Attorney

This position is within the Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Office of General Counsel. As an Attorney-Adviser, you will provide strategic legal counsel shaping the Pacific Northwest's energy future. You will advise agency leadership, negotiate high-impact agreements, and represent BPA in administrative hearings and litigation involving complex energy and resource matters. Help power the region while tackling rewarding, cutting-edge legal work!

Elevate Your Legal Career: Power the Pacific Northwest as an Attorney with Bonneville Power Administration! At Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), our mission powers the Pacific Northwest. We market clean, carbon-free hydroelectric power across the Columbia River Basin, operate the region's high-voltage transmission backbone, and lead some of the nation's most comprehensive fish and wildlife restoration programs. Behind every major regional energy agreement and transmission milestone is our collaborative, mission-driven legal team.

We are seeking motivated, talented legal professionals to join the Office of General Counsel as an Attorney across multiple experience levels: GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13, with clear career-ladder promotion potential up to the GS-14 full performance level. Entry-Level Attorneys (GS-11): Launch your federal legal career with comprehensive mentorship, direct exposure to cutting-edge energy law, and early opportunities to conduct substantive research, draft key pleadings, and assist in negotiations and trials.

Experienced Counsel (GS-12 / GS-13): Step into a high-responsibility role managing complex matters independently, advising executives, resolving multi-million-dollar disputes, and shaping legal strategy before courts and regulatory agencies. Whether you are an experienced attorney or are just starting your legal career, you will find meaningful public service, professional growth, and the opportunity to tackle novel legal issues shaping the future of clean energy.

Key Duties & Meaningful Impact Here are eight high-impact responsibilities where your legal expertise will make a difference: Strategic In-House Counsel & Executive Advisory: Serve as a trusted legal advisor to agency managers and technical experts. You will analyze complex operational and policy questions, conduct legal investigations, assess risk, and propose clear, practical courses of action that protect and advance the agency's public mission.

Commercial, Real Estate & Infrastructure Negotiations: Participate in or lead multidisciplinary teams negotiating high-value commercial, financial, and utility infrastructure agreements. You will work with public utilities, financial institutions, private industry, and local governments to draft and review critical contracts and transactional terms. Federal Court Litigation & Appellate Advocacy: Develop and support litigation strategies for cases in U.S.

District Courts, the Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. You will draft persuasive motions, briefs, and pleadings, manage discovery, and collaborate with federal partners to defend agency actions. Regulatory Proceedings & Administrative Hearings: Advocate for BPA before regulatory commissions and administrative bodies, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).

You will draft filings, examine witnesses, present arguments, and help establish formal public records in contested matters. Solving Novel, High-Stakes Energy & Environmental Issues: Tackle groundbreaking legal challenges involving major financial stakes and regional policy impacts. Where precedent is scarce or conflicting, you will develop creative, well-reasoned legal frameworks that balance public utility duties with environmental protection and market realities.

Legislative & Policy Analysis: Interpret evolving federal and state environmental statutes, energy regulations, and public law. You will review proposed state and congressional legislation affecting regional energy markets, drafting influential agency comments, policy guidelines, and legal notices. Tribal, Regional & Intergovernmental Engagement: Engage with sovereign tribal governments, state and regional utility councils, conservation groups, and international partners.

You will provide strategic legal guidance that respects intergovernmental relationships, navigates public sensitivities, and builds consensus. Claims Evaluation & Alternative Dispute Resolution: Assess contract disputes, tort claims, and property rights matters to identify cost-effective resolutions. You will perform privilege reviews, conduct legal risk analyses, and advise leadership on whether to negotiate fair settlements, engage in arbitration, or pursue formal legal defense.

Basic Requirement

Professional law degree (L.L.B. or J.D.) and membership in a State or D.C. bar association is required.

Specialized Experience Requirements

GS-11: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: professional legal experience 1) conducting legal research, fact gathering, and statutory and case law analysis to identify applicable legal precedents; 2) preparing initial drafts of legal memoranda, pleadings, discovery requests, briefs, or transactional agreements under the direction of senior counsel; and 3) assisting senior attorneys with hearing preparation, regulatory filings, or commercial dispute matters.

GS-12: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: professional legal experience 1) analyzing and interpreting complex statutes, regulations, and judicial orders to provide legal advice to clients or management on operational, administrative, or policy questions; 2) drafting and editing legal pleadings, motions, transactional instruments, contracts, and formal legal analyses; and 3) supporting lead counsel in administrative proceedings, regulatory matters, or civil litigation, including preparing evidentiary records, participating in dispute resolution, and drafting pre-proceeding documents.

GS-13: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: professional legal experience 1) independently researching, analyzing, and rendering legal opinions and counsel to executive management or organizational officials on complex administrative, regulatory, commercial, or environmental legal matters; 2) drafting, examining, and participating in the negotiation of complex contracts, commercial agreements, or settlement arrangements; and 3) representing an organization or clients before administrative tribunals, arbitration panels, regulatory bodies, or judicial courts, including drafting dispositive motions, conducting witness examinations, and formulating trial or hearing strategy. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience.

Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.