Attorney Advisor

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.
Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 NOTE: This announcement is capped at 200 applicants. It will close on the posted closing date or at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the day it reaches 200 applicants, whichever occurs first.

The incumbent serves as an Attorney-Advisor to the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) in the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) located in Arlington, VA. The IBLA, through its Administrative Judges, decides appeals of decisions of the Department's bureaus and offices. The IBLA's mission is to provide an impartial forum within the Department for the fair resolution of disputes involving public lands and natural resources under the Department's jurisdiction.

At the full performance level (GS-14) the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:

1. Performs factual and legal research on a variety of issues.
2. Drafts legal memoranda and draft orders and decisions applying the law to relevant facts to assist the administrative judges in resolving motions, petitions for stay, and the merits of appeals.
3. Proofreads orders, decisions, and other documents prepared by the IBLA before they are issued or released to ensure quality control. Checks citations to ensure accuracy and proper format.
4. Assists on special projects for the IBLA and OHA. Special projects may include researching discrete legal issues of importance to the IBLA, mentoring interns, assisting with the development and implementation of OHA's efiling system, and assisting with the development of OHA's proposed rulemakings.
5. Maintains appeal files in accordance with Federal records guidance and disposition schedules. Safeguards Personally Identifiable Information and other sensitive and confidential data pursuant to the Privacy Act and other applicable laws and regulations.

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: $82,764 - $107,590
GS-12: $99200 - $128956
GS-13: $117962 - $153354
GS-14: $139395 - $181216
First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

The Office of Hearings and Appeals has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework in accordance with agency policy. This is not a remote position.
GS-11
You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (or expect to graduate spring/summer 2024) 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 years of professional legal experience.

If invited for an interview, you may be asked to submit a writing sample.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.