Attorney-Adviser

Summary

Seeking entry level Attorneys to provide legal counsel on various law practice areas within the Office of the Chief Counsel. The legal areas include, but are not limited to: employment & labor law; regulations; aviation litigation; information law; contracts, acquisitions and fiscal law; airports & environmental law; international & national security; legislation; and ethics. Detailed information about each practice area can be found here: Legal Practice Areas.

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Duties

Attorney-Adviser applies basic professional legal knowledge to assignments. Performs progressively more difficult assignments consisting of specific tasks designed for orientation purposes to enhance the attorney's knowledge of FAA's programs, policies, and related legal issues and relieve higher level attorneys of routine detailed work. Receives direction from a manager or higher level attorney regarding use of time and resources. The degree of guidance supplied varies with the attorney's familiarity with assignments and experience. Laws and regulations applicable to assignments are clear and specific. Work is reviewed frequently while in progress and at completion for quality and timeliness. Typical assignments include:

Conducts thorough legal research by appropriately identifying and analyzing relevant legal and factual issues and arguments. Assesses legal strengths and weaknesses of available arguments to provide accurate, complete, and practical legal advice and conclusions. Identifies and learns emerging issues, principles, and practices relevant to the legal practice area.

Produces communications that are well-organized, clear, and persuasive. Provides advice tailored to the client and requirements of the agency relevant to the legal practice area. Adjusts communications to meet the audience expectations and level of understanding.

Demonstrates interpersonal skills needed to develop and maintain strong client relationships. Actively participates with clients to identify and meet client goals and objectives. Seeks consensus with client as to the timing and scope of work. Proactively identifies and appropriately pursues solutions to effectively represent the agency’s interest in responding to high priority areas. Puts forth effort to meet established proficiency level goals and objectives. Keeps client informed of developments, to include why and when an extension may be necessary.

Develops and demonstrates knowledge and a full understanding of key client business processes, priorities, and objectives relevant to the practice area. Accurately identifies client business objectives and issues when providing legal advice. Provides appropriate alternative solutions as needed to meet client’s strategic business objectives. Provides legal risk/reward analysis in support of business decisions.

Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of when and the willingness to go to more senior-level of client based on risk-levels. Demonstrates skill in representing the agency. Consistently puts forth effort needed to accomplish tasks and produce work that is timely and of professional quality.

Keeps practice area and AGC management informed of client issues and activities that may or should be discussed at a higher management level. Keeps supervisor timely informed of developments on legal matters discussed at a higher management level. Educates clients about efficient and effective use of legal resources. Effectively prioritizes work such that priorities are achieved and deadlines are met. Uses available staff resources and technology to manage work flow and product. Seeks feedback from clients regarding quality and timeliness of service. Pursues new ideas or approaches to strengthen professional effectiveness. Follows established office administrative policies and procedures. Effectively participates in appropriate training and/or learning activities.

Performs other duties as assigned.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
• This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies in any organization within the Office of the Chief Counsel (AGC).
• Positions may be non-bargaining or represented by the AFSCME bargaining unit. Bargaining unit status will be determined by the organization to which the selectee is assigned.
• This position requires favorable adjudication of a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) background investigation or Secret/Top Secret clearance prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.
  
  
  

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, ALL applicants MUST meet the following criteria:

• have a JD Degree from an accredited law school;
• be admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico; and
• be an active member of that bar.
  
  
  

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

• Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*
  
  
  

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

• All requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.**
  
  
  

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence at the time of application. For additional information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Applicants who are not currently in the 905 occupational series (Attorney) in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 905 occupational series (Attorney), you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

Preview Job Questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.

Position may be subject to a background investigation.

A one-year probationary period may be required.

The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

NOTES:

• As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills & Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. As an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box below each KSA.
  
  
  

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate.

• This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm.
• The maximum base salary of the G Band will be adjusted based 2025 Locality Pay rates as applicable for the advertised duty locations.
• Interviews: Some, none or all of the referred applicants may be interviewed.
• Security Clearance Requirements: Positions assigned to the Acquisition and Fiscal Law (AGC-500), or International Affairs and National Security Law (AGC-700) Divisions require favorable adjudication of a Level 2 (Secret) or Level 3/4 (Top Secret/SCI) background investigation prior to appointment unless a waiver is obtained. Positions assigned to all other AGC Divisions are Level 5 (Moderate Risk; Public Trust) positions and require favorable adjudication of a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) background investigation prior to appointment unless a waiver is obtained.
• This announcement is limited for the receipt of applications. Once at least 100 applications are received, it will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on that date, or on the initial closing date, whichever occurs first.
  
  
  

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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Federal Aviation Administration

HQ Employment Services Branch

800 Independence Ave, SW, Room 523

AHF-110

Washington, DC 20591

US