Attorney Advisor (Agency Law)

The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) is an independent regulatory agency responsible for economic regulation of freight railroads and limited regulatory responsibilities over passenger rail, certain water carriers, non-energy pipelines, trucking companies, and intercity bus companies. The position is responsible for conducting legal research, developing recommended outcomes of cases, and preparing initial drafts of Board decisions.

The major duties of this position are researching and drafting decisions in proceedings before the Board. The Board adjudicates, among others, the following types of proceedings: complaints of unreasonable railroad rates or practices; declaratory orders; licensing of rail line constructions, acquisitions, and abandonments; railroad mergers and acquisitions; and proceedings under the Board's jurisdiction over motor carriers, water carriage in the noncontiguous domestic trade, and certain pipelines. In preparing draft decisions, the selected attorney will review the record before the agency and apply the relevant statutes, regulations, policies, and case law. Board decisions include summaries of relevant evidence, analysis of salient legal issues, and findings of fact, conclusions of law, and determinations of actions to be taken by the Board. The selected attorney also will lead meetings with staff from other offices within the Board to develop recommendations for resolving Board proceedings, lead briefings of the Board members to present staff recommendations, and draft legal memoranda, correspondence, or other materials as assigned. If you are selected at a grade lower than the highest shown in this listing, you will be placed under a career development plan and can be non-competitively promoted when you successfully complete the requirements for the higher grade. This is a non-bargaining unit position.

U.S. Citizenship is required. All qualification requirements must be met prior to the position closing. A complete application package will consist of a Cover Letter, Resume (Maximum 2-page limit), and a redacted Writing Sample (10 pages or less). Your application package will not receive consideration if it lacks any of the required documents under the "Resume" tab. Trial Period: A two-year trial period will be required. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/ Background Suitability Investigation: Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability or security clearance. If selected, you may be offered tentative employment until the background investigation has been fully adjudicated. E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form 1-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. The STB is an E- Verify Participant. Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability clearance. If selected, you may be offered a tentative offer until the background investigation has been adjudicated. Relocation expenses are not authorized.