FUL Land Law Examiner.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and processes minerals cases, including applications for permits to drill, Natural Gas Policy Act determinations, unitization and communization agreements, leasing and lease terminations, development, exploration and production operations, drainage, and bonding.
• Adjudicates agreements for technical accuracy and legal adequacy.
• Processes operator designation, resignation, and designation of unit cases.
• Determines applicant qualifications under applicable laws and regulations.
• Prepares routine correspondence, including decisions to process cases.
• Independently gathers and researches information and data necessary to complete and adjudicate legal documents.
• Duties may be developmental when filled below the full performance level.

Requirements

• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Cannot hold an active real estate license or have an interest in firms with Federal Lands interests.
• A financial disclosure report will be required within 30 days of appointment.
• May be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period; continued employment is contingent on certification that it advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement (07/30/2026) unless otherwise stated. Candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements.

GS-05:

• Three (3) years of general experience, one (1) year of which was equivalent to at least a GS-4. General experience includes familiarity with real property laws, legal land descriptions, land titles, tract maps, or legal documents, or experience explaining, applying, or interpreting laws, regulations, or policies (e.g., law clerk, claims examiner, contact representative).
• Knowledge of examination, contents, and processing of quasi-legal or legal documents, including land and minerals surveying terminology and land record systems.
• Ability to utilize computer equipment and software applications.
• OR a four-year bachelor’s degree.
• OR a combination of education and general experience.

GS-07:

• One (1) full year of specialized experience, including knowledge of legal document examination principles and procedures related to public land laws, mineral leasing, and mining laws, as well as federal and Indian land and mineral laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• OR one (1) full year of graduate-level education with 12 semester hours in land surveying, cartography, land use law, real estate law, land appraising, land use planning, water rights, mining laws, or legal instrument review and interpretation.
• OR Superior Academic Achievement: A bachelor’s degree with at least 12 semester hours in relevant coursework and one of the following:
  • Rank in the upper third of the graduating class.
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher (based on 4 years of education or final 2 years) or 3.5 or higher in the major field.
  • Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society.
• OR a combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education.

GS-09:

• One (1) full year of specialized experience, including knowledge of public land laws, mineral laws, Indian land laws, legal records, Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations, program manuals, and handbooks, as well as the effects of land reservations, segregations, withdrawals, acquisitions, authorizations, and disposals.
• OR a Master’s or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D. in relevant fields (e.g., land surveying, cartography, land use law, real estate law, land appraising, land use planning, water rights, mining laws, or legal instrument review and interpretation).
• OR a combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education (only graduate education in excess of the amount required for GS-07 may be used).

Volunteer experience (paid or unpaid) may be credited if it involved relevant skills or competencies.

Education

• Transcripts must be submitted if using education to qualify. Transcripts must include name, school, grades, credit hours, major, GPA/class ranking, and degree conferral date (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application, but official transcripts are required if selected.
• Foreign education must be evaluated by a private organization specializing in foreign credential interpretation and deemed equivalent to U.S. education.

Additional Information

• This position is filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants residing within the local commuting area (50 miles from the Farmington District Office, 6521 College Blvd., Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402). Proof of residency (e.g., mortgage, lease, utility bill) is required.
• A recruitment incentive may be authorized for newly selected employees, except for federal employees transferring from another agency.
• Promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed and depends on performance, higher-grade work availability, and supervisor recommendation.
• Physical Demands: Work is predominantly sedentary but may involve walking, stooping, and bending when searching for records.
• Working Conditions: Typical office setting.
• Ethics Restrictions: DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain claims, permits, leases, or other rights in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions apply.