Attorney-Adviser

PTSLO provides legal counsel to EPA Headquarters and regional offices on a diverse set of issues arising under several federal environmental statutes governing pesticides toxic substances and pollution prevention including the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

More specifically PTSLO supports the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) within OCSPP and the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) on legal and enforcement-related issues that arise in the context of administering the TSCA which provides EPA with broad authority to regulate among other things and through a variety of mechanisms new and existing chemical substances. PTSLO also supports OCSPP the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) within OCSPP and OECA on legal and enforcement-related issues that arise in the context of administering the FIFRA and the FFDCA under which EPA registers pesticides and establishes tolerances for pesticide residues in or on food. Finally PTSLO supports OCSPP OPPT and OECA on legal and enforcement-related issues that arise in the context of administering Section 313 of EPCRA which is otherwise known as the Toxic Release Inventory.

At the highest advertised grade you will:

• Initiate contact with program officials and other persons having knowledge of the facts involved in the problem or case under study; obtain information and/or legal references pertinent to the problem under study; study legal precedents; and prepare oral and written recommendations for review by supervisors as appropriate.
• Research interpret and analyze policies procedures regulations statutes court decisions and administrative rulings; research legal authority for use by higher-graded attorneys in the preparation of documents conveying legal counseling advice or alternatively legal briefs and motions in connection with pending litigation; and identify and assess overlapping legal issues to ensure a consistent coherent and sound approach to legal counseling.

If you are hired at a lower grade level your duties will be less complex and you will have more supervisory oversight. You may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently as your career progresses. NOTE: Career ladder promotions are not automatic and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level.

One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations) if appropriate to the position.

#LI-Onsite

You must be a U.S. citizen.

If you have not yet passed the bar exam offer of employment will be contingent upon admission to the bar and licensure/authorization to practice as an attorney.

You must self-certify annually and in writing that you hold an active bar membership.

If you are selected you may be required to complete a trial period (two years if you are not a preference eligible; one year if you are a preference eligible).

This position is designated as High Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.

REAL ID requirements became effective on 05/07/25. If you are selected for this position and plan to use your drivers license or identification card during the onboarding process (i.e. for employment eligibility verification or to obtain your EPA identification card) the document must be a REAL ID-compliant state-issued drivers license or identification card that includes the REAL ID-compliant star marking or must be an Enhanced Drivers License (EDL). You will receive information about alternative acceptable documents (e.g. passport) prior to onboarding. For more information about REAL ID see Dept. of Homeland Security and REAL ID FAQs.

If you are selected you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.

NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements including any requirements described in the Education section by the closing date of this announcement.

In addition to the educational requirements you must meet the minimum grade-specific qualifications as described below:

To qualify for the GS-11 level you must have either:
-an LL.M. degree
OR
-at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level defined as law clerk experience at the Federal state or local level performing legal analysis and formulating recommendations to senior managers; or composing pleadings briefs or other documents involving legal issues in counseling or litigation.
OR
-completed superior law student activities while earning a J.D. degree. Superior law student activities include:
(A) Academic standing in upper third of law school graduating class;
(B) Work or achievement of significance on law schools law review;
(C) Special high-level honors for academic excellence such as election to Order of the Coif;
(D) Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team representing the law school in competition with other law schools;
(E) Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program or significant summer law office clerk experience; or
(F) Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement as determined by the hiring office and documented in writing for the case file.

To qualify for the GS-12 level you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level defined as performing legal analysis and research; drafting legal memoranda pleadings or other documents involving legal issues in counseling or litigation; or assisting higher-graded attorneys in legal counseling or litigation.

You will need the following competencies in order to perform the duties of this position successfully and you will be evaluated on these competencies:

• Attention to Detail
• Critical Thinking
• Environmental or Other Relevant Laws and Regulations
• Legal Government and Jurisprudence
• Oral Communication
• Problem Solving
• Technical Competence
• Written Communication

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.

*If you have part-time work experience read this: Part-Time Experience.