Attorney Advisor

Organization Overview:

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
Position Summary:

ARC seeks an Attorney Advisor to support the Office of General Counsel (OGC) in providing legal advice and services to agency leadership, staff, and State partners. Under the supervision of the General Counsel and senior attorneys, the incumbent applies professional legal knowledge to assist with administrative and programs law matters, including grants and cooperative agreements, contracts, ethics, employment and personnel issues, and the interpretation of federal, state, and local laws applicable to ARC programs.
Duties include conducting legal research and analysis; interpreting statutes, regulations, and case law; assisting in the preparation of legal opinions and guidance; and advising or grants management, contracts administration, records management, and employee conduct. The incumbent supports the drafting and review of legal instruments, responses to records requests, and delivery of training on federal grant compliance. Work requires the application of legal principles, analytical reasoning, and sound judgement, as well as the effective and ethical use of legal technologies, including generative AI, consistent with professional standards.
This position reports directly to the General Counsel.
Required Qualifications:

• Professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active member and in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• Minimum one year of relevant, professional law experience (including paid and/or unpaid experience); or a second professional law degree (Master of Laws [LL.M.]), provided it required at least one full academic year of graduate study; or Superior law student work or activities, as demonstrated by one of the following: academic standing in the upper third of the attorney's law school graduating class; work or achievement of significance on one of the attorney's law school's official law reviews or journals; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school (e.g., membership in the Order of the Coif, winning a moot court competition, or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools); full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program, as opposed to one (1) time, intermittent, or casual participation; significant summer law office clerk experience; or other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement.
• Successful completion (prior to hire) and maintenance of background security review; U.S. citizenship required.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.  Occasional travel within the thirteen-state Appalachian region may be required.

Why ARC?
Great Benefits: ARC offers a collaborative work environment and a competitive benefits package which includes health insurance, 401(k), paid time off, commuting subsidy, professional development, etc. This is not a federal position, however, if a federal employee is selected for this position and transfers without a break in service of more than three calendar days, he or she may be able to continue his or her retirement and life/health insurance benefits. ARC generally follows the General Schedule Salary Table of the Federal government. ARC's grades denoted by "NF" are equivalent to the federal grade(s) on the GS chart. This position is a NF12 (DC locality) is located in Washington, DC and requires five “in-person” days in the office.
Strong Mission: Curious about the work we do at ARC? Read more about our strategic plan, Appalachia Envisioned, to check out our goals. Our team is dedicated to innovation, partnerships, and investments in the Appalachian Region to help achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.