVLJs is but one example (more hearings, more responsibilities on the judges, etc.). There also use to be paid overtime, which was allowed if you were on track. It made for a nice bump in your paycheck for putting up with the quota-based monotonous work. However, they now know they can get that same work + done without paying out overtime. It’s bs. Morale is low because management only cares about the numbers, not making the attorneys happy. There’s no balance between the two. You’d think since they overshot the yearly goal that some sort of adjustment to benefit the attorneys would’ve been made. No, instead, the discussion was to actually increase the quota; though, that was abandoned in the end, probably because they didn’t want to deal with the union. Change won’t come until there is new leadership that isn’t entirely motivated by numbers. These people don’t care about attorneys’ welfare. They could do better, but management is more concerned with trying to squeeze blood from turnips.

Why the administration allows the current leader to remain in charge is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

The new job announcement for decision writing attorneys just came out. If you're considering applying, please note that the job ad now limits the job to GS 13.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The new job announcement for decision writing attorneys just came out. If you're considering applying, please note that the job ad now limits the job to GS 13.

Yes, management downgraded the BVA attorney position from GS-14 to GS-13. I’ve heard rumors that management wants to reduce the promotion potential even further to GS-12 (like SSA attorneys) so that they can use the savings to hire even more attorneys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new job announcement for decision writing attorneys just came out. If you're considering applying, please note that the job ad now limits the job to GS 13.

Yes, management downgraded the BVA attorney position from GS-14 to GS-13. I’ve heard rumors that management wants to reduce the promotion potential even further to GS-12 (like SSA attorneys) so that they can use the savings to hire even more attorneys.

And push all the 14s out? Good luck with hiring and retention. 14 was the only good thing about the job. It is reportedly a lot more stressful than the SSA positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new job announcement for decision writing attorneys just came out. If you're considering applying, please note that the job ad now limits the job to GS 13.

Yes, management downgraded the BVA attorney position from GS-14 to GS-13. I’ve heard rumors that management wants to reduce the promotion potential even further to GS-12 (like SSA attorneys) so that they can use the savings to hire even more attorneys.

Seriously?!? Wow. Are they in some sort of competition to make the job worse than any other federal attorney job?

[Anonymous]

It’s my understanding that they are advertising the job as 11-13 and once you get to 13, you can apply to the 14 level. Before, attys had to stay at 13 for 2 years before advancing to 14.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s my understanding that they are advertising the job as 11-13 and once you get to 13, you can apply to the 14 level. Before, attys had to stay at 13 for 2 years before advancing to 14.

Promotions have never been automatic at the Board. Management really stresses the potential in promotion potential. Attorneys have to meet the quota in order to qualify for promotion, even to the GS-12 or 13 level. If an attorney fails to meet the quota, he or she won't be promoted. In the past, getting to the GS-14 level was considered a monumental feat, as earning the title of GS-14 "Counsel" required approval from several judges and management officials. Now, getting non-competitively promoted to the GS-14 level is not even a challenge; its downright impossible due to management's decision to reduce the promotion potential from GS-14 to GS-13. I've heard from several judges that upper management will make promotion to GS-14 a competitive process. Each year, GS-13 attorneys will have to compete against other GS-13 attorneys to gain the title of GS-14 "Counsel." Unfortunately, the environment at the Board seems to get worse each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s my understanding that they are advertising the job as 11-13 and once you get to 13, you can apply to the 14 level. Before, attys had to stay at 13 for 2 years before advancing to 14.

Promotions have never been automatic at the Board. Management really stresses the potential in promotion potential. Attorneys have to meet the quota in order to qualify for promotion, even to the GS-12 or 13 level. If an attorney fails to meet the quota, he or she won't be promoted. In the past, getting to the GS-14 level was considered a monumental feat, as earning the title of GS-14 "Counsel" required approval from several judges and management officials. Now, getting non-competitively promoted to the GS-14 level is not even a challenge; its downright impossible due to management's decision to reduce the promotion potential from GS-14 to GS-13. I've heard from several judges that upper management will make promotion to GS-14 a competitive process. Each year, GS-13 attorneys will have to compete against other GS-13 attorneys to gain the title of GS-14 "Counsel." Unfortunately, the environment at the Board seems to get worse each year.

Well, they're automatic in the sense that you're either promoted or fired. I've heard of some people having their promotion delayed for a few months because they didn't hit the quota though. Now they're just going to stall the new people at 13 forever unless you're a favorite in which case they'll promote you to 14 early. Yes, I do agree with a previous poster, they're in a competition to make this job the absolute worst in the federal government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s my understanding that they are advertising the job as 11-13 and once you get to 13, you can apply to the 14 level. Before, attys had to stay at 13 for 2 years before advancing to 14.

Promotions have never been automatic at the Board. Management really stresses the potential in promotion potential. Attorneys have to meet the quota in order to qualify for promotion, even to the GS-12 or 13 level. If an attorney fails to meet the quota, he or she won't be promoted. In the past, getting to the GS-14 level was considered a monumental feat, as earning the title of GS-14 "Counsel" required approval from several judges and management officials. Now, getting non-competitively promoted to the GS-14 level is not even a challenge; its downright impossible due to management's decision to reduce the promotion potential from GS-14 to GS-13. I've heard from several judges that upper management will make promotion to GS-14 a competitive process. Each year, GS-13 attorneys will have to compete against other GS-13 attorneys to gain the title of GS-14 "Counsel." Unfortunately, the environment at the Board seems to get worse each year.

