Land Law Examiner (Minerals)
What you'd do
Explore a career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. These positions serve as a Land Law Examiner for the Utah State Office and Green River District. For more information about these locations, click on the links below: One position is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. One position is located in Vernal, Utah. We expect to fill one position for each location at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.
Major duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Collects basic data on lands, oil and gas, or fluid minerals cases. Determines the accuracy and proper execution of applications and the qualifications of applicant for rights requested. Assists with adjudicating fluid minerals applications and communitization agreements. Maintains existing electronic file system for oil and gas fluid minerals and completes the conversion of files to electronic records system. Prepares written correspondence, reports, decisions, notices, and other documents to effect required actions applying appropriate laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Evaluates, analyzes and prepares written comments on newly proposed rules, regulations, directives, manuals, etc., that may impact operations and functions in minerals adjudication. Performs extensive legal research into old inactive or infrequently used laws, rules, and regulations. Interprets and understands legal land descriptions. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
What you need to qualify
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-07/30/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. All candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements. Concurrent Announcements These positions are also open to status candidates under announcement BLM-UT-MP-26-13013722-LMA. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. To qualify at the GS-07 level you must meet the following: Specialized Experience Requirement: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Examining applications for, permits to drill on public lands, issuance of leases, licenses, or permits for land or resources use; Searching titles and interpreting land records; Working with various systems like Automated Fluid Minerals Support System, Mineral & Land Records System, ArcPro, etc; Reviewing and interpreting legal instruments, such as communitization agreements. OR Education: To qualify based on education you must have one-year (18 semester hours) of graduate level education (including law school) that included or was supplemented by 12 semester hours of course work related to the administration of land laws. Examples include course work 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 (SAA): Successfully completed a Bachelor's degree that included or was supplemented by 12 semester hours of course work related to the administration of land laws. Examples include course work 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 AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grad-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society. OR Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the difficulty and complexity to do the work of this position. To qualify at the GS-09 level you must meet the following: Specialized Experience Requirement: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Processing and/or adjudicating lands and minerals cases; Reviewing legal land descriptions and ownership status from various map and records source; Utilizing a variety of computer and software applications to handle data; Communicating effectively with a broad range of internal and external customers. OR Education: To qualify based on education you must have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two years (36 semester hours) of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. Or J.D in a field study such as 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 Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate graduate education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the difficulty and complexity to do the work of this position. Only graduate level education in excess of 18 semester hours may be combined with experience. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Before you apply
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