ML20081J763

The Honor Law Graduate Program

ML20081J763
Person / Time
Issue date:	11/03/1983
From:	NRC
To:
References
NUREG-BR-0018, NUREG-BR-0018-R01, NUREG-BR-18, NUREG-BR-18-R1, NUDOCS 8311090108
Download: ML20081J763 (12)

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i Introduct* ion The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is the independent regu-ietory egency,espoosibie fo,1ne iicensing and,eguiation of civiiian nuclear power facilities and materials. NRC was established in 1975 under provisions of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, which abolished the Atomic Energy Commission and transferred to NRC the regulatory responsibilities held by that agency. The Departments of Defense and Energy are responsible for the military applications of nuclear materials and facilities.

In creating N RC, Congress recognized that, from a technical, economic I

and social standpoint, nucicar energy had reached a state of develop-ment where its regulation demanded the full attention of an independ-ent regulatory agency. It was also recognized that if nuclear power was to become an important energy source to the nation, it was essential that the public and the regulated industry have full confi-dence in its regulation.

The primary mission of NRC is to regulate the uses of nuclear energy so as to protect the radiological health and safety of the public, to maintain the safety and security of nuclear materials, to protect the environment, and to assure that the pertinent antitrust laws are fully complied with. To carry out this mission, N RC has developed a compre-hensive program of regulation, licensing and enforcement. This pro-gram includes the development and formal promulgation of regulations applicable to the uses of nuclear facilities and materials, the conduct of public rulemaliing hearings, technical review of all applications for licenses to build and operate nuclear power plants and to use nuclear materials, the conduct of public hearings in connection with license applications, field inspections of all licensed activities, enforcement actions, and the conduct of public hearings in connection with enforcement activities.

j in addition, NRC is responsible for the conduct of research programs required to carry out its licensing and regulatory responsibilities.

These programs are carried out in cooperation with both' Federal and private research organizations. NRC is also directly responsible, in conformity with American foreign policy, for the exchange of technical information on nuclear regulatory and related safety research 3

matters with foreign governments, as well as with international organi-zations and agencies, it is also responsible for the processing of applica-tions for the export and import of nuclear materials and facilities.

Although a major portion of NRC's effort is devoted to the licensing and regulation of nuclear power reactors, the agency's responsibilities i

also cover a broad spectrum of activity concerned with nuclear mate-rials, including the regulation of most of the nuclear " fuel cycle."

This includes the milling of uranium ore, its conversion into nuclear fuel materials and fabrication into fuel elements and their uses, as well as the reprocessing, transportation, and disposition of spent fuel.

l NRC also regulates the production and uses of a wide variety of nuclear materials, mostly radioisotopes for medical, industrial and commercial uses.

It is to the activities described above that NRC employees dedicate their efforts to help assure that NRC-licensed activities will not en-danger public health and safety, will provide adequate safeguards for nuclear materials, will protect against adverse environmental impacts and will be in conformity with the antitrust laws.

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L U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

.4 Organizational NRC employs approximately 3,300 persons. Because of the highly technical nature of the work, a majority of NRC employces are professionals who have gg degrees in such diverse fields as law, engineering, physics, geophysics, seismology, ecology, meteorology, health physics, statistics, economics, chemistry, oceanography, radiobiology, and mathematics.

NRC offices are located in Washington, D.C., and in adjacent Montgomery County, Maryland. NRC employees are also located in five regional offices in various sections of the United States. The primary function of these employees is to conduct inspections of licensed activities in the region.

NRC is headed by five Commissioners who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for five-year terms.

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1 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISION ORGANIZATION CHART g,,,c, g, CONGRESSIONAL PUBLIC AFFAldS AFFAIRS l

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS

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INFORMATION AS OF CHAIRMAN SEPTEMBER 1,1983 COMMISSIONERS i

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The Honor Law Each year the NRC selects a small number of graduating law students or judicial law clerks t participate in the Honor Law Graduate Program. This Program is Graduate ProOram designed to attract from across the nation outstanding mdividuals interested in beginning the practice of law in a major Federal regulatory agency - the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Program provides for those selected chauenging and varied opportunities to gain valuable experience in the practice of law. By means of a combination of on-the-job assignments, continuing legal education, seminas, study, and careful evaluation and supervision of performance, the individuals selected for the Program are encouraged to assume substantial individual responsibility and to develop their legal skills. Members of the Program are provided opportunities for overview orientation including attendance at Commission meetings, Congressional hearings, oral arguments before the Supren.e Court and the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, visits to licensed f acilities under construction and in operation, attendance at specialized Bar conferences and meetings, and meetings with Federal, state and foreign officials.

Recruitment for the NRC conducts its own recruitment for the Program independently of any other Federal recruitment programs. A Civil Service grade rating and/or examination Honor Program by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is not required for NRC employment consideration. Recruitment for the Program is done by means of correspondence and contacts with law school deans and placement directors of all accredited law schools. NRC attorneys conduct on-campus interviews at several law schools eaC. year.

