Federal Judicial Clerkship (2 Years) (2027)

Summary

This Federal Judicial Clerkship (2 Years) (2027) position is located in the Office of Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ). For more information visit: OALJ

Duties

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The Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) is an administrative law court located within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC regulates interstate aspects of the national energy industry. OALJ receives its cases in orders from the Commission, which instruct the OALJ's Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) to resolve issues of material fact, and to apply relevant laws, regulations, and FERC-interpreted policies to those facts in the form initial decisions. OALJ initial decisions are then reviewed and voted on by the FERC Commissioners before accruing appellate oversight of the D.C. Circuit, or other U.S. Circuit Court with jurisdiction. In formulating decisions, OALJ judges hold courtroom hearings and issue a broad range of intermediate orders on motions, sometimes after oral argument. Law clerks serve for two-year terms, and are assigned to 1-2 judges, depending on office needs. Although each judge's needs may vary, the law clerk will often work closely with the assigned judge in drafting orders and decisions on complex issues in energy law, among many other matters. While clerks work with judges on foundational energy law questions, the vibrant field of energy regulation also requires clerks to gain familiarity with legal questions of all sorts, such as administrative, environmental, corporate, corporate finance, contract, tort, tax, securities, antitrust, evidence, and much more. Law clerks will often independently conduct legal and factual research, advise the judge verbally and in-person, and prepare draft decisions, orders, or memos for the judge's review. To provide this assistance, the law clerks will sometimes work with energy industry analysts and other in-house experts to gain technical knowledge. Law clerks will also have the opportunity to sit in, and assist with, trials, oral arguments and mediations, and act as the judge's primary communicator with participants.

As a Federal Judicial Clerkship (2 Years) (2027) some of your typical work assignments include:

• Analyzing data, information and legal argument to understand and evaluate competing views, helping to plan strategies, helping to create constructive solutions to aid the administrative law judge in reaching a reasoned decision.

• Presenting and explaining concepts and information in writing, supporting conclusions with legal authority. Presenting and explaining concepts and information orally, supporting conclusions with logic, policy, and legal authorities.

• Addressing inquiries from internal and external customers on OALJ activities of all levels of complexity and either responds to the request or directs customer to the appropriate staff or external entities where the matter can be addressed more appropriately in another forum.

• Working independently or with others to plan and complete assignments, simultaneously handling multiple assignments, anticipating workload and plans accordingly, and may direct others or receive direction in a team setting.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• A two-year trial period may be required.
• A background investigation is required.
• This is a bargaining unit position (AFGE Local 421).
• Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
• This position has an education requirement; you must submit transcripts.
• Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited college or university.
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.
• If hired, you may be required to divest certain energy-related securities.
• Maximum of 2-page resume.

Qualifications

To view the eligibility and qualification requirements of a Law Clerk, GS-0904, please visit: Law Clerks, 0904

You must meet the following basic requirements no later than immediately following the spring 2027 academic semester: (1) hold a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from an accredited college or university.

It is highly preferable for candidates to have taken the bar exam prior to commencing their clerkships. Appointees commencing work prior to passing the bar exam are designated by the Office of Personnel Management as "Law Clerk" - a designation that cannot under any circumstances exceed 14 months and cannot be extended. This means that the appointee must pass the bar exam before the 14-month period ends. Once admitted to the bar of any state, the appointee's designation is converted to "Attorney Advisor."

The FERC law clerk position requires a firm two-year commitment. Upon commencement of this term, the law clerk must have obtained a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent, and within 14-months, must pass the bar of a state, federal district, or bar for which license holders may practice before the federal government. The position is compensated at a GS-11, with the Washington-DC locality adjustment, with promotion potential to a GS-12 after the first year (52-weeks) in-grade. Promoted attorney-advisers must then maintain an active bar status.

This field is highly technical and requires substantial training to achieve competence. Once achieved through the clerk program, however, this competence often affords OALJ clerks highly coveted and otherwise unavailable employment opportunities. Clerks may interview for other employment after twenty-two (22) months. Recent clerks have quickly gone-on to other clerking opportunities, litigation and general counsel positions within FERC, in policy or nonprofit roles, and to law firms of all sizes.

Outstanding organizational, critical analysis, and legal writing skills are all essential for our law clerks.

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 any volunteer experience.

Please do not cut and paste the "Duties" section, specialized experience statement, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Education

This position has an education requirement and therefore, transcripts are required. Failure to submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application will result in your application being marked incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.

Additional information

The duty location of this position is Washington, DC.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
• Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC's supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of at least some energy securities is likely to be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment.
• Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may 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.

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

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.