Attorney Advisor

Office of the Solicitor (DOI); Lakewood (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligibility

Job summary

Office of the Solicitor, Rocky Mountain Region, seeks an Attorney Advisor to provide legal research, advice, and representation to the Bureau of Land Management on federal land management matters. The position involves written and oral opinions, potential appearances in administrative hearings, and collaboration with DOJ and other agencies.

Responsibilities include advisory services to leadership, complex statutory interpretation, and ensuring compliance with applicable law.

Qualifications

• Active bar membership is required for all attorneys engaged in the practice of law.
• Legal research, analysis and advisory responsibilities.
• Experience in administrative hearings or appeals is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide written and oral opinions on Federal Administrative Law topics.
• Represent BLM in administrative hearings or appeals as needed.
• Advise BLM leadership and program managers on complex legal matters.
• Conduct legal research and develop recommendations for client agencies and DOJ counsel.
• Assist with compliance with FOIA/Privacy Act and other statutory requirements.

Skills

Legal Research

Oral Advocacy

Written Opinions

Communication Skills

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a Attorney Advisor within the Office of the Solicitor, Rocky Mountain Region.

Term -This is a term excepted appointment not-to-exceed 2 years and may be extended for additional periods of time without further competition.

You may be required to travel overnight occasionally. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.

Learn more about this agency

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Remote job

No

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Salary

$89,508 – $163,514 per year

Pay scale & grade

GS 12 – 14

Promotion potential

:

14

Work schedule

Full-time

Travel Required

Occasional travel – You may be expected to travel for this position.

Appointment type

Term – This is a term appointment not to exceed 2 years. May be extended within regulatory time limits.

Occupations and job series

0905 Attorney

Supervisory status

No

Federal service type

This job is in the Excepted Service

Represented by a union

No

Drug test

No

Security clearance

Not Required

Position sensitivity and risk

Moderate Risk (MR)

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required

Yes

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number

CCJV-27-13102525-EX-TAW

Control number

890849100

These job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Excepted Service

Duties

• This position involves legal research, analysis, advice and representation to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) regarding the multiple use missions of the BLM and its associated district and field offices. The BLM manages public lands and minerals for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. BLM also provides assistance to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and regulates some mineral operations on mineral estates held in trust or restricted status.
• The position will include representing BLM in administrative hearings or appeals. It will also include assisting the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in defending BLM’s regulations and other decisions.
• Requires cooperative and productive interactions with officials and staff of the BLM; officials and staff of other bureaus of DOI; other attorneys within the Solicitor’s Office, attorneys in DOJ, including attorneys in the offices of the U.S. Attorneys; officials and attorneys in other Federal agencies; and State, local, or tribal officials. There will also be interactions with attorneys and others representing non-governmental interests.
• The position will require possession or development of detailed familiarity with such laws as: the Administrative Procedure Act; the National Environmental Policy Act; the Federal Land Policy and Management Act; the various minerals statutes, including the Mineral Leasing Act, the Mining Law of 1872; the Materials Act; the National Historic Preservation Act; the Taylor Grazing Act; Wild Horse and Burro Act; and the Endangered Species Act.
• Providing written and oral opinions on Federal Administrative Law topics, including Fiscal/Appropriations Law, Administrative Procedure Act, agency delegations and authority, partnerships with non-public entities, and similar topics.
• Advising BLM on very complex legal matters; advising and counseling BLM’s leadership and program managers with respect to recommended course(s) of action.
• Conducting legal research and analysis and developing recommendations; responding to questions, counseling client agencies, opposing counsel and administrative appeal bodies regarding interpretation of statues, laws and regulations.
• The position will also include assisting the Solicitor’s office and BLM with compliance with other statutes, such as the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Salary Range Information (Per Annum) : *First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

Denver:

GS-12: $99,800.00 – $129,742.00

GS-13: $118,675.00 – $154,280.00

GS-14: $140,239.00 – $182,316.00

Billings:

GS-12: $89,508.00 – $116,362.00

GS-13: $106,437.00 – $138,370.00

GS-14: $125,776.00 – $163,514.00

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
• Requirement. Active bar membership is required for all attorneys engaged in the practice of law in Federal government.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

• A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
• If selected for this position, you may be required to file one or more financial statements and/or a procurement integrity certification of compliance upon reporting and annually, some of which may be subject to public disclosure.
• Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.

Qualifications

++Basic Qualification Requirements++Applicants must be law school graduates with LL.B. or J.D. degrees AND must be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

• To qualify for a GS-12 applicants must possess at least 2-years of professional legal experience following law school graduation;
• To qualify for a GS-13 applicants must possess at least 3-years of professional legal experience following law school graduation;
• To qualify for a GS-14 applicants must possess at least 4.5-years of professional legal experience following law school graduation;

For any of the grades indicated above you can substitute one year of experience with any of the following:

• -Have a second professional law degree; OR
• -Meet any of the criteria indicated below:

1. academic standing in top one-third of law school graduating class;
2. graduation with academic honors;
3. significant participation on the law school’s law review;
4. significant participation in the law school’s moot court competition;
5. significant participation in a clinical legal aid program;6. significant summer law office clerk experience; or7. other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

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.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM’s website : https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Additional information

This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures.

Merit promotion procedures do not apply.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position’s supervisor.

All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.

The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial period (as applicable) during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual’s employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the trial period, such appointments are terminated.

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

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.

Required documents

Required Documents

++All Applicants++

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/13/2026 – unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement:

1. Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. Your resume must not exceed two pages. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/documents/resume/build.
2. All college transcript(s), unofficial transcripts will be accepted at the time of application, but official transcripts will be required before entry on duty.
3. You ++must++ submit proof that you are licensed and authorized to practice law. Such proof can include a current active bar card, a screen print from a bar website that reflects you are an active member of the bar or a letter/certificate from the bar certifying you are licensed and authorized to practice law. Documents (bar card, screen print, letter/certificate) must be dated within 3 months of the closing date of the announcement. If using a screen print, make sure it is clear when the screen print was taken. For bar cards that do not have a date on them, please also submit a screen print or letter/certificate certifying you are licensed and authorized to practice law dated within 3 months of the announcement closing date.
4. Cover letter: A 1-2 page cover letter is desired expressing your interest and qualifications for this position.

++Current & Former Federal Employees++

If you are a current or former Federal employee, please submit the following by the closing date of this announcement:

• a copy of a recent SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action” documenting tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level, step and salary; and
• your most recent performance appraisal (if you do not have your most recent performance appraisal, please submit an explanation as to why it is unavailable)

If you are claiming veterans’ preference you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, by the closing date of this announcement. If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans preference and that your character of military service is honorable. If you claim 10-point veterans’ preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must submit documentation that supports your claim (e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability; or receipt of a Purple Heart). If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans preference. Additional information on veterans’ preference can be found in the VetGuide.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.