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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen.
- You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
If you have not yet passed the bar exam, offer of employment will be contingent upon admission to the bar.
You must self-certify annually and in writing that you hold an active bar membership.
If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year trial period.
This position is designated as High Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.
If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.
Qualifications
NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements, including any requirements described in the Education section, by the closing date of this announcement.
In addition to the educational requirements, you must meet the minimum grade-specific qualifications as described below:
To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must have either:
OR
- at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level defined as internships, summer clerkships, or other experience, ideally in the public interest, government, or environmental law, demonstrating strong research, writing, verbal and interpersonal skills.
OR
- completed superior law student activities while earning a J.D. degree. Superior law student activities include:
- Academic standing in upper third of law school graduating class;
- Work or achievement of significance on law school’s law review;
- Special high-level honors for academic excellence, such as election to Order of the Coif;
- Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team representing the law school in competition with other law schools;
- Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program or significant summer law office clerk experience; or
- Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement, as determined by the hiring office and documented in writing for the case file.
To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level defined as work as lawyer or a judicial law clerk at the state or federal level, ideally in the public interest, government, or environmental law, demonstrating strong legal research, writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
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.
- If you have part-time work experience, read this: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.
Education
You Must
- possess a J.D. or LL.M. degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university or equivalent apprentice experience as allowed per state law; and
- be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and
- be an active member of the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction in good standing. (NOTE: Bar membership is not required at the time of application, but you must be admitted to the bar before entry on duty.)
For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.
Additional information
Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed in the Overview section.
EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA. Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency’s workplace and mission. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve. To learn more about how EPA values and supports our diverse workforce, visit Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA. You can also hear a diverse group of attorneys talk about their careers at EPA on the Legal Careers at EPA Webinar.
About the Office of Regional Counsel, Region 5 located in Chicago: : The Office of Regional Counsel (ORC) is responsible for all legal duties associated with implementing federal environmental laws in the six states which comprise EPA Region 5. ORC attorneys support the Region’s enforcement efforts by working with regional staff to develop administrative, civil, and criminal cases; litigating administrative cases; working with the U.S. Department of Justice to litigate judicial cases; and negotiating settlements. ORC attorneys also provide legal counsel to regional staff and management on a variety of matters including permits, grants, and oversight of state and tribal environmental programs. Because ORC is organized as a multi-media office, an attorney’s caseload may span the range of statutes EPA enforces and implements and is not limited to one statute, state, or industry. Attorneys, including those new to the profession, work on matters receiving intense public and congressional attention, involving serious threats to public health and the environment, and requiring millions of dollars in cleanup costs.
If you have questions about this position, contact Debra Klassman: klassman.debra@epa.gov
If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.
This position is in the bargaining unit.
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- Help Help 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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Join EPA in protecting human health and the environment and enjoy many work life quality options! Working for the EPA offers you a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To learn more about us, visit Life and Careers at EPA.
EPA offers workplace flexibilities as described on the EPA Benefits page. These flexibilities are not guaranteed, and eligibility will be determined in accordance with position requirements, policy, and/or applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement after you are hired.
PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF): As a federal employee, you may be eligible for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The PSLF program forgives the remaining balance on federal Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer, including EPA. Learn more: pslf.gov
This position has portable work. If selected for this position, you may be eligible for partial work-from-home flexibilities after meeting eligibility requirements, as allowable by agency policy and/or applicable collective bargaining agreement.
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.
