EPA’s Office of General Counsel invites talented and diverse attorneys to apply for an Attorney-Adviser position.    For more information:http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-general-counsel-ogc.

Duties

OGC serves as the chief legal advisor to the Agency's senior management and program offices on Agency rules, permits, response actions, implementation actions, litigation and legislation.  OGC lawyers also work with attorneys in the Department of Justice to represent the Agency in defensive litigation in the federal courts.  Some offices independently handle litigation in front of the Environmental Appeals Board to defend EPA actions, or work to prepare to defend Agency decisions in formal hearings.   We routinely engage in challenging issues, addressing complex, and often novel or cutting-edge legal issues.  OGC attorneys assume great responsibility and quickly become national experts in their assigned areas.  They also develop strong analytical, problem solving and communications skills while working closely with their program policy clients, other OGC colleagues, other agencies, and outside stakeholder groups.  OGC prides itself on its core values of excellence, community, work-life balance, integrity, empowerment and responsibility, and respect.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicant must possess a LL.M. Or J.D. degree from an accredited law school; must be admitted to practice before the highest court of a State, U.S. Territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and must maintain active status as a member of the bar of one of these jurisdictions.  Incumbent should have significant experience in providing legal advice and counsel at EPA, other federal, state or local agencies, or courts, non-governmental organizations, or in private practice. To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to the GS 14 grade level.  Examples of Specialized Experience include independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other documents involving unique or difficult legal issues; conducting highly complex counseling and litigation, and leading junior attorneys, paralegals, and support staff.  The ideal candidate will have experience counseling in Federal grants law to support Agency actions and address legal authorities.  More information on GS levels for the 0905 Attorney position are available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/classifying-general-schedule-positions/standards/0900/gs0905.pdf. Veterans:  There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Environmental Protection Agency considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his  or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

Contacts

• Address Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, District of Columbia 20460 United States
• Name: Kay Weems
• Phone: 202-564-2587
• Email: [email protected]