Legal Administrative Specialist (Competition Advisement)

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Collaborates with Department attorneys in serving as a legal administrative advisor and in-house legal resource person.
• Prepares memoranda or reports outlining the factual and legal issues involved, explaining the application of legal principles and precedents, and justifying recommendations or conclusions.
• Makes recommendations concerning antitrust problems in the livestock, poultry, and meat industries and provides recommendations regarding investigations and formal complaints that may be contemplated.
• Makes judgments and offers research-based opinions about the competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions in terms of the long-range impact of both buyers and sellers to maintain competition and exercise initiative in the affected markets.
• Consults and advises on necessary investigations and researches individual firm records, legal periodicals, and public information to suggest methods to correct problems.
• Recommends the issuance of subpoenas and demand letters when necessary and prepares pre-subpoena demand letters and subpoenas.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
• In accordance with Office of Government Ethics regulations concerning conflict of interest, the incumbent will be required to submit a financial disclosure report within 30 days of their effective date of appointment and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

To qualify, you MUST meet all program and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements;

• Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) year.
• Current students who will complete their degree requirements by 12/31/2026 will be considered. OR
• Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the next lower level (GS-09) in the Federal Service. This experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Examples of qualifying experience include, but are not limited to:

• Providing recommendations regarding investigations and formal complaints.
• Assisting an attorney with interviewing witnesses, reviewing documents.
• Performing the foundation for cases as it pertains to legal research, legal analysis.
• Writing legal memoranda and litigation documents subject to review by a higher graded employee or supervisor

EDUCATION GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in Agricultural Law, Agricultural Economics, Governmental Administration or LL.M., if related.

TRANSCRIPTS are required.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.