EPA's, Office of General Counsel (OGC) is hiring three Attorney-Advisers. Two will be assigned to the Water Law Office and the third will be assigned to the Pesticides and Toxic Substances Law Office. OGC serves as the chief legal advisor to the Agency’s senior management and program offices on Agency rules, permits, response actions, and legislation. OGC lawyers also work with attorneys in the Department of Justice to represent the Agency in defensive litigation in the federal courts.
Summary
EPA's, Office of General Counsel (OGC) is hiring three Attorney-Advisers. Two will be assigned to the Water Law Office and the third will be assigned to the Pesticides and Toxic Substances Law Office. OGC serves as the chief legal advisor to the Agency’s senior management and program offices on Agency rules, permits, response actions, and legislation. OGC lawyers also work with attorneys in the Department of Justice to represent the Agency in defensive litigation in the federal courts.
Occasional travel - You may be required to travel less than 1 to 5 days per month.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
14 - When entering a Federal job at a grade level lower than the highest promotion potential level, you may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses.
OGC contains eight law offices including the Water Law Office (WLO) and the Pesticides and Toxic Substances Law Office (PTSLO). WLO consists of three practice groups that provide legal counsel to EPA Headquarters and regional offices on several federal environmental statutes governing water protection, including the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.
One of the two Attorney-Advisers hired for the position located in WLO will work under the supervision of the Associate General Counsel for Water on matters arising under the federal water statutes. The other Attorney-Adviser hired in WLO will work approximately 50% of their time on water law matters, and the other 50% on environmental law matters handled by one other law office in the OGC, to be determined at a later date.
PTSLO consists of three practice groups that provide legal counsel to the EPA Headquarters and regional offices on several federal environmental statutes governing pesticides, toxic substances, and pollution prevention including the Toxic Substances Act, the Pollution Prevention Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Food Quality Protection Act, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The Attorney-Adviser hired for the position in PTSLO will work under the supervision of the Associate General Counsel for Pesticides and Toxic Substances on matters arising under any of the aforementioned federal statutes governing pesticides, toxic substances, and pollution prevention.
For more information on this office, visit their website: http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-general-counsel-ogc
At the entry level of this position, you will:
Work under the general supervision of the Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel (OGC), and, as appropriate, under the guidance of one or more practice group leaders. Receive preliminary and established instructions as to methods of approach, source material available, and Agency policy and precedent.
Provide advice and counseling in support of all EPA Headquarters program offices on a broad array of legal matters arising under environmental statutes and other legal issues within the attorney’s areas of responsibility.
Act as legal counsel to the EPA and be responsible for representing the EPA in proceedings filed before courts.
Assist the U.S. Department of Justice in defending the EPA in litigation filed against the Agency in federal courts.
Conduct research of laws, legal opinions, and precedent cases for complex and difficult legal issues for which the legal issue researched is a segment of an extremely complex case.
Analyze factual and legal issues presented to determine what further facts are needed and what legal sources are applicable.
Initiate contacts with program officials and other persons having knowledge of the facts involved in the problem or case under study.
If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required
You must submit a resume and required documents (See How to Apply)
You may be required to travel occasionally
Qualifications
Applicant must have an LL.B. or J.D. degree from an accredited law school; must be admitted to practice before the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and must maintain active status as a member of the bar of one of these jurisdictions. Incumbent must have experience in providing legal advice and counsel at EPA, other federal, state or local agencies, or in private practice.
If you are selected, you must complete a one-year trial period.
The ideal candidate will possess knowledge and relevant experience in administrative and environmental law and will have a strong academic and employment record, including evidence of nuanced legal analysis, excellent writing skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and mature judgement.
Except as noted above, Attorney-Advisers in these positions will focus on work under the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Federal, Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and the Toxics Release Inventory provisions of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Experience with these statutes is desired, but not required.
Please identify in your written statement of interest and resume any specialized experience in administrative and environmental law, including work with TSCA and these other statutes, if applicable. Note: Please include a separate business-style resume with your application in lieu of the automated USAJobs resume. This document should be uploaded under the Supporting Documentation Tab.
If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form prior to your first day of employment and annually thereafter.
This position is designated as a Moderate Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation.
Additional information
It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual’s employment experience will be used only to determine the person’s qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual’s personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination. For more information, visit https://hru.gov/Studio_Recruitment/tools/Mythbuster_on_Federal_Hiring_Policies
These positions are in the bargaining unit.
EPA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: http://www.epa.gov/careers/epa-job-vacancy-announcements-policies-and-procedures
If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.
Position has portable work and selectee may be eligible to telework.
This position is in the excepted service. Selection under this appointment authority does not confer civil service competitive status; however, this position is covered for the purpose of federal retirement and benefits.
Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed above.
If you are selected, you will be expected to report to work as soon as practical but no later than thirty (30) days from the date you receive a final job offer. Extension of this reporting requirement may be granted only under extraordinary circumstances.
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.
Join EPA in protecting human health and the environment and enjoy many work life quality options! Working for the EPA offers you a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To learn more about us, visit Life and Careers at EPA.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Initially, you will be evaluated based on the information contained in your resume packet. If an interview is granted, you will be evaluated based on the responses you provide during an interview. In responding to interview questions, you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did and the outcome.
There is no numerical rating system for applying veteran’s preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Office of General Counsel considers veteran’s preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.
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.
Join EPA in protecting human health and the environment and enjoy many work life quality options! Working for the EPA offers you a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To learn more about us, visit Life and Careers at EPA.
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.
Documents to be submitted should be in PDF format only:
Resume (Please include a separate business-style resume with your application in lieu of the automated USAJobs resume. This document should be uploaded under the Supporting Documentation Tab)
Written statement (no more than two single-spaced pages) specifically addressing your qualifications for this position
Writing sample (of no more than ten pages)
References (names and contact information of three professional references)
Copy of bar certification
Veterans' Preference Documents - DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service), VA letter stating overall/combined disability rating (percentage), and SF-15, if applicable; active duty service members: submit certification from the armed forces documenting active duty dates, expected discharge/release date, campaign medals/badges, and character of service (a certification is any written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged/released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after you submit the certification).
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.
Please completely read through this announcement before applying. Please do not mail in your information. All required documents must be uploaded to this job vacancy announcement by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, District of Columbia 20460
United States
Next steps
The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 60 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified of the outcome.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Documents to be submitted should be in PDF format only:
Resume (Please include a separate business-style resume with your application in lieu of the automated USAJobs resume. This document should be uploaded under the Supporting Documentation Tab)
Written statement (no more than two single-spaced pages) specifically addressing your qualifications for this position
Writing sample (of no more than ten pages)
References (names and contact information of three professional references)
Copy of bar certification
Veterans' Preference Documents - DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service), VA letter stating overall/combined disability rating (percentage), and SF-15, if applicable; active duty service members: submit certification from the armed forces documenting active duty dates, expected discharge/release date, campaign medals/badges, and character of service (a certification is any written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged/released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after you submit the certification).
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.
Please completely read through this announcement before applying. Please do not mail in your information. All required documents must be uploaded to this job vacancy announcement by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement.
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, District of Columbia 20460
United States
Next steps
The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 60 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified of the outcome.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
