The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives and affiliated Islanders. This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures. Merit promotion procedures do not apply. This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Duties

Note: This announcement has an application limit of 100 applicants. The announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on the posted closing date, or at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on the day it reaches 100 applicants, which may be earlier than the posted closing date. This is not a remote position. The selected candidate may be allowed to telework in accordance with agency policy, but will be expected to report to the duty station of Salt Lake City, UT. The position is located in the Office of the Secretary, Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), Departmental Cases Hearings Division (DCHD), located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Incumbent serves as an Attorney-Advisor to DCHD. DCHD Administrative Law Judges, with the support of DCHD Attorney-Advisors, conduct administrative proceedings under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). At the full performance level (GS-14) the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: 1. Incumbent provides support to DCHD ALJs for in-person or virtual hearings, ensures they are conducted in accordance with procedural requirements of the APA and specialized rules of practice of the Department and OHA. 2. Supports docket of cases and follows processes for case docket management; utilizes a control system to monitor the status of cases. 3. Provides support of ALJs and identifies issues needing attention to carry out duties that include: administering oaths and affirmations; issuing subpoenas; ruling on motions to revoke subpoenas; ruling on motions pertaining to the propriety or adequacy of the pleadings involved; defining legal and factual issues for the parties; ruling on motions to sever or consolidate proceedings; causing depositions to be taken; ruling on motions to sever or consolidate parties to the litigation; hearing testimony and rule on the admissibility evidence; ruling on motions involving questions of law and procedure; governing the conduct of witnesses, attorneys, and regulating the course of hearing; calling, examining, and cross-examining witnesses and introduce into the record documentary or other evidence as deemed necessary for the full development of the record; determining questions of credibility of witnesses; hearing oral argument of the parties and consider their written briefs and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law; considering all evidence and serve on the parties in interest findings of fact and conclusions of law on each material issue; and ordering remedial action, where necessary, to effectuate the policies of the applicable statutes and regulations of the Department. 4. Performs factual and legal research on a variety of difficult issues in diverse subject areas, where precedents are sometimes not available, and drafts orders, legal memoranda, and decisions. 5. Implements and provides support of modernization efforts including fully implementing the use of electronic filing and case docket management system. 6. Serves as an expert on the electronic filing and case docket management system, is able to run the full range of reports the system provides and retrieve particular case information when requested. 7. Maintains the content on DCHD external websites, coordinating and requesting updates and postings from the Director's office. 8. Mentors interns, detailees, and legal support staff. 9. Utilizes collaborative and inclusive processes with other OHA units and the Director's Office to engage in strategic planning and review of workflows for modernization or other improvement. Supports the office's use of alternative dispute resolution by either becoming a trained mediator or assisting other attorney mediators or the ALJs as settlement officials. 10. Works on special projects other than casework, including but not limited to, regulatory revisions, improvements to guidance and office procedures, case docket management improvements, and/or establishing best practices. At lower grade levels, the incumbent will not be expected to perform the full range of duties above, or will do so in a developmental capacity. Salary Range Information: GS-11: $72,553 - $94,317 GS-12: $86,962 - $113,047 GS-13: $103,409 - $134,435 GS-14: $122,198 - $158,860 First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

Requirements

Qualifications

You must have or be able to obtain a valid driver's license. You may be required to drive a car to travel to hearings in remote locations where public transportation is not available. If invited for an interview, you may be asked to submit a writing sample. GS-11 You must be a graduate (or graduating fall 2024) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association AND you must (1) have at least one year of professional legal experience following law school graduation, OR (2) have a second professional law degree, OR (3) meet one of the following criteria: a. Academic standing in the top one-third of my law school graduating class. b. Graduated with academic honors. c. Significant participation on the law school's law review. d. Significant participation in the law school's moot court competition. e. Significant participation in a clinical legal aid program. f. Significant summer law office clerk experience. g. Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement. Candidates who meet the GS-11 requirements, but are not yet members of a bar will be appointed to a law clerk position for a period not to exceed 14 months. A law clerk whose work is fully satisfactory will be converted to Attorney-Adviser status upon admission to the bar. GS-12 You must meet the GS-11 qualification requirements, AND be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar, AND have at least 1 year of professional legal experience. GS-13 You must meet the GS-11 qualification requirements, AND be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar, AND have at least 2 years of professional legal experience. GS-14: You must meet the GS-11 qualification requirements, AND be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar, AND have at least 3 ½ years of professional legal experience. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Education: This position requires specific educational course work to qualify. You are required to provide law school transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Contacts

• Address Office of the Secretary 45600 Woodland Road Sterling, VA 20166 US
• Name: Ericka Witham
• Email: [email protected]