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Attorney-Adviser (Appellate Litigation)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Jul 5, 2022
Duties

The major duties of this position are:
  • Working collaboratively with staff from other Board Offices on the agency's decisions, focusing primarily on defensibility.
  • Defending the Board's decisions, and otherwise acting as counsel for the Surface Transportation Board, in the U.S. courts of appeals and, occasionally, in U.S. district courts or state courts.
  • Independently investigating and analyzing facts, conducting necessary research, and otherwise performing the full range of professional legal work involved in the preparation of pleadings and arguments in court representing the Surface Transportation Board.
  • Advising and assisting the Board with respect to legal matters concerning the duties, functions, and activities of the Board, the interpretation of federal laws applicable to or affecting the Board or its activities (including the Interstate Commerce Act), the preparation or review of rules, regulations, orders, and opinions, and other documents.


Requirements

Conditions of Employment


U.S. Citizenship is required.

All qualification requirements must be met by 10/20/2022. Your application package will not receive consideration if it lacks any of the required documents under the "Required Documents" tab.

Trial Period: Two-year trial period may be required.

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/

Background Suitability Investigation: Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability or security clearance. If selected, you may be offered tentative employment until the background investigation has been fully adjudicated.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Qualifications

The Office of Personnel Management has not issued qualification standards for attorney positions. However, successful candidates must possess the following minimum qualifications before the closing date of this posting or by submission of application:
  • A professional law degree (LL.B, J.D., LL.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA);
  • Current membership in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. Proof of bar membership will be required before entering on duty.

All candidates being considered must demonstrate through their application documents: excellent research and writing skills, incisive legal analytical ability, strong oral advocacy and presentation skills, and ability to collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams.

GS-14 candidates must have three years of professional legal experience: analyzing facts, conducting legal research, preparing pleadings/ motions/briefs, conducting oral arguments, managing litigation deadlines, and providing legal counsel on an array of issues, preferably related to transportation economics, rate regulation/competition, environmental or administrative law. Federal clerkships count towards creditable experience.

GS-15 candidates must have four years of professional legal experience: analyzing facts, conducting legal research, preparing pleadings/ motions/briefs, conducting oral arguments, managing litigation deadlines, and providing legal counsel on an array of issues, preferably related to transportation economics, rate regulation/competition, environmental or administrative law. Federal clerkships count towards creditable experience.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-14 and 15 grade level.

Basic Education Requirement: Applicants must possess a JD degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (or have an LLM (Master of Laws) degree or other graduate law degree in addition to a JD) and be an active member of the bar (in any U.S. jurisdiction).

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at U.S. accredited college or university. For further information visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

This position is eligible for telework in accordance with STB's telework policy.

Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine. The STB will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation may be needed.

Fitness Center: STB employees, at no cost, have access to the fitness center conveniently located in the building; and

A monthly transit subsidy for a portion of your commuting costs to help defray the commuting costs of employees who use mass transportation, including commuter bus, Metrorail or Metrobus, or commuter rail systems.

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