Summary With an emphasis on high ethical standards, excellence in public service and the delivery of superlative advice and counsel, DOI Solicitor's Office performs the legal work for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and manages the Departmental Ethics Office and Departmental FOIA Office. With more than five hundred total employees, more than four hundred of which are licensed attorneys, the Office strives to provide sound legal services to fulfill the Department's diverse and wide-ranging mission. Responsibilities This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Indian Trust Litigation Office, located in Washington, D.C. At the full performance level (GS-14) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Analyzing and interpreting federal statutes, rules and regulations, and other guidance, including program authorities, relating to the authority of contracting and program officials to meet departmental and program goals. Providing on-the-spot legal guidance in the resolution of complex procurement, administrative, and program issues. Conducting legal research and producing opinions and memoranda requiring a high degree of creative legal effort, judgment, and discretion, often harmonizing conflicting positions in areas with little or no precedent, while promoting goals of uniformity, simplicity, and efficiency. Ensuring that information regarding possible violations of law is referred to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) as required, referring other matters for OIG investigations as appropriate and providing technical assistance to the OIG in the analysis of potential ethics violations; Performing legal research concerning novel and complex issues, reviewing documents for the Regional Solicitor or Assistant Regional Solicitor and for DOI agencies, drafting legal opinions, providing formal and informal advice to DOI agencies, and often drafting agency decisions; Drafting litigation reports to guide the Department of Justice (DOJ) and assisting DOJ in litigation, including working in close coordination with DOJ representing the Secretary of the Interior and the various bureaus of the Department in federal courts; Conduct comprehensive electronic document review using e-discovery platforms to identify, categorize, and analyze documents for responsiveness, privilege, confidentiality, and legal significance in litigation and administrative proceedings; Manage all phases of discovery, including planning, implementing, and overseeing document collection, preservation, processing, review, and production in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, agency policies, and litigation hold requirements. Draft and prepare discovery requests (interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission, subpoenas) tailored to the factual and legal issues in pending matters. Draft and coordinate responses to incoming discovery requests, including gathering responsive materials, preparing objections consistent with applicable legal standards, and ensuring timely and complete productions. Oversee privilege review and privilege log creation, applying attorney-client privilege, work-product doctrine, deliberative-process privilege, and other protection doctrines, including the use of technology-assisted review and privilege-screening tools when appropriate. Salary Information: First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level. GS-12: $102,415 - $133,142 per annum. GS-13: $121,785 - $158,322 per annum. GS-14: $143,913 - $187,093 per annum. Requirements Conditions of Employment Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. Must be an active member of the bar. Selectee may be subject to serving a 2-year trial period. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/. 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. Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties. Qualifications Basic Qualification Requirements Applicants must be law school graduates with LL.B. or J.D. degrees AND applicants 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 also substitute one year of experience with any of the following: have a second professional law degree; OR meet any of the criteria indicated below; academic standing in top one-third of law school graduating class; graduation with academic honors; significant participation on the law school's law review; significant participation in the law school's moot court competition; significant participation in a clinical legal aid program; significant summer law office clerk experience; or other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement. Candidates should have excellent oral communication, writing, research and analysis skills, and the ability to work effectively with other people, and exercise sound judgment. 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 Additional Information Other Information: The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361. NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period (as applicable) 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 probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Agency Benefits: Working for the DOI, Office of the Solicitor offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; health, life, dental, vision, and long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. SOL has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. For additional information on telework you may access the Department of Interior's Telework Handbook at https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies.
