Attorney-Adviser

This position is in Office of Mission Support (OMS), Environmental Appeals Board. About OMS: Office of Mission Support

This is an office-centered position*--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.
*Work-from-home flexibilities may be authorized as described in the Benefits section.

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 is not required at the time of application, but you must be admitted to the bar before entry on duty.)

For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

You will:

As a Senior Counsel to the Environmental Appeals Board, serve as an expert attorney-adviser and principal assistant to the Environmental Appeals Board in its consideration and resolution of permit, enforcement and other administrative appeals under all the major environmental statutes administered by the Agency, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (or Superfund).

Routinely handle extremely complex matters requiring resolution of difficult legal questions and/or factual disputes. Decisions in matters handled at this level typically have far-reaching impacts on the Agency, private activities and the public interest, and may involve, directly or indirectly, very large sums of money and generate interest nationwide. The impact of your advice and recommendations often shapes Agency litigation and enforcement policies and can have the effect of substantially broadening or restricting the activities of the Agency in administering its statutory responsibilities. Under the administrative supervision of the judges, you will perform work that includes:

• Reviewing and analyzing briefs, hearing records and transcripts, and other papers relevant to the particular matter under review.
• Researching applicable laws, regulations, legal opinions, and Agency guidance bearing on legal issues and analyzing factual and legal issues before the Board.
• Preparing memoranda or reports to outline facts and legal issues involved in pending matters, analyzing applicable legal precedents and justifying recommendations and conclusions.
• Preparing draft decision documents setting forth proposed conclusions on the factual and legal issues the Board must resolve.
• Reviewing proposed administrative consent decrees and providing comments and recommendations to the Board.
• Assisting in the preparation for, and the conduct of, oral argument and the analysis of the hearing record of such arguments.
• Assisting in the preparation for, and conduct of, mediation of matters before the Board.

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

• Understanding and applying complex statutory and regulatory requirements and procedures; to digest, synthesize, and summarize complex and lengthy administrative records, hearing transcripts and briefs or similar materials; to resolve difficult and often novel factual and legal issues in accordance with applicable statutory, procedural and other legal requirements or precedents; and to communicate effectively complex factual and legal issues orally and in writing.

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: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.