Legal Administrative Specialist; Competition Advisement

The Packers and Stockyards Division (PSD) administers the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, as amended and supplemented. The Packers and Stockyards Act (Act) is a competition, trade practice, and financial protection law. Its principal purpose is to maintain effective competition and fair trade practices in livestock, meat, and poultry marketing.

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.

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

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.

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, Ameri Corps) 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.