Qualifications for the To maintain the integrity and excellence of the Program, generally only those students vvho are in the upper 30 percent of their law school class are eligible Honor ProOram for consideration. A waiver of this requirement may be made for compensating qualifications.

In addition, to be considered for the Program, an individual must be a third year law student who will graduate from law school no later than June cf next year, or a judicial law clerk who will be prepared to report for duty no later than the end of September.

All candidates should be aware that NRC employees (including spouse, minor child, and any other member of the immediate household) cannot own any stocks, bonds or other financial interests in corporations whose activities are closely related to activities regulated by N RC.

Finally, and without exception, U.S. citizenship is required for admission to the Program. In addition, each person selected for the Program must undergo a com-i

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plete security investigation and be granted a security clearance, s

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Admission to the Bar is not initially required, although such admission is expected

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during the first year of NRC employment. A parson selected for the Program who N

is not admitted to the Bar within one year of reporting for duty can expect neither promotion nor advancement. This lack of necessary qualifications can be cause for j

termination of employment, Admission to the Bar of the highest court of any jurisdiction in the United States t

i will satisfy the admission requirement and permit that attorney to represent the

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U.S. Government when employed as an NRC attorney.

' i' Selection for the All candidates possessing the required qualifications are considered for the Program.

Selections for appointment to the Prograrn are based on potential competence to Honor Program perform the required work, are m no way influenced by personal or political con-siderations, and are made without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, physical handicap, marital status, or national origin. Eligible veterans are accorded the s

preference granted to them by the Veterans' Preference Act of 1944. NRC IS AN

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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

in selecting members for the Program, specific consideration is given to an individ-ual's law school academic record; law school activities, including law review, moot court and legal aid; law clerk employment; the results of personal interviews by NRC attorneys; the results of reference checks;and any other considerations that may indicate the potential of the individual to develop into an outstanding attorney. Technical or scientific traming or experience is not a requirement for admission to the Program.

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.,j OFFICE OF THE i sEeremaEn 1.1983 EXECUTIVE 1 EXECUTIVE LEGAL LEGAL DIRECTOR j SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE

_ LEGAL DIRECTOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR INTERNATION AL

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CHIEF, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE PROGRAM LEGAL DIRECTOR SUPPORT BRANCH q

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DIRECTOR h CHIEF COUNSEL CHIEF COUNSEL REGIONAL i

HEGULATIONS OPERATIONS &

DIVISION ENFORCEMENT DIVISION DIRECTOR &

DIRECTOR h PARALEGAL CHIEF COUNSEL CHIEF COUNSEL SPECIALISTS HF ARING DIVISION OPERATIONS &

ADMINISTRATION DEPUTY DIVISION 4

DIRECTOR s

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ASSISTANT ASSISTAIVT CHIEF CHIE F HEARING HEARING COUNSEL COUNSEL 1

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ASSISTANT ASSISTANT CHIEF CHIEF HEARING HEARING COUNSEL COUNSEL I

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-j Operations and Administration Division

j Attorneys in this division are responsible for providing legal advice and service l

to those N RC organizations involved in research, contracting, patents, personnel,

'l budget security, and administration. Attorneys in the division specialize in

-l procurement law and general law matters. They represent the N RC in a wide variety of highly sensitive and vital ictivities which bring into play a broad range of legal skills. In contract disputes they represent the NRC staf f and they partici-

-j pate in various negotiations involving interagency agreements, international

'j agreements and major contracts.

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4 D.C., employs approximately 20 attorneys. Its primary responsibilities include

-I providing legal advice to the Commissioners and representing N RC in litigation in J'

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the Federal courts.

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The attorneys draf t Commission orders and opinions, and prepare analyses of h

legal questions posed by individual Commissioners. They also draf t propnsed I

9 I-legislation and prepare NRC comments on proposed executive orders and con-j gressional bills. Litigation for the Office most of ten involves challenges to NRC decisions. Most of these cases are in U.S. Courts of Appeals. NRC attorneys are

1. 8 responsible for preparing the briefs and arguing the cases. Generally the attorney

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who writes the brief argues the case.

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Attorneys in the General Counsel's Of fice review the decisions of NRC's Atomic y

Safety and Licensing Appeal Boards in adjudicatory proceedings involving licensing Mk and enforcement mattats and advise the Commission whether it should accept review of the decision. Commission opinions and orders arising from this function are draf ted by the attorneys.

All nonsupervisory attorneys work in each of the areas identified above on a ragular basis. The interests of individual attorneys and the needs of the office are the principal factors in assignments.

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Panel, located in Bethesda, l

Maryland, is a quasi judicial appellate tribunal. In divisions of three, known as i

Appeal Boards. its seven members review, under an express delegation from the Commission, the decisions of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards and the Commission's Administrative Law Judge. The Panel's supporting professional staff includes two recent law school graduates who are assigned essentially the same functions performed by law clerks to Federal appellate judges. These attorneys serve the Panel for two years, following which they may seek transfer to either the Office of the Executive Legal Director or the Of fice of the General Counsel.

