Food Law Attorney Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition enforces the nation's antitrust laws to protect the American public from anticompetitive mergers and conduct. For more information, visit Bureau of Competition | Federal Trade Commission.
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Duties
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If you are selected for this position, you will perform the following tasks:
Each division investigates potentially anticompetitive mergers and acquisitions in a wide range of industries, including:
Mergers II: semiconductors and other high-tech hardware; industrial chemicals, mining, commercial software, music, and video games.
Mergers IV: health care providers, office supply distribution, food distribution, casino services, supermarkets, specialty retail stores, and consumer goods.
Anticompetitive Practices I: industries other than health care and pharmaceuticals. This division's work involves not only stopping illegal conduct but also shaping the law and includes issues related to monopolization, exclusion of small and innovative rivals, abuse of intellectual property rights, and covenants not to compete.
Health Care: price-fixing, group boycotts, exclusive dealing, monopolization, and mergers-involving physicians and other health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and other institutional providers.
Successful incumbents across all divisions will:
- Conduct all phases of antitrust merger or conduct investigations, including making initial determinations as to whether cases should be investigated further, identifying legal theories and plans for preliminary investigations, obtaining evidence from a variety of sources, and negotiating settlements.
- Confer with government agencies, public authorities, attorneys, businesspersons, and other members of the public to obtain information relevant to Commission investigations and to provide them with information on matters of law, Commission procedures, and policy.
- Prepare antitrust cases for trial by securing and preparing evidence, conferring with witnesses, participating in pretrial conferences, examining and cross-examining witnesses, and drafting legal documents needed during the various stages of litigation.
- Prepare internal documents for review by the Commission and perform special assignments as directed.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
• This position is subject to a background investigation.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
• Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory - US, PR, DC.
• This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is represented by the National Treasury Employees Union, Local 344.
• If selected for this position, the agency will evaluate your fitness and whether continuation of employment advances the public interest before extending your appointment beyond the two-year trial period.
• Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
Applicants must have attained the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory. Applicants must demonstrate excellent writing skills and be able to work effectively with other people, exercise sound judgment, and exhibit a strong interest in the work of the agency.
Additional Requirements
GS-12 Positions:
For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 12 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.
To qualify for the GS-12 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 12 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 12 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-11 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-11 level includes examples such as working on non-complex litigation matters and performing basic legal research, drafting, and legal analysis.
GS-13 Positions:
For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 24 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.
To qualify for the GS-13 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 24 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 12 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-12 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-12 level includes work on moderately complex, novel, or broadly significant matters. This work entails solid drafting skills, original research, strong legal analyses, and effective oral communications.
GS-14 Positions:
For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 42 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 18 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-13 level
For the GS-14 level: Qualifying experience at the GS-13 level includes examples such as independently plan, organize and conduct analysis of the matters on which you are working, based on preliminary background and policy information provided by the supervisor. Written work is expected to be technically correct and not require detailed review. At this level, attorneys are journeymen attorneys whose work entails demanding legal research and analysis; drafting and reviewing motions, subpoenas, complaints, orders, rule proposals, and memoranda; and, where appropriate to the office, participating in investigational hearings, negotiating settlements, and trials. Such attorneys contribute to the tactical and policy decisions inherent in various matters and, where appropriate, they should be able to assist in the trial of these matters. Attorneys at this level take charge of basic matters, moderately complex and novel matters, and make substantial contributions to the most complex, novel, or significant matters.
GS-15 Positions:
For attorney appointments: active member of the bar in good standing and 60 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.
For the GS-15 level: Qualifying experience at the GS-15 level includes examples such as being an outstanding writer and highly effective oral advocate. You must also exercise sound judgment, supervise, work well with, and motivate others, and make decided contributions to the work of the office. You must function independently and your work should not require close supervision or substantive review. Your supervisor(s) must have complete confidence in your judgment. At this level, you should be recognized for your competence. These attorneys should be able to represent the agency before any group or in any setting, and to effectively manage the preparation and trial of virtually any major case, all stages in the appeal of such a case, or conduct evaluation and analysis of the most complex cases of major significance for which little if any precedent exists.
Note: Legal and nonlegal experience gained in the private sector or federal government before completing law school does not satisfy post law school experience/ requirements.
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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
Education
THIS POSITION HAS AN EDUCATION REQUIRMENT: You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
Unofficial transcripts will be accepted as part of your application package, however, if selected official transcripts must be submitted prior to establishing a start date. You must maintain student eligibility and enrollment for the duration of the internship. If you cannot, you are ineligible for this program.
Please note this is a public notice flyer, please visit the Bureau of Competition's website at BC Career site. If there are no positions listed, then FTC is not actively recruiting. Please check the website periodically, as the commission regularly recruit students and recent graduates. THIS IS NOT A VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT. INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO APPLY TO FTC PATHWAYS JOB OPPORTUNITIES MUST VISIT THE FTC JOBS WEBSITE. APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FTC JOBS WEBSITE, AND APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED VIA THIS POSTING.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.