Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate for this position will have experience with: (1) civil litigation including discovery and trial practice; and (2) providing legal guidance to judges, hearing officers, or similar professionals.

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13 level. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

The incumbent functions as attorney-advisor to the Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and Small Claims Officer (SCO). The incumbent provides a full range of legal advice to the Commission's ALJs and SCO on issues arising under the Shipping Act. Preference is for someone experienced in conducting discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including litigating or resolving discovery motions.

• Conducts comprehensive legal research with minimal guidance, including examination of applicable laws, statutes, regulations, administrative and court decisions, and other materials necessary for ensuring and supporting sound decisions resolving factual and legal issues that may impact consumers and the shipping industry. Able to resolve complex legal issues where there are no directly relevant guiding documents by exercising sound legal judgement.
• Reviews and analyzes extensive factual records, often consisting of thousands of pages of exhibits. Independently evaluates the factual basis for allegations of Shipping Act violations and communicates this evaluation to an ALJ or SCO in oral or written form with attention to detail. Identifies additional information that may be necessary to make a legal determination of the merits of the claim. Recommends disposition of discovery disputes that arise between the parties. Summarizes and makes recommendations regarding expert witness testimony.
• Applies knowledge and experience to analyze complex legal issues presented in proceedings by evaluating the factual basis and applying legal principles derived from rules, regulations, and case law precedent where there is limited existing guidance. Communicates reasons for proposed disposition of cases to ALJs or SCO both orally and in writing. Provides justifications for recommended decisions with citations to relevant facts in evidence and sound legal authorities.
• Drafts standard orders for review by the ALJs and SCO that can be issued without any changes. Drafts complex orders, including orders resolving time- and fact-sensitive discovery disputes, that require only minimal editing and guidance from the ALJ or SCO. Manage multiple competing assignments with tight timelines independently and appropriately plan, organize, and prioritize those assignments.
• Develops policies and procedures for hearings and conferences with multiple attendees, ensuring that proper notice is provided. Independently communicates office policies to potentially challenging or distressed parties (including unrepresented pro se parties) and attorneys, either orally or in writing, ensuring that all applicable rules are followed. Represents the office at staff meetings and works with peers in other offices. Occasional interaction with high-level officials on routine matters.
• Provide data necessary and assist with preparation of caseload and budget reports. Develop and maintain system to monitor caseload and applicable case management systems. Ensures that parties are properly served with orders issued by the ALJs and SCO. Research and provide recommendations on service issues.

Conditions of employment

Qualifications

You must meet the following by the close of the announcement:

1. Minimum educational requirements include a professional law degree (LLB or J.D.) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school. NOTE: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. An ABA-approved law school may allow students to receive credit for law study or activities at a foreign institution and grant credit for the J.D. degree if those studies or activities are approved in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Criteria adopted by the ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.
2. Current active membership in a bar of any State, territory, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia. Active bar association and a certificate that the member is in good standing will be verified prior to appointment and employees must maintain active bar membership in good standing while employed as an attorney with the FMC.
3. Applicants must possess excellent research and oral and written communication skills. Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:
   • Experience in conducting discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including litigating or resolving discovery motions.

AND
Qualifications for the GS-11: You must meet one of the following and submit all relevant transcripts:

1. First professional law degree and one year of professional specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level. Experience is described in the "How You will be Evaluated" section; OR
2. Meet the GS-09 experience requirement plus possess the second professional law degree that requires one full year of graduate study; OR
3. Possess the first professional law degree provided the applicant's record shows superior law student work or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:
   • Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class;
   • Work or achievement of significance on the law school's official law review;
   • Special high level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif;
   • Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools; OR
   • Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation.

Recent Graduates: An interim appointment of 14 months may be made pending the selectees admission to the bar. The selectee will be required to provide admittance and standing to the Bar and possibly a copy of their official law school transcripts.

Qualifications for the GS-12 and GS-13: In addition to meeting the education requirements, applicants applying for the one or more of these grade level(s) must possess professional law experience and specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11 or GS-12 respectively), outlined under the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine that you possess at least one year of professional, specialized law experience relative to the grade you are applying. Please ensure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position.

Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position being filled. Law clerk experience (post J.D.) can be considered professional law experience if the candidate performed attorney duties.

Specialized experience is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and performed at level equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service:

For the GS-11: Conducting legal research with guidance from supervisor; drafting factual summaries; recommending disposition of legal issues; drafting orders with supervisory guidance; coordinating hearings and conferences; monitoring caseload and utilizing case management systems.

For the GS-12: Conducting comprehensive legal research and recommending resolution of complex issues for which there is minimal precedent; evaluating factual records, including expert testimony, and summarizing arguments; drafting orders with moderate level of supervisory guidance; coordinating hearings and conferences, including independently communicating office policies to parties; monitoring caseload and recommending improvements to case management systems.

For the GS-13: Conducting comprehensive legal research with minimal guidance and resolving complex and novel legal issues by exercising sound judgment; independently evaluating factual records including expert testimony; recommending disposition of discovery disputes; drafting orders that can be issued with minimal editing and guidance; developing procedures for hearings and conferences; interacting with high-level officials; providing data for and assisting with creation of caseload and budget reports.


The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full­ time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis.

It is your responsibility to ensure your resume states complete information for each job entry. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year (MM/YYYY), and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume. If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.