Attorney-Adviser

⁠​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌⁠This announcement has been amended to close 8/14/26.

This position is in Region 9, Office of Regional Counsel, Air, Toxics, Water and General Law Branch. About Region 9: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-9-pacific-southwest.

This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis. You must:
(1) possess a J.D. or LL.M. degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university or equivalent apprentice experience as allowed per state law; and
(2) be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and
(3) be an active member of the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction in good standing.
NOTE: Bar membership and licensure are not required at the time of application, but you must be admitted to the bar and obtain your license before entry on duty.

For information about accreditation requirements, visit Accreditation. At the full performance level of this position, you will:

• Provide legal advice, perform legal research, prepare legal documentation, and provide policy recommendations.
• Perform the full range of litigation activities.
• Draft Agency determinations, proposed regulations, and Federal Register Notices.
• Perform negotiation, informal dispute resolution, and Region representational work.

If you are hired at a grade level lower than the full performance level (i.e., highest promotion potential level), your duties will be less complex and you will have more supervisory oversight. You may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses. NOTE: Career ladder promotions are not automatic, and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level.

One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position. NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements, including any requirements described in the Education section, by the closing date of this announcement.

In addition to the educational requirements, you must meet the minimum grade-specific qualifications as described below:

To qualify for the GS-13 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level defined as experience performing legal analyses and presenting recommendations to managers and/or decision makers and experience representing clients in administrative or judicial proceedings, including negations and settlements.

To qualify for the GS-14 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level defined as experience performing legal analyses; presenting recommendations to managers and/or decision makers and experience representing clients in administrative or judicial proceedings, including negotiations and settlements; and managing a significant case docket.

You will need the following competencies in order to perform the duties of this position successfully:

• Reading Comprehension
• Problem Solving*
• Written Communication*
• Oral Communication*
• Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence
• Negotiation

*You will be evaluated on these critical competencies.

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.

*If you have part-time work experience, read this: Part-Time Experience.