Clarification from the agency

Excepted Service

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Providing legal research, analysis, advice, representation, and other legal services, including drafting legal opinions, to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) and other bureaus and officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on issues that arise with respect to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). OSMRE's primary objectives include ensuring that coal mines are operated in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining and ensures that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and to mitigate the effects of past coal mining.
• Handling administrative litigation in the DOI Office of Hearings and Appeals and assisting the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with judicial litigation (e.g., conducting research, analysis, and interpretation of legal theory, laws, regulations, judicial and administrative court decisions, and other legal documents in the preparation and presentation of assigned litigation, hearings, appeals, and negotiations). This position may require drafting of litigation reports, motions and briefs, responding to discovery, reviewing administrative records, collecting evidence, developing legal theories, and other associated responsibilities.
• Advising, analyzing, and assisting OSMRE on rulemakings, enforcement actions, State program and reclamation plan amendments, policy initiatives, guidance documents, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters, or other agency decisions. This will require providing oral and written advice, including legal memoranda.
• Cooperating with officials and staff of OSMRE in its headquarters, regional, field, and area offices; officials and staff of other bureaus of DOI; other attorneys within the Office of the Solicitor, attorneys in DOJ, including attorneys in the offices of the U.S. Attorneys; officials and to in other Federal agencies; and State, local, or tribal officials. There may also be interactions with attorneys and others representing non-governmental interests, such as the coal industry or citizens' groups.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• Active bar membership is required for all attorneys engaged in the practice of law in Federal government.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

In order to better assess your qualifications for this position, when preparing your cover letter please address your experience in or familiarity with the following: the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA); Administrative Procedure Act; the National Environmental Policy Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and various Federal laws related to bankruptcies, appropriations, and federal financial assistance, including grants. In addition, please address your experience in or familiarity with the following areas of legal work: research and writing legal memoranda and opinions; providing oral or written legal advice or recommendations to Federal, state, local, or tribal agencies, clients, judges, and/or senior attorneys; drafting
regulations or legislation; and litigating in Federal court or before an administrative law judge or appeals board.

Basic Qualification Requirements
Applicants must be law school graduates with LL.B. or J.D. degrees AND applicants must be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

• To qualify for a GS-12 applicants must possess at least 2 years of professional legal experience following law school graduation;
• To qualify for a GS-13 applicants must possess at least 3 years of professional legal experience following law school graduation;
• To qualify for a GS-14 applicants must possess at least 4.5 years of professional legal experience following law school graduation;

For any of the grades indicated above you can also substitute one year of experience with any of the following:

• have a second professional law degree; OR
• meet any of the criteria indicated below;
  1. academic standing in top one-third of law school graduating class;
  2. graduation with academic honors;
  3. significant participation on the law school's law review;
  4. significant participation in the law school's moot court competition;
  5. significant participation in a clinical legal aid program;
  6. significant summer law office clerk experience; or
  7. other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

Candidates should have excellent oral communication, writing, research and analysis skills, and the ability to work effectively with other people, and exercise sound judgment.

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.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website:https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

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.

Please note applicants must meet the all qualifications requirement and submit all required documentation by closing date of the announcement for consideration for this position. Failure to meet all qualifications requirement and/or submit all required documents will result in an ineligible for consideration rating.

Applicants who are found to be qualified and referred to the selecting official for consideration may be asked to provide a writing sample. Instructions will be included in the email communication sent to qualified candidates.

Basis of Rating: Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applicants that meet the basic eligibility and qualification requirements of the position will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

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.

Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13104053