Deputy General Counsel

Summary Want to do appellate litigation and work on agency decisions in a small and vibrant independent regulatory agency? The STB Office of the General Counsel (OGC) may be the place for you. The STB issues decisions and rules primarily regarding railroad regulatory matters. Because the agency has independent litigating authority, our lawyers represent the agency in federal courts of appeal in cases involving complex statutory and administrative issues. Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship is required. All qualification requirements must be met by 12/13/2024. Your application package will not receive consideration if it lacks any of the required documents under the "Required Documents" tab. Trial Period: A two-year trial period may be required. Required to participate in the Direct Deposit program. 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/ Background Suitability Investigation: Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability or security clearance. If selected, you may be offered tentative employment until the background investigation has been fully adjudicated. E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form 1-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. The STB is an E-Verify Participant. Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability clearance. If selected, you may be offered a tentative offer until the background investigation has been adjudicated. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. Qualifications The Office of Personnel Management has not issued qualification standards for attorney positions. However, successful candidates must possess the following minimum qualifications before the closing date of this posting: A professional law degree (LL.B, J.D., LL.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA); Current membership in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. Proof of bar membership will be required before entering on duty. All candidates being considered must demonstrate through their application documents: excellent research and writing skills, incisive legal analytical ability, strong oral advocacy, and presentation skills. If transcripts are not submitted at the time of application, a copy of the transcript must be submitted at the time of selection. AND B. Specialized Experience In order to be deemed qualified, GS-15 candidates must have at least four years of professional law experience, of which at least one year must be specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal Service performing the following: Analyzing complex legal and factual issues affecting federal regulatory and administrative law matters (such as those involving transportation economics, competition, environmental law) and rendering opinions on such matters; Directing/conducting litigation addressing federal regulatory and administrative law issues, including developing legal strategies, and drafting/supervising the production of legal pleadings/motions/briefs; to include conducting oral arguments, managing litigation deadlines. Reviewing legal decisions in complex adjudications and rulemakings; reviewing policy statements, guidance documents, public notices, briefing materials, data requests, and memoranda or reports; Collaborating with technical and subject-matter experts to prepare documents, reports, and analysis; Providing legal advice to an institution's leadership and staff; Handling complex matters under short time constraints; and Providing leadership and/or supervision to other attorneys or professionals. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: 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. Education You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. You must provide your transcripts to support your educational claims. Transcripts may be unofficial copies, but they must come from an accredited college or university, and they also must include the courses' names and number of credit hours. To search the database of accredited institutions visit: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at U.S. accredited college or university. For further information visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional information 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. In addition, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has work/life-balance flexibilities that may be right for you. We offer: Flexible Work Schedule options: Two flexible work schedules, the Flexitour Option and the Compressed Work Schedule. Employees on the Flexitour may schedule fixed arrival and departure times around established core hours and work 8 hours plus a 30-minute unpaid lunch period. Employees on the Compressed Work Schedule may work 8 9-hour work days and one 8-hour day (plus the 30-minute unpaid lunch period) in each biweekly pay period and receive one scheduled day off; OR may work 4 10-hour days (plus the 30-minute unpaid lunch period) with one week day off each week; Limited Telework opportunities upon supervisor approval and in accordance with the Employee Work Schedule policy; Fitness Center: STB employees, at no cost, have access to the fitness center conveniently located in the building; and A monthly transit subsidy for a portion of your commuting costs to help defray the commuting costs of employees who use mass transportation, including commuter bus, Metrorail or Metrobus, or commuter rail systems. Read more Benefits Review our benefits