Attorney Adviser (Assistant General Counsel)

Summary

This position is in the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Civil Rights and Finance Law Office (CRFLO). About: OGC Please see the duties section for more details about CRFLO. This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.

Duties

CRFLO provides legal counsel and services to EPA programs with respect to a myriad of federal statutes concerning contracts, claims by and against the Agency, real and personal property, financial assistance awards, interagency agreements, appropriations law, civil rights, and equal employment opportunity. This position is for an Assistant General Counsel covering areas including appropriations law and/or federal financial assistance law or other similar areas, including litigation. You will: Lead a team of attorneys by providing clear direction to staff on matters related to the assigned area; provide feedback on assigned tasks to elevate the quality of legal work and ensure the delivery of sound legal advice; and resolve difficult issues requiring a high degree of professional judgment. Handle highly complex legal issues, assess risk, and deliver well-reasoned, timely legal advice; and consider facts and evidence, the need for consistency in the assigned areas of practice, and other relevant factors in rendering legal advice. Advise the staff of client program offices and participate in proceedings that substantially broaden or restrict major EPA activities (e.g., regulations, legislation, litigation) and recommend appropriate legal action; orally communicate highly complex legal concepts clearly and produce high-quality written work that is legally sound and persuasive, clearly stating the facts and legal issues and justifying all recommendations and conclusions. One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.

Qualifications

NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements, including any requirements described in the Education section, by the closing date of this announcement. In addition to the educational requirements, you must meet the minimum grade-specific qualifications as described below: To qualify for the GS-15 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level defined as independently performing and guiding legal analysis; reviewing pleadings, briefs, or other documents involving unique or difficult legal issues in counseling or litigation; conducting highly complex legal counseling or litigation; or leading teams handling complex counseling or litigation including advising junior attorneys, paralegals or other staff. You will need the following competencies in order to perform the duties of this position successfully, and you will be evaluated on these competencies: Attention to Detail Coaching and Developing Others Critical Thinking Environmental or Other Relevant Laws and Regulations Leadership Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence Oral Communication Strategic Thinking Technical Competence Written Communication 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. *If you have part-time work experience, read this: Part-Time Experience.

Education

You must: (1) possess a J.D. or LL.M. degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university or equivalent apprentice experience as allowed per state law; and (2) be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and (3) be an active member of the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction in good standing. NOTE: Bar membership and licensure are not required at the time of application, but you must be admitted to the bar and obtain your license before entry on duty. For information about accreditation requirements, visit Accreditation.