Attorney-Advisor (General)

With an emphasis on high ethical standards, excellence in public service and the delivery of superlative advice and counsel, DOI Solicitor's Office performs the legal work for the United States Department of the Interior, and manages the Departmental Ethics Office and Departmental FOIA Office. With more than five hundred employees, more than four hundred of which are attorneys, the Office strives to provide sound legal services to fulfill the Department's diverse and wide-ranging mission.

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

As an Attorney-Adviser with the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Southwest Regional Office, located in Albuquerque, NM your specific duties will include:

• Providing legal research, analysis, advice, representation, and other legal services, including drafting legal opinions, to the Fish and Wildlife Service and officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on issues that arise with respect to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Primary responsibilities will involve the consultation and permitting requirements of the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. You will also assist with review of National Environmental Policy Act documents.
• Providing on-the-spot legal guidance in the resolution of complex contracting and procurement, federal appropriations, administrative, and program issues.
• Advising, analyzing, and assisting FWS and DOI on matters related to consultation and cooperation with tribal and State governments.
• Handling administrative litigation in the DOI Office of Hearings and Appeals and assisting the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with judicial litigation (e.g., conducting research, analysis, and interpretation of legal theory, laws, regulations, judicial and administrative court decisions and other legal documents in the preparation and presentation of assigned litigation, hearings, appeals and negotiations). This position may require drafting of litigation reports, motions and briefs, responding to discovery, reviewing administrative records, collecting evidence, developing legal theories and other associated responsibilities.
• Advising, analyzing, and assisting FWS and DOI on rulemakings, enforcement actions, policy initiatives, guidance documents, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters or other agency decisions. This will require providing oral and written advice, including legal memoranda.
• Cooperating with officials and staff of FWS and DOI in their headquarters, regional and state offices; officials and staff of other bureaus of DOI; other attorneys within the Office of the Solicitor, attorneys in DOJ, including attorneys in the offices of the U.S. Attorneys; officials and to in other Federal agencies; and State, local or tribal officials. There may also be interactions with attorneys and others representing non-governmental interests.

This position will also require development of detailed familiarity with such laws as the: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL); Administrative Procedure Act; Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act; law related to the administration of the National Wildlife Refuge System; and various Federal laws and regulations related to federal projects, appropriations, and federal financial assistance, including contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants. In addition, you may also be cross-trained and provide backup legal services for the DOI's other client agencies.

Salary Range
GS-12: $87,878 to $114,237
GS-13: $104,498 to $135,851
GS-14: $123,485 to $160,533

First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Basic Qualification Requirements
Applicants must be law school graduates with LL.B. or J.D. degrees AND applicants must be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

Applicants must also meet one of the following:--possess at least 1-year of professional legal experience following law school graduation; OR--have a second professional law degree; OR--meet any of the criteria indicated below:(a) academic standing in top one-third of law school graduating class;(b) graduation 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; or(g) other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

GS-12/13/14: In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements described above, applicants must also have the following additional years of professional legal experience for the grade level indicated:
--GS-12 = 1 year
--GS-13 = 2 years
--GS-14 = 3 years

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.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website:https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

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