Attorney Advisor

Attorney Advisor

Department: Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $120579 - $189950 Per Year

Job Summary: The Postal Regulatory Commission's Office of the General Counsel is seeking a highly motivated, organized, and detail-oriented attorney with interest and demonstrated experience in regulatory law to join our team. The PRC 5 and the PRC 6 position both are career positions with a two-year probationary period. Promotion potential exists to the PRC 7 level.

Major Duties:

• Attorney-Advisor, PRC-5: A PRC-5 attorney is expected to complete assignments according to the deadlines and expectations set by the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsels (Deputies). After an initial period of informal training, a PRC-5 attorney is expected be able to handle routine assignments independently and, when necessary, seek guidance and advice from a more senior attorney or Deputy. The attorney is expected, following exposure to a range of assignments and cases, to build a baseline of competency with Commission legal practice. An attorney at this grade must have a level of skill and ability (based on prior professional experience) that informs his/her judgment as to when a higher level of attention or review is necessary. Major Duties of an Attorney-Advisor, PRC-5 include: Drafts legal notices, orders, regulations, reports, memoranda, policies, and other documents upon request and according to accepted form and practice. Coordinates with technical staff to develop analyses on routine matters such as the application of analytical and economic principles to Commission proceedings and the Postal Service's compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory provisions. With technical staff, makes recommendations to the General Counsel, Deputies, and other senior leadership based on data analyses and findings. May be part of a team of attorneys or work closely with Deputy or a more senior attorney on more complex matters. Analyzes pleadings filed with the Commission; conducts applicable legal and policy research; and provides legal advice and assistance to Commission staff, including the General Counsel, Deputies, Commissioners' staff, and technical staff on routine matters. Identifies potentially ambiguous, contentious, complex, or novel issues raised in Commission proceedings or during review of internal Commission policies or practices, and seeks guidance on those issues from a more senior attorney, Deputy, or the General Counsel. Provides written and oral reports, memoranda, and briefings based on legal research and analyses and assists in the development of proceedings' records, including developing requests for information from participating parties. Attorney-Advisor Associate PRC-6: In addition to independently working on routine matters, a Grade 6 Attorney-Advisor is assigned matters of increasing complexity and difficulty. An attorney at this grade will only require occasional guidance on more routine matters. On less routine matters, an attorney at this grade is expected to accurately identify ambiguous, contentious, complex, or novel issues and provide the Deputy or General Counsel with recommendations as to how to best handle the matter consistent with Commission practice. A Grade 6 Attorney-Advisor will be expected to provide guidance and mentoring to less experienced attorneys. This may include providing informal and formal training and reviewing work. On occasion, a Grade 6 Attorney-Advisor may be selected to lead a team of attorneys in a larger proceeding or report. Major Duties of an Attorney-Advisor Associate PRC-6 include: Independently drafts legal notices, orders, regulations, reports, memoranda, policies, and other documents upon request and according to accepted form and practice. Reviews and provides feedback on such documents prepared by a less experienced attorney upon request. Coordinates with technical staff to develop analyses on routine and complex matters in areas such as cost allocation and causation; application of analytical and economic principles to Commission proceedings; and the Postal Service's compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory provisions. With technical staff, makes recommendations to the General Counsel, Deputies, and other senior leadership based on analyses and findings. May lead projects with multiple attorneys assigned or serve as mentor to a less experienced attorney. Analyzes pleadings filed with the Commission; conducts applicable legal and policy research; and provides legal advice and recommendations to Commission staff, including the General Counsel, Deputies, Commissioners' staff, and technical staff on routine and more complex matters. Identifies potentially ambiguous, contentious, complex, or novel issues raised in Commission proceedings or during review of internal Commission policies or practices and develops recommendations for senior leadership as to how address those issues. Provides written and oral reports, memoranda, and briefings based on legal research and analyses and assists in the development of proceedings' records, including developing requests for information from participating parties. Reviews and provides feedback on such documents prepared by a less experienced attorney upon request. Recommends final disposition of issues and prepares drafts of final Commission decisions.

