Land Law Examiner (Lands & Realty)

Bureau of Land Management • Carlsbad, NM

13d

About The Position

The Land Law Examiner (Lands & Realty) serves as the Bureau of Land Management state's authoritative expert in land law examining and provides guidance and expertise to lower-graded examiners. The incumbent independently adjudicates complex lands and realty cases and analyzes case materials to assess compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, solicitor opinions, and program manuals. The role reviews land descriptions, title and survey records, and historical documents to establish ownership, encumbrances, and valid existing rights; prepares findings, recommendations, decisions, and other adjudicative documents; and advises staff and management on statutory and regulatory interpretation. The position also involves public and applicant contact, maintaining accurate case files and electronic records, and ensuring data integrity and records-management compliance.

This is a Bureau of Land Management federal position. The duties are suitable for telework, which may be allowed with supervisor approval. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Nationals and are subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Other conditions include Selective Service registration where applicable, direct deposit, E-Verify, possible training and government credit card requirements, a financial disclosure report, and restrictions on real-estate licenses and financial interests in firms with interests in Federal lands. A one-year probationary period or two-year trial period may be required.

Qualification may be met through one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, a qualifying Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, an LL.M. directly related to the duties, or a combination of qualifying education and experience. The announcement requires documentation, including work hours and, where education is used, transcripts.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must participate in Direct Deposit and successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• May be required to complete training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• Must submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of appointment.
• Cannot hold an active real estate license or have an interest in or hold stocks in firms with interests in Federal lands.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period.
• For GS-11 qualification through experience, must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 in the Federal service or public/private sector, including experience gathering and analyzing facts, evidence, and technical data to support final adjudication decisions.
• Qualifying specialized experience includes adjudicating complex agreements and applications for technical accuracy and compliance with federal land laws, regulations, and policies; reviewing and validating complex applications, agreements, and case materials; identifying and resolving conflicts, deficiencies, or inconsistencies; coordinating with interdisciplinary specialists; determining applicant qualifications and land status; interpreting legal land descriptions and verifying boundaries, rights, and interests; and applying analytical, technical, case-management, GIS, and land-records skills.
• Alternatively, must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. directly related to the duties; a combination of qualifying education and experience may also be used.
• Must provide required documentation: hours worked per week for experience and transcripts when qualifying through education.
• Current federal employees must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements; a non-award SF-50 may be required to validate work schedule and qualifying experience.

Responsibilities

• Independently adjudicate complex lands and realty cases, including right-of-way authorizations, land tenure adjustments, withdrawals, FLPMA actions, acquisitions, conveyances, exchanges, permits, leases, and other discretionary and non-discretionary realty actions.
• Conduct technical and legal analysis of case materials for compliance with laws, regulations, policies, solicitor opinions, and program manuals; prepare findings and authoritative recommendations or decisions.
• Review legal land descriptions, Master Title Plats, control document indexes, patents, surveys, plats, title evidence, and historical records to determine ownership, encumbrances, and valid existing rights.
• Serve as a technical authority for realty adjudication and provide guidance to lower-graded examiners, Realty Specialists, field staff, and management on statutory and regulatory interpretation.
• Prepare and issue formal decisions, deficiency letters, requests for information, determination letters, and other adjudicative documents in accordance with BLM requirements and appeals processes.
• Conduct public contact and applicant interactions, explain procedural requirements, provide regulatory guidance, and resolve complex issues related to realty applications and land status.
• Maintain complete and accurate case files, electronic records, and tracking logs; ensure data integrity in automated systems and compliance with records-management requirements.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families.
• May be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive if eligible and qualified; incentives are not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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