Attorney

Background

These positions are located in the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Headquarters, Rockville, Maryland. 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proud to be ranked among the best places to work for compensation, work-life balance, and performance for mid-sized agencies in the Federal Government. 

The NRC protects public health and safety and advances the nation’s common defense and security by enabling the safe and secure use and deployment of civilian nuclear energy technologies and radioactive materials through efficient and reliable licensing, oversight, and regulation for the benefit of society and the environment.

Duties

Depending on placement, duties will be performed with a high degree of independence and will include representation in agency adjudications or before administrative tribunals, providing advice in non-adjudicatory contexts, and advising and providing legal services related to:

• The licensing and regulation of nuclear materials, fuel cycle facilities, spent fuel storage and disposal, decommissioning activities for reactors and materials sites, and other related activities;
• New or amended NRC regulations, guidance, and policy statements for the NRC's reactors, materials, and fuel cycle, waste, and disposal programs; backfitting/issue finality; the NRC Agreement State Program, and Tribal policy; the annual fee rule, fee disputes and fee waivers;
• The licensing and regulation of nuclear power and non-power reactors, including issuance, renewal, and transfer of licenses, construction permits, early site permits, combined licenses, operating licenses, and manufacturing licenses; issuance of standard design approvals and standard design certifications and associated legal review activities for new reactors; and reactor operator licensing; and
• Cybersecurity, safeguards, and physical security of NRC-licensed facilities and materials; and reactor and materials enforcement matters, to include allegations of wrongdoing, investigations, and related agency adjudications.

In performance of duties:

·       Reviews technical documents to determine their legal sufficiency.

·       Performs difficult original legal research.

·       Develops solutions to novel and complex legal issues.

·       Provides legal opinions and advice.

·       Identifies and addresses policy matters, including consideration of relevant risks.

When in a litigation role,

·       Prepares and conducts difficult and complex cases before Atomic Safety Licensing boards, Presiding Officers, and the Commission.

·       Prepares motions and briefs.

·       Obtains witnesses and develops their testimony.

·       Negotiates with petitioners, intervenors, licensees, applicants, attorneys, members of the public, and Federal and State and local agencies.

·       Conducts direct examination on highly technical-scientific subjects.

·       Makes persuasive arguments during oral hearings.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as:
For the GG 13 grade level: includes experience that is defined as attorney or judicial work experience in a federal or state government legal office, federal or state judiciary, or the private practice of law, which provided the candidate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the work of these positions. Minimally qualified candidates will have multiple years of work experience, including substantial regulatory and statutory interpretation and/or litigation experience sufficient to perform with an adequate degree of independence or with assistance on complex and major assignments.
For the GG 14 grade level: Typically, at least one year of an applicant’s specialized work experience should be comparable in complexity and responsibility to the kind of work normally assigned at the grade 13 or 14 levels in the Federal government, or equivalent.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Ability to provide legal advice and support to the General Counsel, the Commission, and the Commission staff on all aspects of:
• Licensing and regulation for materials, fuel cycle, spent fuel storage and disposal, fuel packaging and transportation, and decommissioning activities;
• New or amended NRC regulations, guidance, and policy statements for the NRC's reactors, materials, and fuel cycle, waste, and disposal programs; backfitting/issue finality; the NRC Agreement State Program, and Tribal policy; the annual fee rule, fee disputes and fee waivers;
• Reactor licensing and regulation for operating reactors, new reactors, advanced reactors, reactor license transfers, license renewal, design certification, reactor decommissioning, and research and test reactors; and/or
• Cybersecurity, safeguards, and physical security of NRC-licensed facilities and materials, allegations of wrongdoing, investigations, and enforcement of agency requirements
• Ability to effectively identify, interpret and analyze Federal laws, statutes, regulations, and cases as they relate to agency adjudicatory processes and complex legal issues in various areas of law.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, particularly in connection with providing legal opinions and advice.
• Experience in administrative law, security and enforcement practice, regulatory practice, or environmental law, and possess litigation experience (civil, criminal, trial, and/or appellate) in one or more of those practice areas.

A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate must be addressed in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria.

Education

You must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a J.D., LL.B., or equivalent degree, and you must be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. 

How to Apply

Visit www.nrc.gov Review the NRC Career Opportunities page, click on “Apply Now” then “Search for New Opportunities” and click on “view a list of current NRC vacancies at USAJOBS.”  Or, click on the apply button/link on this site to be taken to NRC ‘s USAJOBS.gov employment page.  Find the Attorney Announcement Number DEST-13028782-26-NT and apply on-line by October 22, 2026.

Note: It is essential for you to view the official Job Opportunity Announcement found on USAJOBS.  It will provide precise information about the qualification requirements and the exact documents to be submitted for you to be evaluated, which will include your resume (not to exceed two pages in length), your transcripts, your responses to all required vacancy questions and any documents related to application eligibilities you may be claiming.

If you are viewing this opportunity after October 22nd please visit NRC’s website and discover additional opportunities for which you might be interested.