As an Attorney-Advisor with the Department of Interior, Office of Solicitor, Sacramento Field Office, Pacific Southwest Region, located in Sacramento, CA, your specific duties will include:
Specific areas of legal work handled by incumbent for the National Park Service include review of NEPA documents and litigation defense of NEPA documents issued by client assisting client with matters relating to compliance with federal environmental regulatory statutes (e.g., RCRA, CWA, SDWA, CERCLA, CAA); advice on law enforcement matters; pertaining to the scope of federal jurisdiction over federal lands; First Amendment and other constitutional matters; land management matters for National Park System units; real estate matters; water law matters; agreements; FOIA and other duties as assigned..
Incumbent processes difficult and complex legal assignments to completion and makes final legal decisions, including "on the spot" opinions when participating in conferences, meetings and negotiations with program officials, attorneys, individuals, landowners or federal, state, municipal and corporate officials. The incumbent must recognize and anticipate unusual problems in fields that have no clear legal precedents or in areas where policy has not been clearly defined.
Although incumbent is under the supervision of the Supervisory Attorney and the Regional Solicitor, incumbent has broad delegated authority for exercise of independent judgment to make final decisions.
Incumbent represents the above-named Interior bureau and presents oral and written statements of facts, legal arguments, and conclusions during administrative contests.
Incumbent prepares legal opinions, provides guidance, and approves instruments required for the various programs of the National Park Service as needed.
Incumbent provides assistance to the various U.S. Attorney's Offices located in California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Trust territories and to the Department of Justice in actions by or against the United States involving the National Park Service offices served by the Pacific Southwest Region. Such assistance includes interpretation of statutes, regulations, documents, assembly, and development of evidence, furnishing of oral and written advice, and preparation of pleadings. Incumbent may make court appearances as co-counsel with DOJ attorneys upon specific prior authorization.
Incumbent confers with and provides guidance to the regional and park units served by the Pacific Southwest Region concerning the legality of procedures, conformance of procedures with Departmental or agency policies and regulations, limitations on administrative authority, interpretation and application of federal, state, and local statutes, and legal recourses used by or against the Government in adversary situations.
Salary Information: First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.
GS-12: $96,148 to $124,988
GS-13: $114,332 to $148,636
GS-14: $135,107 to $175,641
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Key Requirements
Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
Must be an active member of the bar.
Selectee may be subject to serving a 2-year trial period.
You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
If selected for this position, you may be required to file one or more financial statements and/or a procurement integrity certification of compliance upon reporting and annually, some of which may be subject to public disclosure.
Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
Qualifications
Address any familiarity with the following areas of legal work: researching and writing legal memoranda and opinions and providing legal advice or recommendations to clients, judges, and/or senior attorneys, preferably in matters identified in Responsibilities (above); any familiarity with litigation in Federal Court; or with advocacy in state or federal administrative proceedings; or with preparing transactional agreements and other documents; or with preparing administrative records or discovery; or with advocacy on behalf of utilities.
Address any familiarity with the following areas of law, Indian law, environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act or the National Environmental Policy Act, real property, the Administrative Procedures Act, the Freedom of Information Act, or the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
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.
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.
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:
To qualify for a GS-12 applicants must possess at least 2-years of professional legal experience following law school graduation;
To qualify for a GS-13 applicants must possess at least 3-years of professional legal experience following law school graduation;
To qualify for a GS-14 applicants must possess at least 4.5-years of professional legal experience following law school graduation;
For any of the grades indicated above you can substitute one year of experience with any of the following:
have a second professional law degree; OR
meet any of the criteria indicated below:
academic standing in top one-third of law school graduating class;
graduation with academic honors;
significant participation on the law school's law review;
significant participation in the law school's moot court competition;
significant participation in a clinical legal aid program;
significant summer law office clerk experience; or
other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.
Candidates should have excellent oral communication, writing, research and analysis skills, and the ability to work effectively with other people, and exercise sound judgment.
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.
Education
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
Additional information
Other Information
The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Agency Benefits
Working for the DOI, Office of the Solicitor offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; health, life, dental, vision, and long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.
SOL has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis.
For additional information on telework you may access the Department of Interior's Telework Handbook at https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made.
Please note applicants must meet the all qualifications requirement and submit all required documentation by closing date of the announcement for consideration for this position. Failure to meet all qualifications requirement and/or submit all required documents will result in an ineligible for consideration rating.
Applicants who are found to be qualified and referred to the selecting official for consideration may be asked to provide a writing sample. Instructions will be included in the email communication sent to qualified candidates
Basis of Rating: Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applicants that meet the basic eligibility and qualification requirements of the position will be referred to the selecting official for consideration
To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12466573
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Legal
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