Attorney Advisor

The mission of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is to promote the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the U.S. derivatives markets through sound regulation.

Education: Successful completion of a full course of study (JD) and/or LLB/LLM, or equivalent, in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. This evaluation must be provided by midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of this vacancy announcement. We will only accept the completed foreign education evaluation.

***This is an open continuous announcement to fill multiple positions as they become available. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis for the duration of this announcement***

Positions may be placed in any of the Commissions’ Operating Division/Offices, located at Headquarters in Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; and/or Kansas City, MO offices. Divisions may include but not limited to the following offices:

Division of Clearing Risk

Division of Enforcement

Division of Market Oversight

Market Participants Division

Office of General Counsel

For more information on the Operating Offices/Divisions, please visit: CFTC Organization | CFTC

The incumbent will perform as a Junior Attorney to gain experience working on complex legal matters and policy initiatives relating to commodity derivatives law. With supervisory support, and depending on the assigned division or office, duties may include:

• Providing written or oral legal advice on assigned projects with respect to the relevant provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (“Act”), Commission regulations, and other pertinent statutes, regulations, judicial decisions, and legal opinions;
• Researching applicable legal standards, foreign and domestic, and investigating relevant facts. On the basis of the research or investigation, preparing necessary legal documents, advisory opinions, drafts or comments on proposed legislation or changes in regulations, or other disposition;
• Identifying and analyzing issues to be considered and developing proposals and recommendations for consideration and adoption by agency officials;
• Drafting new or amended regulations, orders, guidelines, and other regulatory approaches applicable for consideration and adoption by the Commission;
• Drafting staff letters and general memoranda pursuant to programs under the relevant Division’s direction;
• Assisting in the review, evaluation, and preparation of reports submitted to the Commission respect to applicable provisions of the Act and Commission regulations;
• Reviewing proposed legislation, changes in regulations, enforcement actions, questions of law, administrative policy, staff reports, and other Commission regulatory documents and developing independent, objective comments, critiques, and recommendations;
• Studying industry and trade practices, policies, procedures, and operations of other Government agencies or of the States or local bodies or business, technical, and professional publications and other authoritative sources of information required in the technical interpretation of factual issues; and
• Interviewing or engaging with individuals, such as the Commission staff, senior staff/executives, and principals of designated contract markets (DCMs), swap execution facilities (SEFs), swap data repositories (SDRs), self-regulatory organizations (SROs), and derivatives clearing organization (DCOs), and other entities, along with their counsel, accounting and financial professionals, and other experts who provide services to them.

Selections may be made at either grade level.

To qualify at each grade level, you must have the following:

CT-11: Candidates with a law degree (J.D. or LLB or equivalent) and bar membership and either Superior Academic Achievement or 1 year of relevant legal experience after completion of law school. The following educational activities may be substituted for the year of required experience at this level: top third or above of law school graduating class; significant achievement on law review; moot court participation; relevant law school course work; law clerk experience with a major law firm, federal judge, U.S. Attorney’s or Federal Public Defender’s Office, or Federal agency; or superior legal writing ability as evidenced by current legal publications or the equivalent.

Qualifying experience may include: demonstrating practical writing and communication skills; assisting in the investigation process; preparing documents for review; applying legal research skills; knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence; General knowledge of or demonstrated interest in commodities or related law and regulations, financial markets, corporate law, and general administrative law.

CT-12: You must have a J.D. and/or LLM equivalent Degree, bar membership and two years of relevant legal practice experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of a legal position. Relevant experience is defined as an attorney, law clerk, or other legal experience which was obtained subsequent to graduation from law school.

Qualifying experience may include: demonstrating excellent writing and critical thinking skills; interviewing witnesses; participating in investigations; preparing and reviewing proposals, preparing document requests; reviewing documents; researching and writing legal memoranda and litigation documents; knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence. Knowledge of or experience in commodities or related law and regulation; financial markets; corporate law, and general administrative law.”

Selections may be made at either grade level.