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, located in Bethesda, Maryland, consists of approximately sixty part time and permanent attorneys, nuclear reactor engineers, physic:sts and environmental scientists. The Adminis-trative Judges of the Panel are appointed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commissbn.

6 Three-member Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards are selected from the Panel by the Chief Administrative Judge of the Panel to preside at trial-type public l

hearings involving (1) applications for nuclear power reactor construction permits, operating licenses, amendments of such permits or licenses; (2) enforcement mat-ters;(3) tormal rulemaking; and (4) such other matters as may be designated by the Commission. Each three-member board so selected consists of an attorney, as chairman, an environmental scientist, and either a nuclear reactor engineer or a physicist, except in antitrust proceedings, where the composition of the board may include additional attorneys or economists. Most of the cases heard are long and complex and comprise many parties. The panel's supporting legal staf f includes three recent law school graduates who are assigned essentially the same functions performed by a law clerk to trial judges. The law clerks serve the Panel for two years, following which they may seek transfer to the Office of the Executive Legal Director or the Of fice of the General Counsel.

j Salary and Bendfits-Members of the Program will normally start at grade GS-11, Step 1. (Attorneys for: Members of the t have served as judicial L v clerks may enter at a higher grade.)

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The following is a summary of benefits which apply to each member of the Pro-gram by virtue of Federal government empicyment.

i Salary policies and practices seek to motivate and reward employees fc,r initiative j

and outstanding performance, i

j Pay Periods - Every 2 weeks.

4 GROUP LIFE INSURANCE - For each $1,000 of insurance coverage you pay 24d

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each pay period through payroll deduction. The amount of coveraga is based on g

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S your annual salary rounded to the highest thousand plus $2,000. Additional optional coverage is available 'or you and your spouse and children. Participation y

in the insurance program is v;luntary, s

RETIREMENT - The employee's contribution is 7% of base pay, deducted each pay period. This contribution is matched by the government. Your deductions, f rom the beginning, are refundable should you leave government txfore retirement eligibility.

Optional -- Age 55 with a minimum of 30 years of service; or age 60 with 20 years of service;or age 62 with 5 years of service.

I Disability - A minimum of 5 years of service.

Discontinued Service (involuntary separation through no fault of employee's) -

Age 50 with 20 years of service, or 25 years of service regardless of ago.

I A minimum of 5 years of civilian service is required for all annuities, VACATION (Annual leave) - For less than 3 years of service,13 workdays each i

year; for 3-15 years of service,20 workdays each year; for 15 years of service and up,26 workdays each year. Maximum accumulation is 30 workdays.

You may take advantar,e of a day or two of vacation leave at a time, or you may take it in longer periods SICK LEAVE - Thirteen workdays each yeer, with no limit on accumulation.

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HOLIDAYS - Nine recogniicd Federal holidays of f with pay.

3 PERIODIC PAY INCREMENTS - These ce based upon acceptable performance and af ter specified periods of service.

DISABILITY COMPENSATION COVER AGE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION COVERAGE i

l HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE - Optional to you. When covered, your part is deducted each pay period. The U.S. Governnient contributes to the premium payment.

CREDIT UNION - Enables members to borrow money at comparatively lovw rates.

Membership is optional.

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AWARDS - Monetary awards for suggestions and superior,>erformance.

Promotions <

^'ter one year of sati$'actory Performa"ce. a"d assuming inat uar admission nas tren attained, a member of the Program is eligible for a promotion to grade GS 12, Step 1. Thereaf ter further promotions and assignments are made solely on the basis of the quality of perf ormatice.

~ Relocation Costs The NRC is not authorized to reimburse members of the Program for relocation and Arrangements.

"P""5*5 i"c'"di"9 m vi"9 c 5's. (certain relocation cons an9, however, subject to income tax deductions.) However, as much assistance as possible is provided 3

to aid individuals moving to the Washington, D.C., area with respect to locating

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suitable living accommodations, and in settling into a new environment. Personnel in the administrative branch of each of the organizational elements and the NRC personnel of fice will be available to personally assist in the resettlement process.

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'T How to Apply for the r.

Honor Law Graduate Program To apply for the Honor Law Graduate Program, take the following steps:

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1. Submit a resume and a completed SF 171*

2. Submit a copy of your law school transcript.

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3. Submit a sample of your legal writing unedited by anyone else.

9" To be considered for the program, you must submit all required material by the end of October to the following address:

Honor Law Graduate Program Manager Office of the Executive Legal Director U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Summary The NRC Honor Law Graduate Program provides graduating law students or judicial law clerks of ability and potential with a unique opportunity to begin O.

or continue their legal careers in an exciting and rewarding field of public interest law which will involve them in many of the major issues facing the country. Such experience has equipped former members of the Program for new challenges and success in the private sector, in the academic field, and in other areas of govern. ment, both Federal and state. We look forward to hearing from you.

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' Additional copies of this brochure and the SF.171 may be obtained either from your law

-G school placement of fice or from the NRC address noted above.

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