Description:
- The incumbent serves as an attorney providing legal advice, research, analysis and interpretation of federal, state and local laws, as well as oral and written opinions, memoranda, pleadings, briefs and legal support of all USDA programs and litigation, and performs other legal services as assigned.
- San Francisco and Juneau locations:
- Provides written and oral legal advice to USDA officials, including officials with the Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, in connection with the day-to-day operations of their programs.
- Provides written and oral legal advice to Forest Service officials regarding various land management issues, including national forest land management plans, special uses of National Forest System lands, and compliance with environmental statutes and regulations.
- Conducts and assists with litigation involving USDA agencies, programs, and officials, including preparing pleadings, interviewing witnesses, conducting depositions and hearings, and negotiating with opposing parties. The litigation includes federal court litigation and may include litigation before administrative bodies and USDA administrative law judges.
- Conducts legal research to ensure that advice provided is based upon a sound understanding of the law and facts, anticipates foreseeable consequences of advice provided, and recommends actions to ensure that decisions made and actions taken are practical, effective, and legally sound and defensible.
- Reviews and prepares various kinds of legal documents for general and specific use, including documents related to contracts, real property transactions, and special use permits.
- Milwaukee location, in addition to the duties listed above, will also include:
- Administrative litigation of cases and appeals including cases before Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Civil Board of Contract Appeals, as well as civil enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act matters.
- Transactional cases involving acquisition of property interests and review of other lands issues for USDA agencies in Michigan and Wisconsin.
- Reviews and prepares various kinds of legal documents for general and specific use, including documents related to contracts, real property transactions, and special use permits, Forest closure orders and law enforcement issues.
- 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.
- Mastery of statues, regulations, and legal precedents related to major USDA program areas or relevant subject matter expertise to provide expert legal advice regarding the assigned program area, develop or recommend litigation strategies and procedures, aid the Department of Justice in the trial of important or precedent-setting cases, and negotiate or participate in negotiating settlements on behalf of the Department.
- Mastery of a large and complex body of law in which precedents are frequently conflicting or non-existent to make determinations and reach conclusions which guide the Department or the Agency in resolving subsequent, similar problems; provide legal advice to heads of programs and Agencies on complex and difficult legal questions or factual issues; and write opinions and case assessment memoranda after conducting detailed factual and legal research.
- Mastery of the principles and techniques of legal analysis and practice in order to prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, litigation reports, and related documents in connection with suits by and against the Government and determine in each case the nature of action or defense, the legal issues involved, the most effective course of action, and optimal strategies and tactics to be employed.
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of missions and functions of the USDA and its agencies or relevant subject matter expertise, as appropriate in order to provide legal services in support of USDA programs and activities that are consistent with the strategic goals of USDA and the priorities of the Secretary of Agriculture.
- Mastery of the principles and techniques of written and oral communication to speak and write with clarity and tact to provide guidance on complex legal issues, secure acceptance of recommendations, prepare complex legal opinions, and effectively represent the Department in a variety of external interactions.