Attorney Advisor (General)

Office of the General Counsel (U.S. Department of Agriculture); Juneau (AK); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of the General Counsel (USDA) seeks an attorney to provide professional legal services to major USDA components. The position involves handling complex natural resources and environmental law matters, drafting and reviewing contracts and agreements, and coordinating with the Department of Justice on Forest Service litigation.

The role offers opportunities for progression across GS levels with increasing responsibility.

Qualifications

• Must have ABA-accredited JD or LLB and Law School transcript.
• Currently a member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, territory, D.C., or Puerto Rico.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative legal advice and litigation support on Forest Service matters.
• Draft, review, and revise contracts, permits, leases, and other legal instruments.
• Represent the Forest Service in legal proceedings and coordinate with DOJ as needed.
• Advise leadership on litigation decisions, settlements, and appeals.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Civil litigation

Client consultation

Education

ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Summary

This position is located in US Department of Agriculture, Office of the General Counsel. The primary purpose of the position is to provide professional legal services to major components of USDA and its agencies.

This is an open-continuous announcement with an initial cut-off date of 11/21/2026 and then every month thereafter.

Duties

• Provides legal advice on management of National Forest System lands in accordance with federal laws including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Wilderness Act, Administrative Procedure Act and more.
• Works closely with the Department of Justice on affirmative and defensive Forest Service litigation in federal courts.
• Drafts and reviews and revises contracts, permits, lease agreements, memoranda, and other forms of agreements.
• Represents the Forest Service before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
• Analyzes, resolves and refers for litigation Forest Service affirmative claims for damages arising from breaches of contract, statutory violations and negligence, including with respect to wildfire.
• Reviews claims, evidence, and agency recommendations and adjudicates administrative claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
• Advises supervisors and OGC senior leadership as appropriate, including with respect to litigation decisions, settlements and appeals.
• A more extensive list of duties at the full performance level of GS-14 are provided below.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• If selected, you may be required to serve a probationary or trial period as applicable to appointment type.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

For consideration, all applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for attorney positions:

• Successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the America Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) (Law School transcript required) and
• Currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Applicants should have a strong interest in federal natural resources law and an exceptional academic background. Judicial clerkship experience and familiarity with civil litigation is highly desirable, and knowledge of natural resources law, environmental law, and the Administrative Procedure Act is a plus but not a requirement. Applicants must demonstrate superior research, analytical, and writing abilities.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

All applicants should have demonstrated specialized experience in legal research, excellent writing and communication skills, and a strong employment performance and academic record. This experience should be clearly documented in the cover letter and resume.

Applicants for levels above GS-11 should have progressively responsible litigation experience, preferably in natural resource litigation, including serving as lead or first-chair litigation counsel in complex cases with demonstrated responsibility for directing case strategy, representing a client in federal court, and managing all phases of litigation, preferably in natural resource litigation.

Applicants for levels above GS-11 should also have progressively responsible experience performing legal analysis, providing legal opinions and advice to clients on complex legal matters, and in drafting and revising a variety of types of contracts, agreements, and other legal instruments.

Minimum durations of qualifying prior experience at each grade level includes:

GS-11

Qualifying experience for the GS-11 Attorney Advisor (General) position includes the successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (J.D. or equivalent degree) (Law School transcript required); and currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

GS-12

At least 1 year of relevant post-J.D. legal experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level.

GS-13

At least 2 years of relevant post-J.D. legal experience to qualify for the GS-13 grade level.

GS-14

At least 3 years of relevant post-J.D. legal experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level.

The work of natural resources attorneys in OGC involves providing legal advice and litigation support on the full range of legal issues that arise from the Forest Service's management of National Forest System lands, as well as to other USDA agencies with natural resources-related legal issues. The Incumbents are able to address legal problems involving numerous areas of substantive law including natural resources and environment law, contracts, torts, real property, administrative, and criminal law. Positions may be filled at the GS-11, GS-12, GS-13, or GS-14 levels, and the Incumbents at higher grade levels are expected to have higher level expertise, handle greater complexity, and work with greater independence. Examples of responsibilities also include:

• Provides authoritative legal advice and litigation support on complex, high-impact matters involving the Forest Service management of National Forest System lands with respect to applicable federal and state laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, National Forest Management Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, Wilderness Act, Administrative Procedure Act, and related authorities, regulations, and policies.
• Provides legal advice and drafts and reviews documents involving real estate acquisition and landownership matters affecting National Forest System lands, including acquisitions under the Weeks Act and other applicable authorities; trespass, unauthorized activities, title and boundary issues; access and easement questions; due diligence; appraisal and valuation issues, land exchanges, and related real property matters.
• Provides legal review and advice on Forest Service decisions affecting mineral operations, surface use authorizations and related environmental compliance obligations, including coordinating with the Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies responsible for mineral leasing and mineral operations.
• Candidates above entry level qualification should have demonstrated experience in relevant subject matter areas (such as in environmental law or real property transactions) or developed relevant legal skills (such as litigation experience).

The cases and other matters handled require attorneys to achieve intellectual command of complicated facts, scientific principles, and legal issues, often rapidly. Successful candidates will be intellectually curious and highly motivated. Creative thinking and talent in problem-solving – whether in client counseling, litigation, or settlement context – are critical. Collegiality is fundamental to the Office of the General Counsel. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working collaboratively with other attorneys, learning from experienced attorneys, and collaborating with OGC attorneys across the country, agency personnel, and attorneys in the Department of Justice. On a day-to-day basis, our attorneys address complex legal issues in implementation of the Forest Service natural resource management program, including litigation support, negotiating with counsel for outside stakeholders, drafting, editing, and revising motions and briefs, and providing legal advice to assist Forest Service and Departmental leadership on issues arising from Forest Service management of National Forest System lands.

In staffing our cases, we strive to create work opportunities for our attorneys that allow them to constantly learn and grow by providing new challenges. Overall, OGC's natural resources practice area cultivates an atmosphere of respect and collaboration among colleagues to advise USDA and its agencies.

NOTE

This experience must be demonstrated on your resume/supporting documents. 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 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

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report. (This filing is for GS-13 and GS-14 grade levels only).

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

Incentives may be authorized.

This position is a bargaining unit designated position. This position is represented by AFGE, Local 1106.

The salary ranges vary according to the geographic area locality adjustments; therefore, rates advertised represent base pay only as pay will depend upon the selectee's duty location. Please see the 2026 General Schedule (GS) Pay Tables for more information.

Direct Hire Authority: This announcement is issued under the direct-hire authority to recruit for positions for which there is a critical need. Selectee(s) will receive a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service and may be required to serve a one-year probationary period. Category rating, veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this public notice.

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.