Attorney Advisor, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. Our vision is to expand economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote agriculture production sustainability that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve and conserve our Nation's natural resources through restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.


The Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) conducts rulemaking and adjudicatory hearings and issues initial decisions for the Department of Agriculture under nearly fifty different statutes.

DUTIES:

As a Attorney Advisor, you will be responsible for the following:

The incumbent serves as the Editor of Agricultural Decisions and oversees dissemination of OALJ decisions on the USDA Website.
As an advisor, the incumbent deals directly with ALJ's, other personnel within OALJ, the Judicial Officer, Office of General Counsel, USDA programs officials, litigants and/or their attorneys, other Federal agencies to collect data needed to accomplish work, provide authoritative legal advice and assistance to decision makers, brief officials on complex cases or proposed action, explain legal analyses or program changes, or present OALJ views in hearings, meetings, etc.
The incumbent conducts extensive legal research, construes and applies court decisions, statutes, Executive Orders, opinions of the Attorney General, and Comptroller General, regulations and other legal authorities in the solution of legal problems. The incumbent reviews legislative history of pertinent statutes and relevant Congressional testimony and may draft language to be included in OALJ decisions.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Successful completion 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.

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