Student Trainee (Legal)

Summary

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies as a "Best Place to Work" in the Federal government! Our Pathways Internship Program provides students the opportunity to acquire first-hand experience in the energy industry, while gaining exposure to the Commission's work. This Student Trainee (Legal) vacancy will be used to fill multiple intern positions in OAL, OALJ, OERA, OGC, and Commissioner Rosner.

Duties

Our Pathways Internship Program provides students the opportunity to acquire first-hand experience in the energy industry, while gaining exposure to the Commission's work. This vacancy will be used to fill multiple positions in the Office of Administrative Litigation (OAL), the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), the Office of Commissioner Rosner, the Office of Enforcement and Regulatory Accounting (OERA) and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). This vacancy is for a Spring/Summer 2027 internship. While the duties of the Student Trainee (Legal) may vary depending on office placement, some of your typical work assignments may include: In the Office of Administrative Litigation (OAL), Student Trainees receive front-line exposure to administrative litigation involving cutting-edge issues in energy law applied to specific cases concerning infrastructure and rates in the electric, natural gas, and oil sectors. Working directly with multidisciplinary case teams, an intern will see first-hand how the administrative process resolves disputes through litigation or settlement, including negotiations, trial preparation and practice, motions practice, preparation of expert witness testimony, and legal research on energy law and policy. In the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), Student Trainees (Interns) assist FERC's administrative law judges and their law clerks with conducting formal administrative hearings and settlement proceedings, managing complex evidentiary records, drafting orders, and issuing Initial Decisions (ALJ opinions) in contested proceedings involving some of the most significant and technically sophisticated issues in energy regulation. This assistance may include legal research, legal writing, legal analysis, summarizing testimony and exhibits, and attending settlement conferences and hearings. In the Office of Enforcement and Regulatory Accounting (OERA), Student Trainees assist enforcement staff as they conduct investigations and engage in litigation or administrative hearings. This assistance may include evidence collection, legal research, drafting legal memos, and helping attorneys prepare for, and then attending depositions or interviews. Student Trainees will also complete a semester-long research project of their choice. In the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) Energy Markets Section, Student Trainees perform legal research, draft legal memoranda, and assist with drafting orders related to the Commission's regulatory responsibilities under the Natural Gas Act, Federal Power Act, Interstate Commerce Act, and Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, as well as administrative law. In the OGC Projects Section, Student Trainees perform legal research, draft legal memoranda, and assist with drafting orders related to the Commission's regulatory responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental statutes; work with nonlegal technical staff to review, analyze, and resolve energy issues presented to the Commission; and review applications, analyze legal memoranda and orders relating to proposed hydropower and natural gas facilities. In the OGC General and Administrative Law Section, Student Trainees can expect to work in a variety of areas including labor relations, personnel disputes, Freedom of Information Act, ethics, contracts, Critical Energy/Electric Infrastructure Information, and to assist with any related litigation concerning these matters. In the Office of Commissioner David Rosner, Student Trainees assist with the review, summary, and analysis of substantive matters within the Commission's jurisdiction. This assistance may include: preparation of memos on legal and/or technical issues arising under the Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, and the Interstate Commerce Act; background research for the Commissioner's public statements and engagements; participation in meetings with external stakeholders; and completion of other projects as assigned. The intern program at FERC is unique in that we post one intern vacancy for multiple offices to make selections. This means you may be contacted by several different hiring managers for different vacancies. See Next Steps section for additional information. Our Internship Program offers students the opportunity to attend networking events, visit regulated hydropower dams, and participate in seminars with career advice and tips from FERC's top management officials. For more information, visit: https://www.ferc.gov/about/careers/student-relations. This appointment is not to exceed (NTE) 09/30/2027. May be extended if the student continues to meet program requirements. This internship position may confer non-competitive conversion eligibility, if student meets all Pathways Program requirements for conversion, however, conversion is not required or guaranteed.

Qualifications and evaluation

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Learning Problem Solving Self-Management Technology Application Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method based on your assessments. You will receive a score based on the responses to the assessment questions. If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and assessment score will be evaluated under Category Rating and selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories: Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria Qualified - for those who meet the minimum qualification requirements The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Applicants determined to be Best Qualified will be referred for further consideration. Preference eligibles in the Best Qualified category are referred before all other applicants. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13090191

Education

This position has an education requirement and therefore, transcripts are required. Failure to submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application will result in your application being marked incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Make sure you verify that your resume clearly indicates possession of the competencies and specialized experience listed under the "Qualifications and Evaluation" and "How You Will Be Evaluated" sections of this announcement. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside approximately two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Remember to submit all required and supporting documentation listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

Required documents

Failure to submit all required documentation by the closing date of this vacancy announcement, including adhering to the maximum two-page resume requirement, will result in removal from consideration and loss of any special hiring preference (e.g., veterans' preference, ICTAP/CTAP eligibility, Schedule A). REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR ALL CANDIDATES: RESUME (maximum of 2 pages in length): Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire. You must ensure it contains the following information for each experience/position: Position title Name of employer Beginning and ending dates of employment (Month/Day/Year format) Hours worked per week Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable) Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions) If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying based on your education, you must list your education history, including the type of degree and your major of study. VACANCY QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit and complete the online eligibility and vacancy questions. TRANSCRIPTS: You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts to verify your education and eligibility for an intern appointment. Unofficial copies are acceptable; however, if selected you will be required to provide official transcripts before your effective date. OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY CLAIMS: VETERANS'PREFERENCE (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.): If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an "Application for 10-point Veteran Preference" (SF-15), along with official VA letter and the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. For more information about veterans' preference, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans. CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CTAP)/INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated "Well Qualified" for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information about CTAP/ICTAP, visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. The following documents are required: Reduction in Force or RIF notice - written notice of your expected separation, or other documentation of priority consideration status; Latest SF-50 noting your current position, grade level, and duty location; Last performance appraisal, including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency showing your current promotion potential. Schedule A eligibility (applicants with disabilities): The federal government has a streamlined hiring process for individuals with disabilities, known as Schedule A. For more information about Schedule A and eligibility requirements, visit: https://www.ferc.gov/careers/info-disabilities.asp.

Additional information

This internship position may confer non-competitive conversion eligibility, however, conversion is not guaranteed. To be eligible for conversion to the competitive service, you must complete 640 hours of work experience (up to 320 hours may be waived based on successful performance in the position and a 3.0 overall GPA); meet the OPM qualification standards for the target position; and meet the requirements of the FERC Pathways Internship Agreement. Service in the Pathways Internship Program confers no right to further employment. The duty location of this position is Washington, DC. If selected for this position, you will be required to: Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment. Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice. Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC's supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of at least some energy securities is likely to be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment. Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.