Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Attorney

Department of the Interior
National Indian Gaming Commission
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Office of General Counsel within the National Indian Gaming Commission is looking for an attorney capable of exercising judgment while performing challenging legal assignments, with a broad knowledge of the field of Federal Indian law and regulations as they pertain to Indian gaming and in relation to the operations of the IGRA, and federal, state, and tribal laws and regulations.

 

 

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/13/2019 to 09/20/2019
Salary
$83,398 to - $128,920 per year
Pay scale & grade
AD 12 - 13
Location
District of Columbia, DC
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Limited travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
NIGC-19-EW-013(EXC)
Control number
545432700

Duties

Help

This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures. Competitive Civil Service status is not acquired under this appointment. New appointees to the Federal Government must serve a two year trial period. Merit Promotion procedures do not apply. 

The NIGC has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework with supervisory approval.

This position requires a public trust background investigation.

Major duties at the full performance level include but are not limited to:

  • represent the Commission in administrative and federal litigation regarding Indian gaming matters;
  • research and prepare memoranda, litigation reports, briefs, and opinions involving the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act;
  • review and recommend the approval or disapproval of tribal gaming ordinances and management contracts;
  • review transactional documents such as management contracts, loan agreements, security agreements, promissory notes, and consulting agreements to determine their compliance with federal law;
  • deliver oral opinions and written memoranda, draft regulations, and procedures to the Chair and the Commission;
  • participate in conferences with officials of the Commission, Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, and other Federal, state, and tribal agencies furnishing guidance and counsel on legal matters, resolving legal questions, or justifying legal positions taken;
  • provide trainings and technical assistance for tribal governments and regulators;
  • identify and understand the interrelationships between the work processes of the Commission and the various public and private groups interested in these operations; and
  • assist attorneys of higher grades and top-level administrative personnel in the analysis and interpretation of various federal laws, orders, rules, and regulations relating to issues before the Commission.

Assignments will be specifically designed to prepare you for advancement to the next higher level without further competition.  Advancement to the next higher level is not guaranteed, and depends on:  (1) a demonstrated ability to successfully perform at the next higher level, to the satisfaction of the immediate supervisor; (2) the availability of sufficient work at the next higher level to warrant advancement; and (3) having satisfied all legal and regulatory requirements for advancement.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen
  • You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination
  • You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
  • You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire

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/.

Qualifications

To qualify for this vacancy, you must meet both the basic requirements and the specialized experience requirements for the grade level you are applying.

Basic Requirement:

Possess a JD or higher level law degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, and active bar membership in a state, US territory, or the District of Columbia.

Specialized Experience:

GS-12 equivalent

You must have at least one (1) year of professional legal experience following law school graduation which included demonstrated knowledge or experience in any combination of the following: federal Indian law, gaming law, finance, regulatory investigations, regulation drafting, contracts, or administrative law. Demonstrated experience, interest in and understanding of federal Indian law is preferred.

GS-13 equivalent

You must have three (3) years of professional legal experience following law school graduation. At least one (1) year must have included demonstrated knowledge or experience in any combination of the following: federal Indian law, gaming law, finance, regulatory investigations, regulation drafting, contracts, or administrative law. Demonstrated experience, interest in and understanding of federal Indian law is preferred.

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

Important Note : All National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-Form 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency. This information will be required annually . 

Employees must be totally objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work related interactions with friends, family members or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.

This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures.

When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES (political) employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

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.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the National Indian Gaming Commission.  The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete.  If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check.  Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau Security Office.

For additional information about the National Indian Gaming Commission, please visit: www.nigc.gov .

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.

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.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:


  • Technical Knowledge - Broad knowledge of legal principles, theories, concepts and practices in order to conduct legal research and analysis of laws, contracts, legal decisions, cases and legal precedents.
  • Decision Making - Ability to differentiate major issues which call for extensive legal research, difficult legal analysis, and sound judgment in drafting a decision or opinion.
  • Interpersonal Communication- Ability to interface with sophisticated outside counsel and representatives in order to persuade, explain, and negotiate controversial issues while maintaining the Government’s and the Commission’s position; abilitytoexhibit professionaltechniques,skills,soundjudgment,andtactwhendealingwithothersatall levelsbothwithinandoutsideof the National Indian Gaming Commission.
  • Initiative - Knowledge and ability to keep projectsonrequiredschedules while working under pressure when office emergencies, changing needs, or frequent interruptions occur, update seniormanagementonprogressasrequested, and effectively interpret the Commission’s views, policies, and preferred methods of operation.




To preview questions please click here.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.