Attorney-Advisor

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission•District of Columbia, DC

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is hiring attorneys for multiple offices and divisions: OAL-Legal Division, OERA-Division of Investigations, OGC-Energy Markets, OGC-Energy Projects, OGC-General and Administrative Law, OGC-Rehearings, OGC-Solicitor's Office, and OGC-Dispute Resolution Service. Applicants may indicate their areas of interest in the vacancy questionnaire and may be contacted by multiple hiring managers. The roles involve legal work across FERC’s energy regulation and agency operations. Depending on the office, attorneys manage litigation and settlements; investigate potential violations of Commission rules and orders; advise on energy markets, infrastructure, administrative law, and requests for rehearing; defend Commission orders in federal appellate courts; or help resolve disputes through alternative dispute resolution and training. The duty location is Washington, DC. Candidates must hold a J.D. or LL.B. from an accredited institution and be an active bar member in good standing. GS-12 candidates need one year of professional legal experience after bar admission at the GS-11 level. GS-13 candidates need two years of post-bar professional legal experience, including one year equivalent to GS-12. Transcripts are required with the application. A maximum two-page resume is allowed. Relocation expenses will not be paid. Employment may require divestiture of certain energy-related securities, ethics training, and a probationary or trial period.

Requirements

J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited college or university.
Current, active bar membership in good standing.
For GS-12: one year of professional legal experience after bar admission at the GS-11 level, including legal research and analysis, drafting legal documents, and developing legal conclusions.
For GS-13: two years of professional legal experience after bar admission, including one year equivalent to GS-12; experience includes independent legal research and analysis, drafting legal documents, and developing legal conclusions.
U.S. Citizen or National.
Submit transcripts with the application.
Maximum two-page resume.
If hired, may be required to divest certain energy-related securities.

Responsibilities

Manage litigation and settlement activities in complex energy matters, including serving as trial staff and leading or collaborating on case assignments.
Conduct discovery; draft motions and briefs; examine and depose witnesses; argue procedural, evidentiary, and discovery motions; and participate in settlement negotiations.
Initiate and conduct investigations into possible violations of Commission rules, orders, and regulations concerning energy market activities and participants.
Evaluate facts, analyze legal arguments, marshal evidence, and develop conclusions and recommendations in investigations.
Recommend remedies for violations and, where authorized, pursue remedies through negotiation.
Advise the Commission on electric utility and natural gas and oil pipeline matters, including competitive wholesale markets, rate design, service terms, electric reliability, mergers, and corporate transactions.
Advise the Commission on energy infrastructure development and maintenance proposals, including pipelines, storage facilities, LNG terminals, non-federal hydropower projects, and certain interstate electric transmission facilities.
Advise the Commission on requests to reconsider its decisions and assess litigation risk across its regulatory responsibilities.
Defend Commission orders against challenges in the U.S. Courts of Appeals.
Advise the Commission on ethics, appropriations, procurement, the Sunshine Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and Critical Energy/Electric Infrastructure Information.
Represent the Commission in employment and labor proceedings before relevant federal agencies.
Support resolution of regulatory and interpersonal disputes through alternative dispute resolution and customized training.