Closing Date: 30th April, 2024
Description:
Summary:The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a senior legal advisor and consultant to The Air Force Judge Advocate General and various members of the Air Staff on matters relating to international and military operations law.
Duties:
- General Legal Advice and Counsel: Advises The Judge Advocate General, Air Staff elements and officials of other organizations on legal issues pertinent to international agreements, statutes, directives, instructions, and policies encompassed in such broad topics.
- International Law Function: Responds to requests, generally from higher level legal or policy authorities for special studies and reports requiring analysis and interpretation or application of the clauses of international treaties and agreements to particular problems or situations.
- Coordinates/Negotiates/ and Represents: Represents the Air Force during discussions with Department of Defense, State Department, other agencies and/or representatives of foreign countries, with responsibility for ensuring that legal conclusions, interpretations, clauses, or other matters are not detrimental to Air Force interests, policies, and operating requirements regarding Air Force operations and international law matters.
- Legal Research and Analysis: Researches through documentary study and by personal contact, past legal, political and economic legislation, internal negotiations, historical events, customary legal practices of other countries, noting and recording differences in substantive laws of other countries and any other subject areas determined to be vital in arriving at sound legal opinions, recommendations or interpretations.
- Reviewing: Reviews proposed legislation, manuals, regulations, instructions, directives, and other material affecting
- international law activities and operations of the Air Force in foreign countries.
- Writing/Drafting/Editing: Drafts regulatory documents or revisions there to on subjects within the field of international law which encompasses extensive research and coordination with officials concerned with other subject matter areas and with other agencies to develop legally sound regulations, instructions, directives, policy, and similar documents.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- U.S. Citizenship is required
- If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
- Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
- Attorney appointments are subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
- Candidates are not required to have active duty service or veterans' preference to be referred and considered. All qualified candidates who meet the recruitment assessment criteria will be referred to the selecting official.
- Work occasionally requires travel away from the normal duty station
- This position meets the professional exemption criteria for the Fair Labor Standards Act (5 CFR 551.207)
- This is a professional series which requires a positive education
- Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
- Advance in hire may be authorized if there is demonstrable proof on your resume
Qualifications:
General Requirements:
- You MUST have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD).
- In addition, at the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status with a bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
1. Knowledge of the role and duties of the government attorney, including a practical knowledge of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct for Federal Lawyers, Federal Bar Association, 6 Oct 1990. Incumbent must be able to analyze complex legal issues, including issues relating to international law, fiscal law, contract law, personnel law, and administrative law as they relate to the responsibilities of the organization.
2. Knowledge of Federal laws, regulations, policies, and principles pertaining to international law and operations. Knowledge of computer-assisted drafting software, e.g., Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
3. Knowledge of the research methodologies, including computer-assisted technologies, necessary to identify applicable law Federal, State and local laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to the mission of the organization.
4. Skill in applying advanced data gathering tools, including, but not limited to, formal interviewing techniques, archived records retrieval and review, information requests under the various Federal and State access laws, and formal discovery, to collect various types of factual information.
5. Knowledge of communication theories and methodologies peculiar to the legal profession and the Air Force, including, but not limited to internal staffing processes, legal memoranda and correspondence, and those necessary to effective oral communication, including the interpersonal communication skills necessary to deal effectively with diverse organizations, and officials. Ability to effectively edit the written communications of others.
6. Knowledge of effective meeting and negotiation principles and practical knowledge of how such principals are applied in conducting meetings regarding international and operational law matters. Superior skills in the areas of oral and written communications and interpersonal relationships.
At the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status and in good standing with a bar of the highest court of a State, US commonwealth, US territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status and dated within four months of application.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Additional Conditions of Employment:
- This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Testing Program. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions present a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. It is required that you, (a) refrain from the use of illegal drugs and, (b) if requested, submit to urinalysis testing. This is a TDP and requires periodic drug test screening and/or screening prior to employment.
- Incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a top secret clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access, based upon a Single Scoped Background Investigation. Position may include additional program security requirements in order to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. If so, incumbent must be willing to submit to a Counter Intelligence Polygraph and mandatory drug test.
Education:
Must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, and be currently licensed as an attorney, in active (or equivalent) status and in good standing, with the bar of a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth. The attorney must maintain such bar membership in at least one jurisdiction during the entire course of employment with the Air Force.
