Land Law Examiner

• Review and process applications for lands mining mineral oil and gas pipelines electronic signal transmission systems and roads/trails for recordable disclaimers and other actions
• Make decisions concerning the application and compliance on land patent applications.
• Prepare finalize and distribute patents ensuring appropriate rights are granted conveyance authorizations cited patent reservations inserted and existing rights identified.
• Analyze reports; research land records; and review private title documents and title insurance policies.
• Communicate with customers land transfer laws regulations and land statuses.

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more visit cannot hold an active real estate license nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
  • This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest meet the organization goals and mission of the agency and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the determining if your employment advances the public interest the agency will consider:
    • your performance and conduct;
    • the needs and interests of the agency;
    • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
    • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
  • Under applicable law the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies in writing that the individuals employment should continue and that their appointment should be the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period such appointments are terminated.
  • Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/22/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

For GS-07:
Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience in or directly related to examination or adjudication of cases involving laws and regulations dealing with lands and resources. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

• examination of applications and claims for the disposal use of or title to public lands issuance of leases licenses or permits for land or resources use;
• title searching interpreting land records;
• work in land appraising; legal instrument review and interpretation;
• working with legal transactions such as acquisition leases or disposal of land.

-OR-

Superior Academic Achievement: See OPMs General Policies Application of Qualification Standards Section 4.f.) S.A.A. must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelors degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college university or major subdivision based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grad-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) based on 4 years of education or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to one decimal place for example 2.95 3.0 2.94 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society.


For GS-09:
Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as: adjudicating or examining applications and claims for the disposal use of or title to public lands; issuance of leases licenses or permits for land use; resolving conflicts arising from use; interpreting land records; work as a land appraiser; and/or general practice of law including legal transactions involving acquisition lease or disposal.

-OR-

Education: Masters or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. directly related to duties performed by a Land Law Examiner. Examples of related coursework are land surveying cartography land use law real estate law land appraising land use planning water rights mining laws or legal instrument review and interpretation.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.


For GS-11:
Specialized Experience: You must possess one (1) full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as: adjudicating or examining claims for the disposal use of or title to public lands leases licenses or permits for land use resolving conflicts arising by; interpreting land records; work as a land appraiser; general practice of law including legal transactions involving acquisition lease or disposal. Interpret and solve difficult and complex drafting problems in research analysis evaluation and compilation of source data; adapting and developing standards methods and techniques for map or plat design and construction.

-OR-

Education: Have a PH.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. directly related to duties performed by a Land Law Examiner. Examples of related coursework are land surveying cartography land use law real estate law land appraising land use planning water rights mining laws or legal instrument review and interpretation.

- OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.