Board of Veterans Appeals (Attorney Advisor)

[Anonymous]

I recently interviewed for this position and took a subsequent writing test. If anyone is in a similar position, have you heard back either way about an offer?

In addition, to those that currently hold this position, could you describe a typical day? Finally, on other websites I've seen a lot of negativity so please share your experience, level of job satisfaction, and anything else you would find helpful for someone interested in this position. Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

No direct experience, just word of mouth. I’ve heard it’s very high volume and you get disciplined for not meeting quotas. Morale seems to be low. Take all this with a grain of salt - again, I’m basing this on what I’ve heard from people.

It could be worthwhile as a foot in the door with the feds, but more bing elsewhere could be challenging because the skills may not be transferable (and other agencies know it).

[Anonymous]

My neighbor works there and does not dislike it as much as the people I have seen posting on this board. She says it is true that the quota system is very strict and that the work is repetitive and not all that transferable. However, she has young kids and there is a lot of work-from-home and no travel, so she feels it works for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently interviewed for this position and took a subsequent writing test. If anyone is in a similar position, have you heard back either way about an offer?

In addition, to those that currently hold this position, could you describe a typical day? Finally, on other websites I've seen a lot of negativity so please share your experience, level of job satisfaction, and anything else you would find helpful for someone interested in this position. Thank you in advance!

If you’re doing doc review or desperately need a job out of law school then I’d take it. However, if you’re right out of law school you’ll need to develop an exit plan to get you out at the 2-3 year mark. If you’re doing doc review then go for it, as you have nothing to risk. The issue is that they fire very quickly at BVA, their quotas are nearly impossible to meet, some of the judges that supervise you are terrible, office environment is terrible, morale is terrible, and statistically you won’t make it past year 1-2.

They do mass hiring frequently, because they do mass firing frequently. Just be warned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently interviewed for this position and took a subsequent writing test. If anyone is in a similar position, have you heard back either way about an offer?

In addition, to those that currently hold this position, could you describe a typical day? Finally, on other websites I've seen a lot of negativity so please share your experience, level of job satisfaction, and anything else you would find helpful for someone interested in this position. Thank you in advance!

If you’re doing doc review or desperately need a job out of law school then I’d take it. However, if you’re right out of law school you’ll need to develop an exit plan to get you out at the 2-3 year mark. If you’re doing doc review then go for it, as you have nothing to risk. The issue is that they fire very quickly at BVA, their quotas are nearly impossible to meet, some of the judges that supervise you are terrible, office environment is terrible, morale is terrible, and statistically you won’t make it past year 1-2.

They do mass hiring frequently, because they do mass firing frequently. Just be warned.

Whaa? Why would the operate an office like this?

[Anonymous]

Here is what got me to not apply - 90+ government attorneys publicly signed their name to a "loss of confidence" letter sent to the VA Secretary. https://www.afge.org/contentassets/a91c998d3be44362a75c5c67c60852f7/loss-of-confidence-statement.pdf

[Anonymous]

Trust me -- it's as bad as they say it is at the Board of Veterans Appeals. I have a friend who worked there for almost 10 years. She quit a few months ago to take a job doing real estate closings for less pay and she's happier for it. They have an impossible annual production quota that the attorneys either meet or get fired for coming up short, no matter how many years they've worked there. The middle and upper management sucks and is full of suck up personalities who have lots of ambition but no talent or abilities to back it up. She told me the woman who runs the place is a talentless suck up who got her job because she was high school friends with VP Pence. I guess that's in keeping with the way the current administration runs things -- appoint cronies based on their personal loyalty and not on their actual abilities. Anyway, my friend was miserable at the VA and so much happier now that she's not working there. You decide for yourself.

[Anonymous]

I need to know what a attorney advisor job is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I need to know what a attorney advisor job is

A lot of agencies have attorney advisor positions. They’re basically internal to the agency handling admin law or other advisory issues as opposed to OGC attorneys.

[Anonymous]

OP— I’m at SSA and we have people transfer to VA and it’s as bad as people her are saying. Impossible quotas, low morale and firing good people for no good reason.

We’re technically in a hiring freeze. But, we’ve been on boarding a couple times a year at least. If you get a VA position, I would watch for SSA to open up. You should get priority in hiring.

Now, we still have quotas, but they are reasonable. Morale stinks right now, but it’s much better than the VA. And the promotion path is slower. I enjoy the work, like the people and love the telework. But I am also clear that this is a Mom job and I do it for work p-life balance.

[Anonymous]

It’s a horrible job. The reason why people apply is the gs14 potential. Prepare to work 50-60 hours a week for as long as you workthere

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind if you get fired or asked to resign you’ll be unsuitable for federal employment again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a horrible job. The reason why people apply is the gs14 potential. Prepare to work 50-60 hours a week for as long as you workthere

If the work is generally repetitive can't you just do a below A+ excellent job and cram the work in? Presumably the legal standard and the issues you come across are going to fit within a narrow range so all you're doing is applying the facts to the law right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a horrible job. The reason why people apply is the gs14 potential. Prepare to work 50-60 hours a week for as long as you workthere

If the work is generally repetitive can't you just do a below A+ excellent job and cram the work in? Presumably the legal standard and the issues you come across are going to fit within a narrow range so all you're doing is applying the facts to the law right?

your ALJ will want you to change things. You’ve got thousands of pages of docs to read per case. They do hire at gs9 for the easier cases though. If you get fired you’ll never be able to get a federal job again

[Anonymous]

Too bad JDU is gone they had a great topic on this about how horrible this job is