The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) is an independent regulatory agency responsible for economic regulation of freight railroads and limited regulatory responsibilities over passenger rail, certain water carriers, non-energy pipelines, trucking companies, and intercity bus companies. The position is responsible for conducting legal research, developing recommended outcomes of cases, and preparing initial drafts of Board decisions.
The major duties of this position are researching and drafting decisions in proceedings before the Board.
The Board adjudicates, among others, the following types of proceedings: complaints of unreasonable railroad rates or practices; declaratory orders; licensing of rail line constructions, acquisitions, and abandonments; railroad mergers and acquisitions; and proceedings under the Board's jurisdiction over motor carriers, water carriage in the noncontiguous domestic trade, and certain pipelines.
In preparing draft decisions, the selected attorney will review the record before the agency and apply the relevant statutes, regulations, policies, and case law. Board decisions include summaries of relevant evidence, analysis of salient legal issues, and findings of fact, conclusions of law, and determinations of actions to be taken by the Board.
The selected attorney also will lead meetings with staff from other offices within the Board to develop recommendations for resolving Board proceedings, lead briefings of the Board members to present staff recommendations, and draft legal memoranda, correspondence, or other materials as assigned.
If you are selected at a grade lower than the highest shown in this listing, you will be placed under a career development plan and can be non-competitively promoted when you successfully complete the requirements for the higher grade. This is a non-bargaining unit position.
Education alone is not sufficient for qualification for this position. Therefore, applicants must also possess an active bar membership and meet the specialized experience requirements described in this announcement.
Educational Requirements Applicant must possess a professional law degree, (Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.)), from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any state, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcripts with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education in order for it to be credited toward qualifications; applicants' resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions.
Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/approved.html Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, please click Foreign Education.
Jennifer.Miles@stb.gov · 202-900-5218
This position is with Surface Transportation Board, Other Agencies and Independent Organizations.
The posted pay range is $102415 – $197200/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-11-02.
This position is open under the 'Fed Excepted' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-20 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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