Supervisory General Attorney (Deputy)

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as Deputy Assistant General Counsel and supervises and manages the MRFS Programs Division, which under the direct supervision of the Assistant General Counsel, provides legal services to USDA agencies administering programs.

Legal services involve programs for the Marketing and Regulatory mission area and Food Safety mission area.

This includes the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS).

For consideration, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for attorney positions: 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.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to the basic requirements, the following additional experience is required.

Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the specialized experience requirements.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Applicants should have demonstrated specialized experience in legal research and writing, providing informal legal advice, reviewing regulations and statutes, and handling litigation.

This experience should be clearly documented in the cover letter, narrative, and resume.

GS-15: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the (GS-14) level in the Federal service or equivalent responsibility in the private sector/pay systems that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies to successfully perform as a Supervisory General Attorney.

Examples of such experience include: Ability to plan and assign priorities to tasks and assignments to further develop knowledge of complex subject-matter areas.

Works independently to determine methodologies, milestones, goals, and termination points for most assignments.

Completes assignments with an understanding of management requirements and meets organizational objectives. NOTE: This experience must be demonstrated on your resume/supporting documents.

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:

• Supervise the Division's legal staff.
• Coordinate and assist with litigation concerning agricultural marketing, food safety, animal/plant health, animal welfare, biotechnology, and related programs.
• Provide oversight, leadership and guidance to Division's legal staff.
• Review legal documents such as proposed legislation, regulations, congressional correspondence and directives pertaining to the client agencies.
• Provide legal advice for client mission areas assigned to the Division
• Conduct legal research. provide legal and technical analysis, and prepare memoranda, motions and briefs in support of client policies and positions.
• Serve as legal counsel to officials and agency.
• Advise agency officials and other Attorneys on complex legal matters of national importance.