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Attorney Advisor

Environmental Protection Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in Region 10, Office of Regional Counsel.  If selected, you must work at the location stated in this announcement.  About Region 10: EPA Region 10

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/03/2020 to 11/23/2020
Salary
$70,120 to - $91,155 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
Seattle, WA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be required to travel up to 25% of each month.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - Term not-to-exceed 2 years.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
CI-R10-OT-2021-0002
Control number
583458100

Duties

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At the entry level of this position, you will:

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

  • Perform negotiations and informal dispute resolution to settle matters to facilitate expeditious administration of Agency programs.

  • Engage in counseling and enforcement matters in both administrative and judicial forums for issues arising under the statutes and programs managed in ORC.


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.

Requirements

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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.
  • This is a temporary position (see Other Information on assignment limits).
  • You must be a U.S. citizen.

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.

This position is designated as Moderate 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: Environmental law or public service as shown through academic courses, internships or other experience; excellent academic credentials, including strong research, writing, and verbal skills. 

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.

Additional information

This position is excluded from provisions of the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP).

Selection under this appointment authority does not confer civil service competitive status.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA.  Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values.  Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency’s workplace and mission.  We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance.

About the Office of Regional Counsel, Region 10:  ORC seeks applicants for a two-year position beginning approximately August 2021 for our Honors Attorney Fellows Program.  The Program is designed for 2021 law school graduates (Law Clerk announcement #CI-R10-OT-2020-0029) and recent graduates completing judicial clerkships (Attorney Advisor announcement #CI-R10-OT-2021-0002).  Candidates with excellent academic credentials, strong research/writing/verbal skills and a demonstrated interest in an environmental law career/public service are encouraged to apply.  The position provides an opportunity to practice law in a leading governmental environmental organization. Fellows will be given challenging cases that include enforcement/counseling work and will receive training and mentoring from experienced colleagues with recognized expertise. ORC consists of approximately 35 attorneys who work under a broad range of federal environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act (CWA); Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA); Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA); Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA); Oil Pollution Act (OPA); Clean Air Act (CAA); Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA); Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund); Endangered Species Act (ESA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 


If you have questions about this position, contact Lisa A. Castañon, Deputy Regional Counsel, Office of Regional Counsel, at castanon.lisa@epa.gov and/or 206-553-0464.

This position is 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:  EPA Announcement 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.

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.

Position has portable work and selectee may be authorized to telework after meeting eligibility requirements if approved by the supervisor/manager.

If you are selected, your appointment may be extended beyond the initial not-to-exceed date to a maximum of two years.

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.


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