Attorney Advisor (General)

This is a Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

This position is located within the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The Office of the Under Secretary (UNSEC), Office of General Counsel (OGC) Southeast Regional Section with one (1) vacancy located in St. Petersburg, FL.

Applicants must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school. Official or unofficial transcripts must be submitted with your application package.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.

As an Attorney-Advisor in the Southeast Section,

You will work closely with experienced biologists and fishery managers in, among other things, developing and reviewing regulations, permits, and policies relating to the management and conservation of marine resources. This position requires interaction with other NOAA General Counsel Office attorneys, scientists, policy makers and technical staff, Department of Commerce officials, other Federal and state agency officials, members of the regulated community, and representatives of public interest organizations. It also involves active participation, in concert with U.S. Department of Justice attorneys, in defending NOAA cases brought under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other similar laws. The work involves complex and challenging issues on important matters.

The attorney(s) will be hired at the GS-12 through GS-15 grade levels, depending on experience. The promotion potential for this position is GS-15 level.

This position has positive education requirements. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement:

• Applicants must be law school graduates with LL.B. or J.D. degrees. (Copy of Transcripts MUST be provided with your application package to receive further consideration.) 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. (Certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing is required prior to receiving a job offer. Failure to provide your certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing will result in lost consideration.)

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.

Specialized Experience for all grades:

• NOAA seeks attorneys with a comprehensive knowledge of Federal environmental statutes and conservation laws, as well as laws and regulations related to the implementation and oversight of large-scale natural resource restoration projects.
• Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and to identify and resolve complex legal issues.
• Applicants also must demonstrate the ability to manage large projects independently, assimilate large amounts of materials quickly, balance a large and diverse workload, and work effectively in a team with other attorneys and support staff.
• Significant academic achievement in law school (such as top 20% class ranking, graduation with honors, judicial clerking experience, or participation in moot court or law review) or experience practicing environmental law will be favorably considered.

To qualify at the GS-12 level:

• Holds a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school; and
• Must be an active member in good standing of a State bar, the bar of the District of Columbia, the bar of a U.S. territory, or the bar of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

To qualify at the GS-13 level:

• Holds a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school; and
• Must be an active member in good standing of a State bar, the bar of the District of Columbia, the bar of a U.S. territory, or the bar of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
• Possess at least twenty-four months of relevant legal experience.

To qualify at the GS-14 level:

• Holds a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school; and
• Must be an active member in good standing of a State bar, the bar of the District of Columbia, the bar of a U.S. territory, or the bar of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
• Possess minimum of three years relevant legal experience.

To qualify at the GS-15 level:

• Holds a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school; and
• Must be an active member in good standing of a State bar, the bar of the District of Columbia, the bar of a U.S. territory, or the bar of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
• Possess minimum of four years relevant legal experience.