Summary

This is vacancy for a General Attorney at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to be filled a Pittsburgh, PA. The successful candidate will be engaged in the full spectrum of federal agency legal practice, including administrative law, employment law, federal government grants and financial assistance, contract and procurement law, government agency ethics, Freedom of Information Act, employment law, and litigation and litigation support.

Duties

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As a General Attorney you will:

• Provide analyses, interpretations, and opinions on a variety of cases and issues that range from relativity routine and straight forward to extremely complex, controversial, sensitive, unusual, highly publicized and difficult involving the issuance of NETL legal and policy documents which may substantially broaden or restrict NETL activities, or have an important impact on major energy and related industries and the public.
• Provide legal advice and determinations in the application of advanced theories, principles, concepts and processes which require theoretical expertise applicable to a wide variety of situations, uses, and problems in the law and legal procedures of Federal, state and local governments. Issues are often unusually delicate, involve large sums of money, have widespread interest, and/or are contested by extremely capable legal talent, and are the subject of widespread interest. Issues may present a case of first impression calling for creative legal analysis and investigation and evaluation of various alternative approaches for the improvement or development of laws, codes and legal procedures. Legal positions are likely to affect relations with Federal, state, local and foreign governments, and energy and related industries.
• Provide guidance, legal assistance and support to various NETL offices. Performs extensive legal research in special situations and provides recommendations to the supervisor based upon the legal principles involved, as determined by the research.
• Develop for supervisory approval legal solutions to situations in which the law has not been clearly defined by judicial precedent or administrative rulings, and NETL policies have not been fully developed.
• Recommend to supervisor or senior attorney defenses when NETL policy making documents are the subject of litigation due to a claim of insufficiency under general administrative law requirements.
• Prepare and review related legal briefs.
• Address legal and contractual issues associated with federal procurements and federal research and development grants and cooperative agreements.
• Provide negotiation of agreements.
• Provide legal advice and analysis concerning environmental law, labor law and federal agency ethics.
• Provide litigation and litigation support.
• Give legal support to Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• 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 www.sss.gov.
• If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year trial period.
• The vacancies filled through these appointments have varying levels of background investigative requirements, up to a Top Secret DOE "Q" clearance.
• GS-12 and above are required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential
• If selected, you must self-identify if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a Schedule A, Schedule C, or non-career SES political appointee as OPM approval is required prior to finalizing your selection.
• Proof of current active member in good standing in the bar of a State, District of Columbia, territory of the United States, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Employees must maintain active bar membership while employed as an attorney with DOE.
• This position is NOT included in a Bargaining Agreement.

Qualifications

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

All applicants MUST:

1. Meet the minimum education requirements of successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) with a professional law degree (J.D.); AND
2. Must be a current, active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

GS-15 Qualifications: One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-14 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Specialized in-house counsel experience focused on legal compliance or the enforcement of state or federal law and regulations.
2. Subject matter expert and experience advising senior leaders and executives on legal compliance strategies pertaining legal compliance with a federal statute, e.g., The Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, The Administrative Procedure Act, etc..
3. Experience providing legal advice and developing legal strategies, opinions, and guidance on legal issues.

GS-14 Qualifications: One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-13 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Advanced experience in legal compliance with state or federal laws and regulations.
2. Advanced experience with serving as a subject matter expert in interpretation and/or implementation of a federal statute, e.g., The Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, The Administrative Procedures Act, etc.
3. Experience providing legal advice and developing legal strategies, opinions, and guidance on legal issues to clients and executives.

GS-13 Qualifications: One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience with legal compliance or the enforcement of state or federal laws, regulations.
2. Experience with serving as a technical authority or subject matter expert in administrative law, or some other comparatively complex body of law.
3. Experience providing legal advice and developing legal strategies, opinions, and guidance on legal issues.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

Education

Attorney positions do have an education requirement.

ALL Candidates must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a:

1. A professional law Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree

For positions with an education requirement, you MUST submit:

1. A copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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 a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

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.

Review our 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.