Senior Attorney

Summary

This position is located in Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication.

The supervisor is Cathy Kanatas.

This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.

This position is subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

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Duties

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The successful candidate will perform the full range of attorney duties for the office.

Such duties include but are not limited to:

• Monitors cases pending before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards (ASLB) and associated legal matters and provides the Commission with an analysis of available legal options. Advises the Commission of decisions which must be made and in the formulation of legal opinions.
• Has full responsibility for reviewing and where necessary recommending the affirmance, reversal or modification of decisions of the ASLB concerning the licensing of nuclear facilities, and the reviewing and preparing appropriate dispositions of such other matters as may come before the Commission in its quasi-judicial capacity.
• Develops, when necessary and appropriate, recommendations to the Commission in improvements in the methods of procedure in quasi-judicial proceedings.
• In rendering legal services to the Commission and Commissioner offices, incumbent is required to perform difficult, original legal research in special situations, and render decisions and make recommendations orally or in formal memoranda, based upon the legal principles involved, as determined by the results of such research. In addition, the incumbent is often required to develop solutions to problems from a legal standpoint in situations in which law has not been defined by judicial precedent in which the Commission policy has not yet been developed, employing a sound legal approach with due regard for policy considerations.
• Consults with and coordinates the views of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in preparing draft decisions and performing such other legal services as requested.
• Recommends policies and procedures in support of the conduct of the Commission's appellate adjudicatory functions.
• Regularly represents OCAA in meetings and conferences with the Commissioners, their staffs and OGC.
• Performs legal sufficiency reviews of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) documents and drafts final agency decisions (FADs) to ensure compliance with Title VII, the Rehabilitation Act, the ADEA, and EEOC Management Directive 110.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Conditions of Employment:

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• This is a Drug Testing position
• Must be able to meet and maintain security & suitability requirements.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  
  
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: demonstrated expert knowledge and understanding of legal principles in the area of administrative law, including EEOC legal sufficiency reviews, and have prepared written legal memoranda, briefs or opinions in judicial or administrative matters.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Demonstrated ability to provide legal advice and support to the Commission, the Commission staff, and the Office of the General Counsel on a variety of complex legal matters. Applicants should respond by providing examples of demonstrated ability to provide legal counsel across multiple substantive legal practice areas.
2. Demonstrated ability to effectively identify, interpret and analyze Federal laws, statutes, regulations, and cases as they relate to adjudications and other areas (EEOC legal sufficiency reviews, rulemaking, licensing, enforcement, oversight, agency administration).
3. Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills, particularly in connection with providing legal opinions, advice and counsel. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with management and staff, coworkers, and personnel of other government agencies.

A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate must be addressed in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria.

PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Education

Applicant must possess a J.D degree; or an LL.M degree; and be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction).

You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application. Transcript must include the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The NRC is a zero-tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use. Individuals selected for these positions will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing.

A transferable security clearance from another agency or a background investigation leading to a clearance is required for all new hires. To begin work at the NRC without a security clearance, you must be granted a temporary waiver of the required clearance, referred to as a 145(b) waiver. To be eligible for a 145(b) waiver you will need a favorable education verification, reference, credit, and criminal history checks. If a waiver is granted, the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication is required for continued employment.

If you have resided outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, the agency may not be able to (1) grant the 145(b) waiver where the required investigation cannot be completed in a timely manner, or (2) achieve timely completion of the background investigation required for a security clearance.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

As an NRC employee you will enjoy excellent Federal Benefits, including: comprehensive health and life insurance plans; Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care; Dental and Vision Insurance; retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan); annual (vacation) and paid sick leave; family friendly leave policies; 11 paid holidays per year; transit benefits. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees.

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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.