Duties
OGC serves as the principal legal advisor to the Agency, providing comprehensive legal guidance to the FCA Chairman, FCA Board, and Agency staff on matters affecting FCA's programs, operations, and administration. The incumbent Attorney Advisor will perform the following duties:
- Conducts and manages, with a significant degree of independence, broad-ranging legal research projects on unique and specialized legal questions that are unusually complex, difficult, and of the highest importance to achieving the mission of the Agency.
- Analyzes and synthesizes statutes, regulations, precedential decisions, and other materials.
- Produces clear, authoritative, and comprehensive written materials, such as legal memoranda and opinions, litigation and enforcement documents, and regulatory documents.
- Demonstrates and maintains in-depth knowledge of the Farm Credit System (System) and its institutions, the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended, and other laws directly impacting the System, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act and other laws governing the conduct of FCA as an Executive Branch agency.
- Demonstrates and maintains substantive expertise in several of the following areas and serves as the Agency expert in one or more of them: System authorities; lending law; capital requirements for financial institutions; System corporate activities; business and securities law; the regulation and examination of System institutions; representing the FCA in enforcement actions and litigation; borrower rights; and legal issues relating to contracting, procurement, and fiscal matters.
- Communicates effectively with and provides counsel to other Agency staff, including Board Members, on the legal significance of existing and proposed laws, regulations, policies, and programs, and addressing issues of the highest degree of legal difficulty and importance.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
- If an applicant does not comply with submitting all the required documentation as stated in the announcement, they will be removed from further consideration.
- Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
- Two-year trial period required, if not already served.
- Must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
- Submission of financial disclosure report is required.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
- Must have a law degree (such as a J.D.) from a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association; and
- Must be a member in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must meet the specialized experience statement(s) as outlined below:
To qualify for the VH-38 (GS-12 equivalent) band level: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing of a qualifying legal bar, and have two years of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-37 (GS-11) band level.
To qualify for the VH-39 (GS-13 equivalent) band level: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing of a qualifying legal bar and have three years of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-38 (GS-12) band level.
To qualify for the VH-40 (GS-14 equivalent) band level: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing of a qualifying legal bar and have four years of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-39 (GS-13) band level.
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of this position, and includes providing legal analyses that are subject to statutory, regulatory, or time constraints; drafting legal documents including legal opinions, enforcement documents, correspondence with the public and regulated entities on proposed and final rulemakings; and experience presenting and defending findings and providing legal advice in administrative law, regulations, supervision, enforcement, or policy development.
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
ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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 a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: College Accreditation | U.S. Department of Education
Additional information
- Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
- Salary Rates:
- VH-38 pay band with locality: $105,148 to $173,495
- VH-39 pay band with locality: $120,298 to $198,492
- VH-40 pay band with locality: $157,463 to $227,093
- This announcement may be used to fill similar vacancies.
- Applicants are encouraged to apply to all band/grade levels for which they believe they are qualified and wish to receive consideration.
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For more information visit: https://www.sss.gov/verify/.
- If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.
- All FCA employees are subject to the conflict-of-interest laws and Standards of Ethical Conduct imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report.
- FCA's supplemental ethics regulations restrict certain FCA employees concerning their direct or indirect interests in, or connections with, Farm Credit System institutions. These rules also require all employees to obtain approval for outside employment or business activities. Please contact the HR Division for additional information on these rules.
- FCA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019, with some exceptions, prohibits the Farm Credit Administration from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, visit our website at (
Careers at FCA | Farm Credit Administration) for information on filing a complaint.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your résumé and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement.
This is an excepted service position and is not covered by the customary civil service hiring procedures. Veterans' preference principles are applied as far as administratively feasible and as result all qualified applicants will be referred for consideration without regard to their preference status. Applicants who have veteran's preference eligibility are encouraged to include their information in their cover letters or resumes and attach supporting documentation to substantiate their preference.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
- Your resume (no more than two pages in a minimum 10pt font) showing (1) paid and non-paid work experience including your position title, start and end dates (month/year) of employment, hours worked per week, and duties performed (separated by position series and grade for each federal position, if applicable).
- Law School Transcript(s), including proof of graduation (degree confer date)
- Proof of Bar Membership: Official certificate or other documentation showing active membership, in good standing, of a qualifying legal bar. If you have requested documentation from your state Bar, please indicate this in your application
- Other supporting documents:
- Cover letter, optional
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.