About this role
Job 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. Please see the "How to Apply" section.
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.
Major 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.