The EPA’s Office of General Counsel is seeking a Patent Attorney in the General Law Office (GLO). GLO invites talented attorneys to apply for the Patent Attorney position, located in Washington, DC. For more information on this office, visit our website:   https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-general-counsel-ogc#glo.

Duties

About the General Law Office

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicant must have an LL.M., LLB., 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 experience in providing legal advice and counsel at EPA, other federal, state or local agencies, or courts, non-governmental organizations, or in private practice demonstrating competencies relevant to the duties listed above. Applicant must be registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office. If you are selected, you must complete a one-year trial period. The ideal candidate will have a very strong academic and employment record, including evidence of nuanced legal analysis with respect to both statutory construction and applicable case law, excellent research and writing skills, superior oral and written communication, strong interpersonal skills, initiative and self-motivation, the ability to work effectively in a team and independently, a commitment to public service, and mature judgement and the ability to work with diverse persons and perspectives. Knowledge and relevant experience in administrative law, environmental law, information law, litigation or some combination thereof, preferred but not required. To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-11 grade level: Performing legal analysis on complex and difficult legal issues; formulating recommendations to senior managers for review by supervisors; and preparing and assisting in filing, composing pleadings, briefs, and other court documents involving legal issues in counseling or litigation. Examples of specialized experience include: Performing professional legal, scientific, and technical work concerning patents including rendering opinions on validity and infringement of patents, negotiation of patent licenses, and settlement of patent claims. Providing professional legal advice on patent matters and the preparation and/or presentation of briefs and arguments before the USPTO or before the Federal Courts. Researching laws, legal opinions, precedent cases, and relevant guidance to address complex and difficult legal issues. Applying knowledge of technology by reviewing documents for completeness and evaluating the scientific significance of current and planned agency programs. Providing oral and written advice and counseling support on a broad array of legal matters within the attorney's areas of legal matters within the attorney's areas of responsibility. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through national service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. 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). More information on the 1222 Patent Attorney position is available below by selecting the link: POSITION CLASSIFICATION STANDARD FOR PATENT ATTORNEY SERIES, GS-1222 If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form prior to your first day of employment and annually thereafter. This position is designated as a High Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation

Education

To meet minimum eligibility requirements for this position, applicants must possess at least a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA accredited law school.

This position requires a completed full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor's degree in a scientific, technological, or engineering field.

Contacts

• Address Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, District of Columbia 20460 United States
• Name: Christie Watkins
• Phone: 202-564-2802
• Email: [email protected]