Attorney-Advisor (General)

About the role

This position is part of the Naval Reactors Laboratory Field Office, Department of Energy. National Nuclear Security Administration Demonstration Project: This position is covered by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Demonstration Project. The NQ-03 pay band is equivalent to the GS-13/14 grade levels.

For more information on the NNSA Demonstration Project and Pay Band/Salary Tables, review ***

What you will do

• Provide legal advice and counsel to Naval Reactors Laboratory Field Office (NRLFO), Department of Energy (DOE)/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) officials, and employees on a broad range of matters, including contracts and procurement, appropriations, ethics, personnel, labor relations, equal employment opportunity, security, taxation, and Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act matters.
• Advise leadership on the legal implications and consequences of proposed actions; identify legal risks and recommend alternative approaches to avoid or minimize legal difficulties.
• Interpret and apply applicable statutes, Executive Orders, regulations, Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration policies and directives, legal opinions, Comptroller General decisions, and administrative decisions in support of agency operations and management decisions.
• Review, prepare, and negotiate contracts, agreements, legal instruments, memoranda of law, legal opinions, regulations, management directives, correspondence, pleadings, and briefs to ensure legal sufficiency and consistency with Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration policy.
• Conduct legal research and factual analysis involving nuclear and non-nuclear environmental requirements, toxic torts, health and safety, civil rights, security, litigation, and other issues associated with defense, research, development, and production operations.
• Perform litigation-related and interagency coordination duties, including preparing pleadings and briefs, supporting witness examinations and oral arguments, representing the agency in discussions with federal, state, local, program, site office, and contractor stakeholders, and coordinating significant issues with National Nuclear Security Administration policies General Counsel.

Education

BASIC REQUIREMENT: A. DEGREE: Possess a law degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school with a J.D., LL.B., or equivalent degree; and B. BAR MEMBERSHIP: Proof of active member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Positive Education Requirement: This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic requirement by submitting proof of J.D. degree and proof of good standing with a U. S. jurisdiction bar association. Please see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement for additional information.

Education: Applicant must possess a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (or have a LLM degree or other graduate law school degree in additional to J.D.) and be an active member of a U.S. jurisdiction bar association.

Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements.

You must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information. If this vacancy specifies particular educational requirements, please provide documentation to verify your educational claims.

This can include unofficial transcripts or any report that lists the institution, courses titles, credit earned, and final grades. For additional information, please see How to fill out your education.

How you will be evaluated

When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements. Your application will be evaluated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job requirements.

You must respond to all required application questions.

If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for possible interview and selection based upon the number of available vacancies to be filled in each office. If your resume is incomplete or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (11/16/2026) of this announcement.

Shared Certificates: The Department of Energy shares lists of applicants among its internal Departmental Elements and organizations. You may be referred for consideration to other DOE Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application.

By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DOE. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions.

Documents you must provide

• Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
• The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
• Be clear and specific in describing your job-related qualifications, as HR cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.
• Include dates (month and year) and hours worked per week.
• For military or Federal civilian service, you MUST include your pay plan/band, series, and/or rank/grade (e.g., Captain, E-5, GS-0301-9).
• Do NOT include photographs, social media links (e.g., LinkedIn), inappropriate content, or other personal or sensitive information such as date of birth, social security number, gender, religious affiliation.
• IF INCLUDED YOUR RESUME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
• WRITING SAMPLE: A legal writing sample, not to exceed 10 pages, that highlights your analytical and written communication skills and your ability to apply law to facts.
• The writing sample MUST be the sole work product of the applicant: LAW SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS, CONFIRMING J.D.
• DEGREE: Submit a copy of your transcripts from an accredited institution.
• Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes your name, educational institution name, declared degree program, course title(s), credits completed, grade, date of completion, Grade Point Average (GPA), and date of degree conferral.
• If selected, an official transcript will be required.
• COPY OF BAR MEMBERSHIP, in good standing.
• OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (only submit if applicable): CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE: Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action which shows the grade, step, tenure (block 24), and position occupied (block 34).
• If applying for a higher grade, provide a SF-50 which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade or promotion potential held.
• VETERAN DOCUMENTATION (if applicable): Submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4 or equivalent).
• ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification.
• This must indicate your dates of active service, rank/grade, expected character of service (i.e., honorable or general) and type of separation (i.e., separation or retirement).
• NOTE: The VOW Act provides tentative preference.
• If selected, a DD-214 must be provided prior to appointment.
• 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE: Submit a SF-15 and provide an official document from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying your overall compensable service-connected disability rating (NOTE: Your overall percentage must be clearly shown), and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.
• CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL SCHEDULE A, SCHEDULE C, NON-CAREER SES OR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE EMPLOYEE: Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; AND Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
• All documents, including transcripts, must be in English For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.
• Failure to submit required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated. You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS.

You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJOBS Account and editing the Notification Settings. Thank you for your interest in the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration!

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs.

If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant.

An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at ***.

The Department of Energy (DOE) encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707.

Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DOE mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.

To determine your eligibility for a non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. This position is being filled by an alternative hiring process (Excepted Service) and is not in the competitive civil service.

Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however the Office of General Counsel considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in the hiring process.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.

If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. EEO Policy: Click HERE. Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Click HERE.

Veterans Information: Click HERE. Telework: Click HERE. Selective Service Registration: Click HERE.