https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/432763800

JOB SUMMARY:

USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.  Our vision is to expand economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote agriculture production sustainability that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve and conserve our Nation's natural resources through restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is an independent legal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel provide legal advice and services to the Secretary of Agriculture and all other officials and agencies of the Department with respect to all USDA programs and activities.  The primary purpose of the position is to provide professional legal services to major components of USDA and its agencies within the geographic area of the assigned office.

This attorney position is located in a field office of the Office of the General Counsel, located in Little Rock, Arkansas which provides legal advice and counseling for USDA issues in the States of Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee.  The Little Rock Office is a branch office within the Central Region, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.  

Pay Scale:
This position starts at the GS-11 level however, the full performance level is a GS-14.  Listed below are the salary ranges for each grade level.

DUTIES:

As an Attorney you will be responsible for the following:

• Conducting legal research and advising agency officials and OGC attorneys on complex legal questions, preparing pleadings, motions, briefs and other related documents, determining the nature of action along with the legal issues involved and the most effective course of action and the most advantageous legal strategies.
• Serving as legal counsel to officials and agencies within the Department of Agriculture including: Farm Service Agency, Rural Development (Rural Housing Service, Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business Service), Food and Nutrition Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Risk Managment Agency, the Forest Service, and other USDA agencies within the states served by this office.
• Advising USDA agency officials and other OGC attorneys on complex legal questions or factual issues and recommending final action on many matters regarding litigation.
• Representing the Agency's interests in commercial law matters such as collection and servicing of residential, multi-family and farm loan porfolios (foreclosure, bankruptcy, third-party actions); and representing agency in real estate practice involving agency regulations and related issues.
• Conducting research to ensure any advice is based on sound understanding of relevant facts and law, anticipating significant foreseeable consequences of advice and recommend actions to ensure that decisions made and actions taken are practical, effective, legally sound and supportable.
• Conducting Litigation in conjunction with other attorneys in OGC and the Department of Justice to prepare pleadings for federal, state or administrative tribunals, preparing witnesses in preparation for trials or hearings, participating in prehearing conferences, mediation or negotiation, and preparing documents related to the relevant facts and law at issue.  Example of actions include: programmatic claims made in District Court proceeding de novo or record review; administrative actions before various administrative tribunals; and defense of personnel actions taken by the Agency.
• Negotiating with highly skilled and knowledgeable opposing counsel while acting within the parameteres of delegated authority consistent with statutory authority and agency policy and objectives.
• Reviewing agency reports, documents, and policy statements for legal sufficiency; conducting all legal research related to the above matters; and acting as legal advisor to the administrative officials of the Department.
• Planning, organizing, and conducting independent activities required in furnishing the legal services assigned.
• Reviewing and drafting documents related to a wide variety of real property issues involving all USDA agencies: e.g., the acquisition, purchase and disposal of real property, easement acquisition, review of title commitments/title insurance, boundary disputes, title claims, leasehold issues, securing and disposal of encumbered property.