Attorney-Adviser (Public Utilities)

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 144,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seeks an Attorney-Adviser (Public Utilities) in Washington, DC to draft orders, opinions, and regulations affecting electric, natural gas, and oil pipelines. You will evaluate complex legal materials, marshal evidence, and advise senior officials. Requires J.D. or LL.B. and active bar membership.

GS-14/GS-15 level experience, with potential for promotion; includes a two-year trial period and federal employment requirements.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from an accredited college or university.
• Current, active bar membership in good standing.

Responsibilities

• Drafting orders, opinions, regulations, memoranda, or other documents related to Commission jurisdictional matters affecting electric utility, natural gas, and oil pipeline industries.
• Evaluating facts, pleadings, data, and materials; marshaling evidence to support conclusions of law and policy.
• Collaborating with cross-departmental teams including attorneys, analysts, engineers, and external stakeholders.
• Providing advice to senior staff and officials within the Commission.
• Performing legal research and analysis of decisions, opinions, rulings, and documents.
• Applying statutes such as the Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, NP A, and Administrative Procedure Act.

Education

J.D. or LL.B.

Job description

Summary

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies as a "Best Place to Work" in the Federal government! This Attorney-Adviser (Public Utilities) position is located in the Office of Office of the General Counsel. For more information visit: OGC.

Duties

As an Attorney-Adviser (Public Utilities) some of your typical work assignments include:

• Drafting orders, opinions, regulations, memoranda, or other documents related to Commission jurisdictional matters affecting the electric utility, natural gas, and oil pipeline industries.
• Evaluating facts, legal pleadings and briefs, data or other relevant materials, marshaling evidence and arguments to support conclusions and identifying and recommending appropriate resolution of questions of law and policy.
• Working collaboratively with cross-departmental teams that may include attorneys, analysts, engineers, other subject‑matter experts, or external stakeholders.
• Providing advice to senior staff members and senior officials within the Commission.
• Performing legal research and analysis of legal decisions, opinions, rulings, and other documents.
• Applying the provisions of statutes such as the Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, Natural Gas Policy Act, Interstate Commerce Act, Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, Public Utility Holding Company Act, and Administrative Procedure Act.

Requirements

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.
• Current, active bar membership required.
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.
• If hired, you may be required to divest certain energy‑related securities.
• Maximum of 2‑page resume.

Qualifications

You must meet the following basic requirements, by the closing date of this announcement: (1) hold a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from an accredited college or university and (2) be a current, active bar member in good standing.

In addition, to the minimum requirements above, you must meet the following qualifications for each grade level by the closing date of this announcement:

For the GS-14: You must have three years of relevant professional legal experience post‑bar admission with one year equivalent to the GS‑13 level. Experience at the GS‑14 level is defined as: interpreting and analyzing complex legal issues, leading teams to analyze issues; conducting independent legal research and analysis; drafting memoranda, orders, regulations or other documents; and developing legal conclusions on statutes, regulations and matters related to the energy industry.
The GS-14 salary range is $143,913 through $187,093 per year.
For the GS-15: You must have four years of relevant professional legal experience post‑bar admission with one year equivalent to the GS‑14 level. Experience at the GS‑15 level is defined as: independently interpreting and analyzing complex legal issues; leading teams to analyze issues; serving as a subject matter expert on complex legal issues; conducting independent legal research and analysis; drafting memoranda, orders, regulations or other documents; and developing legal conclusions on statutes, regulations and matters related to the energy industry.

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.

When promotion potential is shown, future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

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;
• 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.

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.

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. Learn 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.