Closing Date: 31st August, 2026
Description:
Summary:This Attorney-Advisor vacancy will be used to fill multiple positions in the Office of Administrative Litigation, the Office of Enforcement and Regulatory Accounting and the Office of the General Counsel. For more information visit: Office of Administrative Litigation (OAL) (https://www.ferc.gov/office-administrative-litigation-oal); Office of Enforcement and Regulatory Accounting (OERA) (https://www.ferc.gov/office-enforcement-and-regulatory-accounting-oera); and Office of the General Counsel (OGC) (https://www.ferc.gov/office-general-counsel-ogc)
Duties:
FERC is seeking attorneys to fill multiple positions in: OAL-Legal Division, OERA- Division of Investigations, OGC- Energy Markets, OGC- Energy Projects, OGC- General and Administrative Law, OGC- Solicitor's Office, OGC- Dispute Resolution Service, and OGC- Rehearings. This means you may be contacted by several different hiring managers for different vacancies. You can indicate in the vacancy questionnaire which areas you are interested in applying for. Please see Next Steps section for additional information.
In OAL- Legal Division, attorneys serve as trial staff for the Commission and are responsible for managing litigation and settlement activities in complex energy matters. They lead or collaborate as co-counsel on case assignments to ensure the production of timely, high-quality legal work that advances OAL's positions consistent with Commission policy and governing statutes. In hearings and other proceedings, OAL attorneys conduct discovery, draft motions and briefs, examine and depose witnesses, argue procedural, evidentiary, and discovery motions, and actively participate in settlement negotiations, including multi-party discussions-to achieve just and reasonable outcomes.
In OERA- Division of Investigations, attorneys initiate and execute investigations of possible violations of the Commission's rules, orders, and regulations relating to energy market activities and participants, while evaluating facts, analyzing legal arguments, and marshaling evidence and arguments to support conclusions and recommendations in connection with investigations. Attorneys recommend remedies to address violations and, where authorized, pursuing remedies through negotiation.
In OGC- Energy Markets, attorneys advise the Commission on complex issues relating to electric utilities and natural gas and oil pipelines, pursuant to statutes such as the Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, and Interstate Commerce Act. The section's responsibilities include the design and operation of competitive wholesale markets, rate designs including market-based rates and cost-of-service rates, terms and conditions of service, electric reliability, and electric utility mergers and other corporate transactions.
In OGC- Energy Projects, attorneys advise the Commission on complex issues relating to proposals to develop and maintain energy infrastructure, pursuant to statutes such as the Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. Energy infrastructure under the Commission's authority includes natural gas pipelines, natural gas storage facilities, liquified natural gas terminals, non-federal hydropower projects, and certain interstate electric transmission facilities in national interest electric transmission corridors.
In OGC- Rehearings, attorneys advise the Commission on the resolution of requests to reconsider its decisions, with the aim of ensuring that the Commission's decisions are legally durable in advance of judicial review. Attorneys assess and address litigation risk on complex issues arising across the full breadth of the Commission's regulatory responsibilities.
In OGC-Solicitor's Office, attorneys defend the Commission's orders against challenges filed in the U.S. Courts of Appeals. The section's responsibilities also arise across the full breadth of the Commission's regulatory responsibilities.
In OGC- General and Administrative Law, attorneys advise the Commission on wide-ranging issues, such as ethics, appropriations, procurement, the Sunshine Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and treatment of Critical Energy/Electric Infrastructure Information. Attorneys also represent the Commission in employment and labor proceedings before relevant Federal agencies.
In OGC-Dispute Resolution Service, attorneys provide expert support to help resolve complex regulatory and interpersonal disputes through alternative dispute resolution (e.g., mediation, facilitation, etc.) and customized training. Through these efforts, attorneys proactively address conflicts, preventing costly delays, reducing litigation and time-consuming appeals, and resolving disputes that do not have a clear regulatory path.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- A two-year trial period may be required.
- A background investigation is required.
- This is a bargaining unit position (AFGE Local 421).
- Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
- This position has an education requirement; you must submit transcripts.
- Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited college or university.
- Current, active bar membership required.
- Relocation expenses will not be paid.
- If hired, you may be required to divest certain energy-related securities.
- Maximum of 2-page resume.
Qualifications:
You must meet the following basic requirements, by the closing date of this announcement: (1) hold a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from an accredited college or university and (2) be a current, active bar member in good standing.
In addition, to the minimum requirements above, you must meet the following qualifications for each grade level by the closing date of this announcement:
For the GS-14, you must have three years of relevant professional legal experience post -bar admission with one year equivalent to the GS-13 level. Specialized experience is defined as interpreting and analyzing complex legal issues, leading teams to analyze issues ; conducting independent legal research and analysis; drafting memoranda, orders, regulations or other documents; and developing legal conclusions on statutes, regulations and matters
For the GS-15, you must have four years of relevant professional legal experience post -bar admission with one year equivalent to the GS-14 level. Specialized experience is defined as independently interpreting and analyzing complex legal issues; leading teams to analyze issues; serving as a subject matter expert on complex legal issues; conducting independent legal research and analysis; drafting memoranda, orders, regulations or other documents; and developing legal conclusions on statutes, regulations and matters.
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 any volunteer experience.
Please do not cut and paste the "Duties" section, specialized experience statement, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
Education:
This position has an education requirement and therefore, transcripts are required. Failure to submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application will result in your application being marked incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.
Additional Information:
The duty location of this position is Washington, DC.
When promotion potential is shown, future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
If selected for this position, you will be required to:
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
- Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice.
- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
- Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC's supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of at least some energy securities is likely to be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may al
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