Attorney Advisor

Summary

This position is a staff attorney in the General Law division of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Office of Chief Counsel. The attorney will provide legal services supporting all functional areas assigned to the Office of Chief Counsel. The attorney will provide written and oral legal advice interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, departmental orders, agency policies, and grant and contract agreements.

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Duties

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The General Law Division is responsible for providing legal advice regarding internal administrative laws in subjects like ethics, FOIA, employment, and contracting. The Division also provides advice concerning FTA's multibillion dollar infrastructure grant programs, including interpreting FTA's authorizing statutes, the laws of federal financial assistance, administrative law, and domestic preference laws like Buy America. General Law attorneys work closely with their colleagues in other Chief Counsel divisions, and the successful applicant may be asked to take on duties relating to any matter within the Chief Counsel's responsibilities.

As an Attorney Advisor , you will:

• Provide legal opinions and advice interpreting statutes, regulations, executive orders, case law, departmental orders, agency circulars, and grants and contracts, with particular emphasis on all subject matters or functions assigned to the General Law Division. The attorney may be called on to represent the agency in administrative proceedings.
• Assist other Chief Counsel divisions, which may include rulemaking or grant administration activities.
• Provide legal services related to FTA programs and internal administration at all levels of the organization.
• Provide legal advice and support on complex or high-profile legal and policy issues.
• Work in teams with other attorneys and non-attorney colleagues to advance agency objectives.

The ideal candidate has experience advising and representing a federal agency on administrative matters, preferably with experience administering federal grants or advising and defending contracting activity subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• This is an Excepted Service position.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period.
• ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 2634.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION : Applicants may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.

Qualifications

To qualify for consideration at each grade level, your experience and education should meet the following:

GRADE 11- Possess a law degree (LLB, or J.D.) and be a member in good standing of a bar. No professional legal experience is necessary.

GRADE 12- Possess a law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least one year of professional attorney experience, which may be in the form of a second professional law degree (LL.M) that requires one full year of graduate study.

GRADE 13 - Possess a law degree, bar membership in good standing, and at least two years of professional attorney experience. One year which maybe in the form of and a second professional law degree (LL.M) which requires one full year of graduate study.

GRADE 14 - Possess a law degree, bar membership in good standing, and at least three years of professional attorney experience. One year of which maybe in the form of a second professional law degree (LL.M.) that requires one full year of graduate study.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Legal, Government and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.
2. Grants Management Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines: Knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, policies, practices, and guidelines (for example, Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations, OMB circulars) of grant or agreement programs, including their order of precedence.

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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link:

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

To qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Additional information

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 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 2-year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, View email address on click.appcast.io. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

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.

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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.