Qualifications: MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS The following qualifications must be demonstrated in your resume and cover letter: A professional law degree (LLB or JD) from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Membership in good standing of the bar of a state, a territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. At least one year of professional experience, such as a clerkship or in general law practice, in a position that required extensive legal research, writing, and analysis, on a variety of complex civil or administrative (non- criminal) legal issues. Experience researching areas of law with little or no precedent, producing complex legal analysis based on that research, and presenting well-reasoned conclusions or recommendations verbally and in writing. Experience or education demonstrating the ability to review, discuss, and interpret complex quantitative or technical concepts and to work with subject matter experts to apply a legal framework to complex quantitative or technical facts. Experience briefing or informing mid-level or senior decision-makers of background/context, analysis and recommendations for future action. Ability to work independently using critical thinking and research skills to resolve unique questions of law or fact. Ability to independently manage workload/caseload and allocate time among a number of competing long-term, medium-term and short-term projects. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience with the general principles of administrative law, such as drafting proposed regulations, providing comments in administrative proceedings, drafting administrative decisions or representing parties before administrative law judges or administrative bodies. Knowledge of applicable economic and legal regulatory concepts, such as competition/antitrust law, accounting principles, laws affecting the United States Postal Service, and/or operations and services of the United States Postal Service. Judicial or administrative law clerkship experience that included an extensive research and writing component. Generally, one to nine years work experience is preferred for PRC Grade 5 and ten or more years work experience is preferred for PRC Grade 6. Critical Competencies of a PRC-5: The ability to effectively identify and communicate key issues both orally and in writing The ability to conduct legal research on issues with little or no precedent The ability to identify and discuss complex quantitative or technical concepts The ability to work with technical staff to apply a legal framework to quantitative or technical facts The ability to brief, orally or in writing, decision makers of background/context, analysis, and recommendations for future action with guidance from Deputies or the General Counsel The ability to work independently using critical thinking and research skills to identify and propose resolutions for unique issues The ability to independently manage workload and to allocate time among a number of competing long-term, medium-term, and short-term projects The ability to apply legal precedent to complex and technical fact patterns Supervision of a PRC-5: A PRC-5 Attorney-Advisor is under the direct supervision of a Deputy and receives assignments from the General Counsel and Deputies, who work with the attorney to set objectives, priorities, and deadlines. The attorney will receive additional assistance with issues that are ambiguous, contentious, complex, or novel. As experience increases, the attorney should be able to independently identify such issues and conduct related research. The attorney keeps the General Counsel and Deputies apprised of progress in meeting preset objectives and deadlines. All of the attorney's work product is reviewed for accuracy, completeness, and the accomplishment of preset objectives and priorities. This position is evaluated based on ability to perform the tasks assigned in accordance with the Commission Employee Competencies of timeliness, accuracy, teamwork, adherence to Commission policy, customer service, and technical credibility. For a grade 5 attorney, the expectation is that a fully successful attorney will produce timely work product that is substantially complete for its intended purpose on routine matters (e.g., addresses all relevant statutory/regulatory requirements, contains thorough support and references, and is substantially free of citation errors). On matters of moderate to intermediate complexity, a grade 5 attorney will work with moderate supervision and guidance. A grade 5 attorney will also successfully spot issues and communicate matters of significance or complexity that require input before proceeding. Written work product for a grade 5 attorney identifies all relevant statutory/regulatory requirements. A grade 5 attorney incorporates feedback and guidance and applies that feedback and guidance in future work product. Critical Competencies of a PRC-6: The ability to effectively identify, communicate, and provide recommendations addressing key issues both orally and in writing The ability to conduct legal research and provide recommendations on issues with little or no precedent The ability to analyze and draft orders and other documents addressing complex quantitative or technical concepts The ability to work with technical staff to apply a legal framework to quantitative or technical facts The ability to brief, orally or in writing, decision makers of background/context, analysis, and recommendations for future action with limited guidance from Deputies or the General Counsel The ability to work independently using critical thinking and research skills to identify and implement resolutions to unique issues through application of technical facts to legal analysis The ability to independently manage workload and to allocate time among a number of competing long-term, medium-term, and short-term projects The ability to apply legal precedent to complex and technical fact patterns The ability to mentor and provide feedback to less experienced attorneys and staff Knowledge of the laws affecting the Postal Service and the Commission, including title 39 U.S.C. and related regulations and applicable portions of title 5 U.S.C. Knowledge of the economic and regulatory concepts relevant to the Commission's regulation of the Postal Service Knowledge of Commission style, terminology, form, and accepted practice Work product is on-schedule, accurate, polished, and complete on submission Supervision of a PRC-6: A Grade 6 Attorney-Advisor is under the direct supervision of a Deputy and receives assignments from the General Counsel and Deputies, who work with the attorney to set objectives, deadlines and priorities. The attorney is responsible for planning and carrying out project assignments independently and balancing competing priorities and assignments. The attorney is responsible for independently handling all routine and most complex problems and issues as they arise and keeping the General Counsel and Deputies apprised of potentially controversial matters. Completed non-routine work is reviewed for accuracy, completeness, and the accomplishment of preset objectives and priorities. Work on more routine matters is reviewed for legal sufficiency and consistency with Commission requirements, and is expected to be accurate, polished, and complete on submission. This position is evaluated based on ability to perform the tasks assigned in accordance with the Commission Employee Competencies of timeliness, accuracy, teamwork, adherence to Commission policy, customer service, and technical credibility. Generally, a grade 6 attorney produces timely work product that is substantially complete for its intended purpose (e.g., addresses all relevant statutory/regulatory requirements, contains thorough support and references, and is substantially free of citation errors).

How to Apply: Applicants must apply through the online application system USAJOBS.gov. Follow the prompts to register, answer the application questionnaire and assessment, and submit all required documents. If you already have a USAJOBS account, click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to attach any additional documents that may be required. Application packages will NOT be accepted via email, mail, or fax. All applications must be received by 11:59 pm on the closing date. This vacancy announcement will be open from November 26, 2025, through December 10, 2025. Complete application packages must be submitted at the time that you apply to receive consideration. Additional documents will not be accepted after the vacancy closes.

Application Deadline: 2025-12-10