With an emphasis on high ethical standards, excellence in public service and the delivery of quality legal services, the Office of the Solicitor performs the legal work for the United States Department of the Interior, manages the Department's Ethics Office and resolves FOIA Appeals. With more than four hundred total employees, three hundred of which are attorneys licensed in forty states, the Office strives to provide sound legal services to fulfill the Department's diverse and wide-ranging mission.
What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?
This is an excepted appointment not-to-exceed 2 years, for which all qualified applicants, with or without Federal status, may apply and be considered. This appointment may be extended for additional periods of time without further competition.
The Office of the Solicitor has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty location identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this location on a regular and recurring basis.
With an emphasis on high ethical standards, excellence in public service and the delivery of quality legal services, the Office of the Solicitor performs the legal work for the United States Department of the Interior, manages the Department's Ethics Office and resolves FOIA Appeals. With more than four hundred total employees, three hundred of which are attorneys licensed in forty states, the Office strives to provide sound legal services to fulfill the Department's diverse and wide-ranging mission.
What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?
This is an excepted appointment not-to-exceed 2 years, for which all qualified applicants, with or without Federal status, may apply and be considered. This appointment may be extended for additional periods of time without further competition.
The Office of the Solicitor has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty location identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this location on a regular and recurring basis.
As an Attorney-Advisor (General) with the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Rocky Mountain Region, Federal and Indian Royalties Section, located in Lakewood, CO your specific duties will include:
1. Provide a full array of legal services to the offices and programs of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) with particular emphasis on legal issues related to the appropriate interpretation and implementation of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. §§ 1701-59; the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, 30 U.S.C. §§ 181 et seq.; and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), 43 U.S.C. §§ 1331-1356b. Accordingly, some familiarity with the federal laws governing the leasing of federal and Indian minerals and the accounting for, and collection and disbursement of, royalties from federal and Indian mineral leases is highly desirable. Moreover, familiarity with the general principles of federal Indian law is preferable.
Regularly work with ONRR to develop and formally promulgate regulations implementing FOGRMA; regularly represent ONRR in administrative appeals before the Hearings Division of the Department of the Interior’s Office of Hearings and Appeals and before the Interior Board of Land Appeals; and regularly provide litigation support to the Department of Justice when rules, administrative decisions or actions are challenged in federal court.
Provide both oral and written advice to ONRR on a wide variety of matters, including questions related to the Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Accordingly, some knowledge of federal administrative law is highly desirable for this position.
Assist ONRR and the Department of Justice in developing, reviewing, filing, and proving up the United States’ claims in bankruptcy proceedings of entities whose assets include interests in federal or Indian mineral leases.
2. Coordinate with colleagues and other offices in the Office of the Solicitor to ensure that legal advice provided is consistent and uniform and reflects the priorities of the Department of the Interior and the Secretary of the Interior.
3. Review proposed legislation and testimony on proposed legislation related to the ONRR’s offices and programs and assist with responses to Congressional document requests.
The incumbant will report directly to the Assistant Regional Solicitor for Royalties; will meet regularly with the Assistant Regional Solicitor to discuss pending matters; and will keep the Assistant Regional Solicitor apprised of all potentially controversial matters or matters of national significance.
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.
More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Qualifications
In order to better assess your qualifications for this position, when preparing your resume and cover letter please be sure to address your experience in or familiarity with the following areas of legal work: researching and writing legal memoranda and opinions; providing legal advice or recommendations to clients, judges, and/or senior attorneys; litigating in Federal court; preparing transactional agreements and other documents; and researching and applying evidentiary privileges and handling e-discovery matters, including familiarity with technology associated with the electronic search, retrieval, and review of documents. In addition, please address your experience in or familiarity with the following subject matter areas and legal authorities: Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. §§ 1701-59; the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, 30 U.S.C. §§ 181 et seq.; the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), 43 U.S.C. §§ 1331-1356b; leasing of federal and Indian minerals and the accounting for, and collection and disbursement of, royalties from federal and Indian mineral leases; and matters arising under the Administrative Procedure Act (including rule making).
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.
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-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:
--GS-13 = 2 years --GS-14 = 3 ½ years
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
Education
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.
Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. 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.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/foreign.html.
Additional information
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.
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.
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
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.
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.
--The information and materials you provide will be used to evaluate that you meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements for this position.
--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 questions please click here.
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.
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.
-- Resume - A detailed resume that demonstrate your professional history, education and qualifications. Along with the state in which your active Bar membership is held
-- Transcripts -This position requires specific educational course work to qualify, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned and grade received, by the closing date of this announcement. Please ensure that all documentation is legible. If you are currently employed by the Federal government in the same occupational series as the advertised position, you are not required to submit transcripts at this time. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts.
-- Cover Letter - 1-2 page cover letter is desired expressing your interest and qualifications for this position.
-- Writting Sample - No more than 10 pages that demonstrates the following skills: issue identification, legal analysis, counseling and/or advocacy.
--If you are claiming veterans' preference you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, by the closing date of this announcement. If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans preference and that your character of military service is honorable. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must submit documentation that supports your claim (e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability; or receipt of a Purple Heart). If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans preference. Additional information on veterans' preference can be found in the VetGuide.
--Required documents may be: 1) faxed to the Agency Contact (see "Contact Information") 2) uploaded directly from your desktop 3) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments 4)hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see 'Contact Information').
--Auto-Requested Fax: allows you to submit required documentation that will be electronically displayed along with your resume.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
--Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance.
--Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1) Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2) If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3) As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4) Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5) Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6) Submit required documents using one of the available methods listed below. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
INTERIOR, Office of the Solicitor
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS-600
Reston, Virginia 20192
United States
Next steps
--We expect to make a selection within 30-45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified via email of the outcome. You can also go to "My Account" within USAJOBS to review your Application Status.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
-- Resume - A detailed resume that demonstrate your professional history, education and qualifications. Along with the state in which your active Bar membership is held
-- Transcripts -This position requires specific educational course work to qualify, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned and grade received, by the closing date of this announcement. Please ensure that all documentation is legible. If you are currently employed by the Federal government in the same occupational series as the advertised position, you are not required to submit transcripts at this time. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts.
-- Cover Letter - 1-2 page cover letter is desired expressing your interest and qualifications for this position.
-- Writting Sample - No more than 10 pages that demonstrates the following skills: issue identification, legal analysis, counseling and/or advocacy.
--If you are claiming veterans' preference you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, by the closing date of this announcement. If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans preference and that your character of military service is honorable. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must submit documentation that supports your claim (e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability; or receipt of a Purple Heart). If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans preference. Additional information on veterans' preference can be found in the VetGuide.
--Required documents may be: 1) faxed to the Agency Contact (see "Contact Information") 2) uploaded directly from your desktop 3) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments 4)hand delivered to the servicing Human Resources Office (see 'Contact Information').
--Auto-Requested Fax: allows you to submit required documentation that will be electronically displayed along with your resume.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
--Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance.
--Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1) Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2) If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3) As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4) Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5) Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6) Submit required documents using one of the available methods listed below. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
INTERIOR, Office of the Solicitor
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS-600
Reston, Virginia 20192
United States
Next steps
--We expect to make a selection within 30-45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified via email of the outcome. You can also go to "My Account" within USAJOBS to review your Application Status.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
