Attorney-Advisor

Closing Date: 6th July, 2026

Description:

Summary:
This position is located in the Enforcement and Litigation Division, Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). As a staff attorney, principally responsible for coordinating enforcement litigation and rendering legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of the FMCSA.

Duties:
As an Attorney-Advisor, you will:

• Provide legal services for implementing and overseeing the national motor carrier safety policy and the national goals of the FMCSA to promote and regulate commercial motor vehicle safety in accordance with Title 49, U.S. Code.
• Provide litigation support to the Department of Justice by assisting in the development of legal arguments and preparation of legal briefs for cases challenging agency decisions and regulatory actions.
• Research complex and policy-sensitive legal issues to develop or support the agency's position on matters within the Office of Chief Counsel's responsibility.
• Research and prepares interpretive and administrative orders to implement the statutes and regulations applicable to the motor carrier safety program.
• The ideal candidate will have experience applying and interpreting federal laws and regulations relating to commercial motor vehicle safety. Ideal candidate will have extensive experience researching, drafting and reviewing litigation filings and analyzing complex legal issues, and at least some experience arguing before judicial or administrative tribunals.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:

• You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• This is an Excepted Service position.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.

Conditions of Employment:

• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Trial Period: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period.
• Government Travel Card: If the position requires travel, a government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• Ethics/Conflict of Interest Statement: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263.
• Background Investigation: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Qualifications:
To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following:
Grade 13 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and either two years of professional attorney experience OR one year of professional attorney experience and a second professional law degree (LL.M) which requires one full year of graduate study.

Experience, you must have at least two years of equal or equivalent experience in implementing civil enforcement proceedings or litigation.

GRADE 14 - A law degree, bar membership in good standing and at least three years of professional attorney experience.

Experience, you must have at least three years of equal or equivalent experience in implementing civil enforcement proceedings or litigation.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Interpersonal Skills (‡) - Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
• Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.
• Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
• Oral Communication (*) - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education:
Mandatory Education Requirements:
In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Additional Information:
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may 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.

Upon completion of your 2-year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code 9202(c) 9https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2022-title5/pdf/USCODE-2022-title5-partIII-subpartH-chap92-sec9202.pdf) and 5 C.F.R 920.201 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-920/subpart-B/section-920.201) certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation (https://www.transportation.gov/careers/fair-chance-compete-act)

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Additional Information:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits: