Attorney-Advisor (General)

Summary 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 U.S. Department of the Interior, and manages the Departmental Ethics Office and Departmental FOIA Office. With more than five hundred total employees, more than four hundred of which are licensed attorneys, the Office strives to provide sound legal services to fulfill the Department's diverse and wide-ranging mission. Responsibilities This position is located within the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Northeast Region, Boston Field Office, located in Boston, Massachusetts. At the full performance level GS-14 the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Providing legal advice and services to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service (and when called upon, any other Bureau of the Department of the Interior) pertaining to all relevant federal laws, regulations, and policies, including but not limited to the Refuge Administration Act, Endangered Species Act, National Park Service Organic Act and Federal Acquisition Regulations. Duties may include assisting the Department of Justice in judicial litigation. The Boston Field Office is a general service legal office meeting the legal needs of its agency clients across a 13 state region, and attorneys may work on any legal matter of concern to its clients within that region (excluding employment law matters, federal tort claims act matters, and natural resource damage claims). Performing legal research concerning novel and complex issues, reviewing documents for the Regional Solicitor or Assistant Regional Solicitor and for DOI agencies, drafting legal opinions, providing formal and informal advice to DOI agencies, and often drafting agency decisions; Drafting litigation reports to guide the Department of Justice (DOJ) and assisting DOJ in litigation, including working in close coordination with DOJ attorneys representing the Secretary of the Interior and the various bureaus of the Department in federal courts; The primary areas of practice for this position are anticipated to be related to real property, agreements and contracts, environmental laws and compliance (ESA, NEPA), administrative law, historic preservation, and the body of law governing the management of the National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System. Salary Information: First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level. GS-12: $101,375 (step 1) - $131,790 (step 10) per annum. GS-13: $120,548 (step 1) - $156,715 (step 10) per annum. GS-14: $142,452 (step 1) - $185,193 (step 10) per annum. 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 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 Basic Qualification Requirements Applicants must be law school graduates with LL.B. or J.D. degrees AND 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. - 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: 1. academic standing in top one-third of law school graduating class; 2. graduation with academic honors; 3. significant participation on the law school's law review; 4. significant participation in the law school's moot court competition; 5. significant participation in a clinical legal aid program; 6. significant summer law office clerk experience; or 7. other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement. 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: 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: Additional Information 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. 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period (as applicable) 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 probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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