Attorney Advisor

Federal Highway Administration • Lakewood, CO

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of the Chief Counsel, provides legal services and advice across FHWA program areas. The Attorney-Advisor will serve in the Office of the Chief Counsel, Field Legal Services-West, in Lakewood, Colorado, or Matteson, Illinois, with a primary practice area in environmental law. The position provides legal advice and services on areas of Division responsibility, with an emphasis on environmental and infrastructure issues. This advice can significantly affect agency program policy and is delivered in a highly interactive, fast-paced environment, often on short timelines.

The role covers legal matters involving transportation planning; environmental, social, and economic aspects of FHWA programs; environmental laws; highway beautification; land acquisition, land use, condemnation, rights of way, airspace utilization, and relocation assistance. It also involves litigation related to planning, environment, real estate, infrastructure, disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE), civil rights, and other external matters, working with field counsel, the Department of Justice, DOT Office of General Counsel, and state attorneys when appropriate.

Additional practice areas include infrastructure contracts, toll roads, bridges, tunnels, ferries, highway-project financing and public/private partnerships, Federal-aid suspensions and debarments, infrastructure-related tort matters, and the Emergency Relief Program. The Attorney-Advisor also handles legal assistance concerning eligibility for Federal funding, authorizations, apportionments, limitations, and external budgetary and fiscal matters; highway safety programs and state compliance; the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD); truck size and weight limits; and other matters assigned by the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsel, or Assistant Chief Counsel.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship and eligibility for consideration.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association.
• Current membership in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state or territory, or the District of Columbia; proof of bar membership is required.
• For Grade 11: J.D. and bar membership in good standing.
• For Grade 12: J.D., bar membership in good standing, and either at least one year of progressively responsible professional legal work experience or a second law degree (LL.M.).
• For Grade 13: J.D., bar membership in good standing, and either at least two years of progressively responsible professional legal work experience, or an LL.M. and at least one year of such experience.
• For Grade 14: J.D., bar membership in good standing, and either at least three years of progressively responsible professional legal work experience, or an LL.M. and at least two years of such experience.
• Knowledge of Federal administrative laws, including statutes, regulations, procedures, guidance, and precedents.
• Knowledge of Federal environmental laws, including statutes, regulations, procedures, guidance, and precedents.
• Effective oral communication, including clear presentations, listening, and adapting communication to the audience and subject matter.
• Strong writing skills, including correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling, and the ability to produce succinct, organized writing appropriate to its audience.
• Submit a cover letter of no more than two pages explaining interest in the position and relevant work experience concerning environmental and infrastructure issues.
• Must meet all qualification requirements by the announcement's closing date.
• Must serve a two-year trial period; continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• The position involves travel; a government contractor-issued travel card must be retained for official business only.
• Applicants may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements before onboarding.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated interest in and work experience related to environmental and infrastructure issues.
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple competing tasks and a diverse workload while maintaining collegial working relationships.

Responsibilities

• Render legal services and furnish legal advice on matters within the Division's responsibility, especially environmental and infrastructure issues.
• Provide legal services on statewide and regional transportation planning and on environmental, social, and economic aspects of FHWA programs and the application of environmental laws.
• Advise on highway beautification, land acquisition, land use, condemnation, rights-of-way control, airspace utilization, and relocation assistance.
• Provide legal services for litigation involving planning, environment, real estate, infrastructure, DBE, civil rights, and other external matters.
• Assist field counsel, the Department of Justice, DOT Office of General Counsel, and state attorneys when appropriate.
• Provide legal services on infrastructure contracts, toll roads, bridges, tunnels, ferries, highway-project financing, and public/private partnerships.
• Provide legal services related to Federal-aid suspensions and debarments, infrastructure-related Federal tort matters, and the Emergency Relief Program.
• Provide legal assistance regarding Federal funding eligibility, authorizations, Federal-aid apportionments and limitations, and related external budgetary and fiscal matters.
• Advise on Federal-aid highway safety programs and review state compliance with Federal requirements.
• Provide legal advice and services related to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and truck size and weight limits.
• Handle other legal matters assigned by the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsel, or Assistant Chief Counsel.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package; employees and their families have access to a range of benefits. Specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree