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Legal Fellow

Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary of the Interior
National Indian Gaming Commission
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The National Indian Gaming Commission's primary mission is to work within the framework created by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) for the regulation of gaming activities conducted by tribes on Indian lands to fully realize IGRA's goals: (1) promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments; (2) maintaining the integrity of the Indian gaming industry; and (3) ensuring that tribes are the primary beneficiaries of their gaming activities.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/08/2024 to 07/17/2024
Salary
$72,553 to - $94,317 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1 year
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NIGC-24-EW-008(EXC)
Control number
797883100

Duties

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This is a temporary appointment not to exceed one year.

This position is located in the Office of General Counsel. The Office of General Counsel provides legal advice and counsel to the Commission on all matters relating to IGRA and its compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Office represents the Chair in enforcement actions and, as needed, coordinates with the U.S. Department of Justice to implement the Commission's enforcement actions. The Office also plays a role in handling appeals before the full Commission. When Commission action results in litigation, the Office works directly with the Department of Justice.

The Office of the General Counsel also manages the day-to-day legal affairs of the NIGC, providing counsel and legal support to each division. The Office reviews tribal gaming ordinances and proposed management contracts; provides legal advisory opinions on the classification of games played in tribal gaming facilities, on Indian land issues, on contract issues, and on general law questions. The Office also coordinates opinions and other matters with the Department of the Interior's Office of the Solicitor, and other federal agencies as necessary. The Office is committed to the professional development of new attorneys in the field of federal Indian law.

Major duties at the full performance level (GG-11) include but are not limited to:

  1. research and prepare memoranda, litigation reports, briefs, and opinions involving the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act;
  2. review and recommend the approval or disapproval of tribal gaming ordinances and management contracts;
  3. review transactional documents such as management contracts, loan agreements, security agreements, promissory notes, and consulting agreements to determine their compliance with federal law;
  4. deliver oral opinions and written memoranda, draft regulations, and procedures to the Chair and the Commission;
  5. participate in conferences with officials of the Commission, Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, and other Federal, state, and tribal agencies furnishing guidance and counsel on legal matters, resolving legal questions, or justifying legal positions taken;
  6. provide trainings and technical assistance for tribal governments and regulators;
  7. identify and understand the interrelationships between the work processes of the Commission and the various public and private groups interested in these operations;
  8. assist staff and senior attorneys and top-level administrative personnel in the analysis and interpretation of various federal laws, orders, rules, and regulations relating to issues before the Commission.

The posted salary is that for locations that do not fall within a specific pay locality table. Your final salary would be determined based on where you live. For more information on locality pay tables: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule


This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures. Competitive Civil Service status is not acquired under this appointment. New appointees to the excepted service must serve a two year trial period. Merit Promotion procedures do not apply.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
  3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
  4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
  5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

To meet the basic qualification requirements for this position, you must have:

  1. completed or will complete at least one course in federal Indian law or equivalent; and
  2. completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD); OR will have completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and will have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) by the entrance on duty date.
* Due to the nature of NIGC's practice, experience or demonstrated interest in Indian law or a background in Indian affairs or gaming is highly desirable.

Education

Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. 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.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Additional information

Important Note : All National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-Form 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency. This information will be required annually .

Employees must be totally objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work related interactions with friends, family members or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.

This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures.

When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES (political) employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. 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.

A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the National Indian Gaming Commission. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau Security Office.

For additional information about the National Indian Gaming Commission, please visit: www.nigc.gov .
NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made.

To preview the assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12441685

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