Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizen

At the entry level of this position, you will:

• Provide legal advice, perform legal research, prepare legal documentation, and provide policy recommendations.

• Prepare memoranda or reports describing legal issues involved, providing basis of legal analysis and conclusions, summarizing legal principles involved.

• Research any number of the legal questions which arise under regulations, statutes, and executive orders in the course of lawsuits, enforcement actions, and other administrative actions affecting the Agency’s/Region’s programs.  

• Assist in developing the factual bases for enforcement actions, including field sampling, inspections, and other types of compliance activities.

• Perform the full range of litigation activities. Coordinate difficult defensive and enforcement litigation in connection with regional matters arising under the statutes. Conduct discovery and prepare motions, briefs and other litigation documents.

• Work closely with EPA’s Office of Enforcement, Office of General Counsel, and the Department of Justice. Coordinate with state Attorneys General as required. Represent the Region in administrative proceedings of EPA and other agencies.

• Conduct negotiations, informal and formal dispute resolution, and Regional representational work. Represent the Region in its dealings with outside parties, including negotiation of bilateral agreements, consent orders and judgments, and memoranda of understanding.Represent the Region in negotiating the settlement of disputed matters in order to avoid protracted and expensive litigation and facilitate expeditious administration of Agency programs.

• Serve as a coordinator of one or more subject matter areas of interest to the Office of Regional Counsel. Maintain specialized expertise in such area(s) and serve as a consultant to other attorneys in the Agency. May serve on task forces of regional  attorneys in seeking solutions to common legal problems or in preparing guidance documents, model agreements, regulations, pleadings, etc. Arrange conference calls, meetings, and other means of exchanging information among regional attorneys.

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.

Conditions of employment

• An LL.B. or J.D. is required.
• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.

Current Bar membership in good standing/law license is required.

You must self-certify annually and in writing that you hold an active bar membership.

If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.

This position is designated as High Risk and requires a background investigation.  Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation.  All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.

If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year trial period.

Qualifications

You 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.

In addition, the following specialized training or experience is desired:

To qualify for the GS-13 level, you need to have at least one year of full time substantial experience equivalent to the GS-12 level defined as experience working on a wide variety of complex matters requiring knowledge and expertise in the area of federal environmental law, requiring legal research and analysis of complicated policy issues.

To qualify for the GS-14 level, you need to have at least one year of full time substantial experience equivalent to the GS-13 level defined as federal environmental law experience working independently on a wide variety of complex matters, requiring extensive legal research and analysis of complicated policy issues; providing policy and case-specific advice on environmental matters in a direct attorney-client relationship to leadership, senior management, or stakeholders.

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.

If you have part-time work experience, read this:  EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy.  Applications will be evaluated against the basic qualifications and then may be subject to additional assessments.

EPA considers veterans’ preference as a positive factor.  Applicants who have veterans’ preference are encouraged to include their information in their cover letters or resumes and attach supporting documentation to substantiate their preference.

Excepted service positions are not covered by regular civil service hiring procedures.