Sounds like someone got their 14 denied. The vast majority of board attorneys get their 14.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s my understanding that they are advertising the job as 11-13 and once you get to 13, you can apply to the 14 level. Before, attys had to stay at 13 for 2 years before advancing to 14.

Promotions have never been automatic at the Board. Management really stresses the potential in promotion potential. Attorneys have to meet the quota in order to qualify for promotion, even to the GS-12 or 13 level. If an attorney fails to meet the quota, he or she won't be promoted. In the past, getting to the GS-14 level was considered a monumental feat, as earning the title of GS-14 "Counsel" required approval from several judges and management officials. Now, getting non-competitively promoted to the GS-14 level is not even a challenge; its downright impossible due to management's decision to reduce the promotion potential from GS-14 to GS-13. I've heard from several judges that upper management will make promotion to GS-14 a competitive process. Each year, GS-13 attorneys will have to compete against other GS-13 attorneys to gain the title of GS-14 "Counsel." Unfortunately, the environment at the Board seems to get worse each year.

Sounds like someone got their 14 denied. The vast majority of board attorneys get their 14.

The new attorney hires won't even be eligible to be non-competitively promoted to GS-14 due to the downgrade in promotion potential from GS-14 to GS-13.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s my understanding that they are advertising the job as 11-13 and once you get to 13, you can apply to the 14 level. Before, attys had to stay at 13 for 2 years before advancing to 14.

Promotions have never been automatic at the Board. Management really stresses the potential in promotion potential. Attorneys have to meet the quota in order to qualify for promotion, even to the GS-12 or 13 level. If an attorney fails to meet the quota, he or she won't be promoted. In the past, getting to the GS-14 level was considered a monumental feat, as earning the title of GS-14 "Counsel" required approval from several judges and management officials. Now, getting non-competitively promoted to the GS-14 level is not even a challenge; its downright impossible due to management's decision to reduce the promotion potential from GS-14 to GS-13. I've heard from several judges that upper management will make promotion to GS-14 a competitive process. Each year, GS-13 attorneys will have to compete against other GS-13 attorneys to gain the title of GS-14 "Counsel." Unfortunately, the environment at the Board seems to get worse each year.

Sounds like someone got their 14 denied. The vast majority of board attorneys get their 14.

The new attorney hires won't even be eligible to be non-competitively promoted to GS-14 due to the downgrade in promotion potential from GS-14 to GS-13.

Correct, which means that management can hand out 14s to their favorites while stalling other people forever at 13. The message from management I guess is that you should expect this to be a very short term gig....work for two years so you can advance to 13 then bounce out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s my understanding that they are advertising the job as 11-13 and once you get to 13, you can apply to the 14 level. Before, attys had to stay at 13 for 2 years before advancing to 14.

Promotions have never been automatic at the Board. Management really stresses the potential in promotion potential. Attorneys have to meet the quota in order to qualify for promotion, even to the GS-12 or 13 level. If an attorney fails to meet the quota, he or she won't be promoted. In the past, getting to the GS-14 level was considered a monumental feat, as earning the title of GS-14 "Counsel" required approval from several judges and management officials. Now, getting non-competitively promoted to the GS-14 level is not even a challenge; its downright impossible due to management's decision to reduce the promotion potential from GS-14 to GS-13. I've heard from several judges that upper management will make promotion to GS-14 a competitive process. Each year, GS-13 attorneys will have to compete against other GS-13 attorneys to gain the title of GS-14 "Counsel." Unfortunately, the environment at the Board seems to get worse each year.

Sounds like someone got their 14 denied. The vast majority of board attorneys get their 14.

The new attorney hires won't even be eligible to be non-competitively promoted to GS-14 due to the downgrade in promotion potential from GS-14 to GS-13.

Correct, which means that management can hand out 14s to their favorites while stalling other people forever at 13. The message from management I guess is that you should expect this to be a very short term gig....work for two years so you can advance to 13 then bounce out.

Easier said than done to bounce out…as skills are nontransferable.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like these BVA jobs are miserable and the attorneys are treated poorly. Just wondering, does management at the BVA treat disabled veteran attorneys any better or does this not make a difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like these BVA jobs are miserable and the attorneys are treated poorly. Just wondering, does management at the BVA treat disabled veteran attorneys any better or does this not make a difference?

Management pays lip service to vet employees. They'll repeatedly say "thank you for your service." However, you'll still need to meet the Board-wide quota. Management won't hesitate to fire you if you are unable to meet the quota.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like these BVA jobs are miserable and the attorneys are treated poorly. Just wondering, does management at the BVA treat disabled veteran attorneys any better or does this not make a difference?

Management pays lip service to vet employees. They'll repeatedly say "thank you for your service." However, you'll still need to meet the Board-wide quota. Management won't hesitate to fire you if you are unable to meet the quota.

The threats and intimidation of management knows no boundaries. I don't know any disabled veteran attorneys, but at least three veteran attorneys who I know have left rather than be fired because they didn't meet the quota. I think management understands how bad it would look to fire these people, so they put the pressure game on to get them to leave voluntarily.