Attorney Advisor

Federal Transit Administration; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Federal Transit Administration seeks a qualified staff attorney to serve as Regional Counsel in Region 10, Seattle, WA. You will deliver a wide range of legal services related to grant and loan programs, advise on applicable federal requirements, and support agency operations through research and counseling.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in general law, including government contracts, administrative procedures, environmental and civil rights law, and ethics considerations.

Qualifications

• Must have ABA-accredited law degree and be admitted to the bar.
• Grade 13/14 criteria: 3+ years professional legal work or 2+ years with LL.M.
• Experience in administrative law, government contracts, and public sector practice.

Responsibilities

• Advise the agency on legal policy and administrative law in region operations.
• Provide litigation support and coordinate with federal partners on cases.
• Evaluate grant-related legal sufficiency and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Offer legal advice on public safety and security of transit agencies.
• Draft legal opinions and manage agreements for Federal grants and cooperative programs.

Skills

Oral Communication

Administrative Law

Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines

Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence

Education

ABA-accredited law degree

Bar admission in good standing

Job description

Summary

This position is a staff attorney in FTA's Office of Chief Counsel, Litigation and Regional Operations Division, and functions, specifically, as the Regional Counsel in Region 10 in Seattle, WA. You will provide a wide range of legal services involving all functional areas assigned to the Office of Chief Counsel, including research and counseling on all legal requirements pertaining to the regional office's administration of FTA's grant and loan programs, and the agency's related authorities.

Duties

As an Attorney Advisor, you will:

• Serve as counsel to the agency and as a member of the Chief Counsel's staff. Serve as a legal resource, respond to questions posed by FTA Regional staff and others within and outside the Federal Government and prepare necessary documentation to support the agency's position on matters for which the incumbent has primary responsibility. Advise on questions of law or administrative policy involved in the operation of FTA and in its contacts with industry, private and professional associations, State and local governments, and the public.
• Provide litigation support in cases involving FTA, as needed, which may include compiling the administrative record; performing legal research; reviewing/editing litigation papers; and working with attorneys from FTA, DOT, the Justice Department, and other Federal agencies on case strategy and legal positions.
• Evaluate pending grant applications for legal sufficiency, ascertaining whether the Regional Administrator has an adequate basis upon which to make the findings and determinations that are a prerequisite to grant approval. Provide timely review of draft environmental documents and historic preservation documents to ensure supporting documentation is in compliance with federal requirements and adequate for an administrative record. Following the execution of grant agreements by FTA's grant recipients, the candidate assists in ensuring proper execution of the funded projects.
• Provide legal advice relating to public safety and security of transit agencies in FTA Region 10, including compliance oversight and enforcement.
• Draft legal opinions and perform legal services concerning the negotiation, drafting, execution, and administration of Federal grants, and cooperative agreements regarding various agency programs.

The ideal candidate is the ideal candidate is one with experience in general law, including the following areas: government contracts, administrative procedure, grants agreements, real property, Federal ethics, environmental and/or civil rights law.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• This is an Excepted Service position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period.
• ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contract-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.

Qualifications

To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following:

GRADE 13 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing, AND at least three (3) years of professional legal work experience, OR A second law degree (LL.M) AND two (2) years professional legal work experience of a progressively responsible nature.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

Administrative Law - Knowledge of state and Federal administrative laws, including procedures, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to case preparation and settlements.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

GRADE 14 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least FIVE years of professional attorney experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines - Knowledge of principles, laws, regulations, policies, practices, and guidelines (for example, Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations, OMB circulars) of transportation and fiscal law, including their order of precedence.

Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.

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.

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Additional information

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial 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; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your 2-year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at [e-mail]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

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. Learn 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.