Law Clerk/Attorney-Advisor (General)

Clarification from the agency

Applicant must be a law student who will receive his/her J.D. degree by June 30, 2027; or a graduate law student with a J.D. who will receive his/her L.L.M. or other graduate law degree by June 30, 2027; OR a recent law school graduate with a J.D. who will complete a judicial clerkship or a legal fellowship by September 2027. A successful candidate must be admitted as an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) within 14 months of commencing work.

Individuals selected will participate in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of the General Counsel's Attorney Honors Program. Those selected for the Law Clerk position cannot be promoted above the GS-11 level without meeting eligibility and qualification criteria for the Attorney position.

Promotion Potential Explanation: Attorneys are considered for promotion on each annual anniversary date based on successful performance and management recommendation. There is no promotion potential for Law Clerks until being admitted to a bar and conversion to an Attorney position.

As an Attorney with the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of General Counsel, your specific duties will include:

As a Law Clerk / Attorney Advisor in the Attorney Honors Program, you will work closely with experienced National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists and other program specialists on a variety of cutting-edge issues relating to the management and conservation of natural resources. NOAA General Counsel attorneys and law clerks perform a variety of legal duties, including conducting legal research, presenting to agency decisionmakers, reviewing applications for governmental approval or protection, and working in adversarial proceedings. This position requires interaction with other NOAA General Counsel Office attorneys, NOAA scientists, policy makers and technical staff, Department of Commerce officials, other Federal and state agency officials, members of the regulated community, and representatives of public interest organizations. It also involves active participation, in concert with U.S. Department of Justice attorneys, in prosecuting and defending NOAA cases brought under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Oil Pollution Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and other similar laws. The work involves complex and challenging legal issues on important matters.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of the General Counsel employs numerous attorneys at headquarters in the Silver Spring, MD/Washington, DC area and six regional offices. The Office provides legal advice to the NOAA Administrator and NOAA program offices on a wide variety of legal issues including U.S. and international fisheries, marine mammals, endangered and threatened marine species, preservation of coastal areas, marine sanctuaries, and licensing of commercial satellites.

NOTE: All positions are developmental, leading to the Full Performance Level (FPL) GS-15.

NOAA is a premier environmental agency located within the U.S. Department of Commerce and employs over 12,000 individuals nationwide. NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them.

From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA's products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America's gross domestic product. NOAA's dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers with reliable information they need when they need it.

NOAA's roots date back to 1807, when the Nation's first scientific agency, the Survey of the Coast, was established. Since then, NOAA has evolved to meet the needs of a changing country. NOAA maintains a presence in every state and has emerged as an international leader on scientific and environmental matters.

NOAA's mission touches the lives of every American and we are proud of our role in protecting life and property and conserving and protecting natural resource. For more information see www.noaa.gov and www.gc.noaa.gov.
NOAA GC will host a webinar for interested candidates.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other equivalent positions throughout the Federal government. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, equivalent grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Applicants must pass a bar examination and be a active member of the bar (any U.S. Jurisdiction) within 14 months of entry on duty.
• Selectee may be subject to serving a 2-year trial period unless a preference eligible veteran.
• Must be registered for Selective Service (males only).
• Must agree to a three (3) year employment commitment.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

• A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• If selected for this position, you may be required to file one or more financial statements and/or a procurement integrity certification of compliance upon reporting and annually, some of which may be subject to public disclosure.
• Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
• Significant academic achievement in law school (such as ranking in the top 20% of the class), graduation with honors, judicial clerking experience, or participation in law review, will be favorably considered.
• Applicants must pass a bar examination and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) within 14 months of entry on duty.
• Individuals selected for this Honors Program are expected to begin working in September 2027 in Silver Spring, MD. Law School graduates not yet admitted to the Bar as of September 2027, will be placed in Law Clerk positions at the GS-11 level pending admission to the Bar, at which time they will be eligible for conversion to an Attorney position.

Qualifications

This position has a positive education requirement: transcripts and proof of Bar membership MUST be provided with your application package to receive further consideration.

Eligibility Requirements: This program is available to recent law students who have graduated or will graduate by with a J.D. degree by June 30, 2027, or a graduate law student with a J.D. who will receive his/her L.L.M. or other graduate law degree by June 30, 2027, or a recent law school graduate with a J.D. who will complete a judicial clerkship or a legal fellowship by September 2027.

Basic Qualification Requirements
Law Clerk-GS-0904-11: Graduated or will graduate from law school with a LL.B. or J.D. Appointments as a Law Clerk are limited to 14 months during which time appointee must be admitted in good standing to the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the United States and after which will be appointed to a permanent appointment as an Attorney. There is no promotion potential for Law Clerks.

Attorney, GS-0905-12/13: All applicants must have a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, and must be an active member in good standing of a State bar; the bar of the District of Columbia; the bar of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the bar of one of the U.S. Territories or the bar of one of the U.S. Possessions.
Attorneys are considered for promotion on each annual anniversary date based on successful performance and management recommendation.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by 11:59pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

--Applicants will be evaluated based on the Qualifications described above. Please be advised that NOAA Attorney positions are in the Excepted Service. As such, these positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures. There are no numerical rating systems through which to apply veterans preference; however, the NOAA Office of the General Counsel favorably considers veterans preference eligibility in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume, and to attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD Form-214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.

--Basis of Rating: Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applicants that meet the basic eligibility and qualification requirements of the position will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13052919

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete application package by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit documentation may result in not receiving consideration for this position.

Current & Former Federal Employees

--If you are a current or former Federal employee, please submit the following by the closing date of this announcement:

• a copy of a recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level, step and salary; and
• your most recent performance appraisal (if you do not have your most recent performance appraisal, please submit an explanation as to why it is unavailable)

All Applicants

• A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: What to include in your resume
• You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose, for each work experience at a minimum, your resume must include; job title(s) (including job series and grade, if federal); description of duties or work performed; education; starting and ending dates (month and year); and hours worked per week and/or full-time or part-time. If identifying as part-time you must state the number of hours per week. (NOTE: A full-time work schedule requires most employees to work 33-40 hours during the work week. A part-time schedule requires an employee to work less than full-time, but for a specific number of hours (usually 16-32 hours per administrative work week) on a prearranged scheduled tour of duty.)
• Cover Letter, resume and unofficial law school transcript (in one PDF file). Please include your GPA and class rank in your resume, if available. Your resume must indicate your citizenship, and whether you are registered for Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/59.

Cover Letter requirements: Your cover letter should be no longer than 3000 characters, including spaces, and should address why you are applying to the NOAA GC Honors Program, your interest in public service, the characteristics and qualifications that make you a strong candidate, and what distinguishes you from other candidates.

Law School Transcript requirements: This position requires proof of higher education. You are required to provide a law school transcript (unofficial) which includes semester hours earned and grades received, by the closing date of this announcement. Please ensure that all documentation is legible. You must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration.

Additional documentation required prior to receiving a formal offer:

Official Law School Transcript: Please note that prior to receiving a formal offer, you will be asked to submit an official law school transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: Name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Proof of bar membership: Please note that prior to receiving a formal offer, applicants qualifying for the Attorney, GS-0905-12/13 position must provide evidence of being an active member in good standing of a State bar; the bar of the District of Columbia; the bar of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the bar of one of the U.S. Territories or the bar of one of the U.S. Possessions. Employees must maintain active bar membership while employed as an attorney with NOAA.

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