Closing Date: 2nd December, 2026
Description:
Summary:This position is located in the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA). The General Counsel of the Department of War, who is appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the chief legal officer of the Department of War and performs such functions and performs such functions as the Secretary of War may prescribe.
Duties:
This is an Excepted Service position in the 0905 Attorney series and is governed by DoD Instruction 1442.02, Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys.
This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection.
Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following:
Fiscal: Fiscal: Serves as a staff attorney with continuing responsibility for legal advisory services in the area of the DoD budget, including gathering, reviewing, and coordinating proposed changes to the DoD Appropriation and Authorization Acts and working with representatives of the DoD, OMB, and Congressional staff members through all stages of the Appropriation and Authorization process. The incumbent also has responsibility for numerous special projects and assignments within the overall responsibility of the DoD General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsel (Fiscal).
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
Applicants must possess:
A first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) - (Must submit a copy of your transcripts with the degree conferred date, failure to do will result in an incomplete application.); and
Active membership in the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, with authority to engage in the active practice of law. For applicants selected from outside a current DoD civilian attorney position, bar status must be verified by an official current certificate from the licensing jurisdiction or through clear online verification from the licensing authority
And
Specialized Experience:
This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection.
Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following:
Fiscal: Fiscal: Serves as a staff attorney with continuing responsibility for legal advisory services in the area of the DoD budget, including gathering, reviewing, and coordinating proposed changes to the DoD Appropriation and Authorization Acts and working with representatives of the DoD, OMB, and Congressional staff members through all stages of the Appropriation and Authorization process. The incumbent also has responsibility for numerous special projects and assignments within the overall responsibility of the DoD General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsel (Fiscal).
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- U.S. Citizenship is required
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
- Must be determined suitable for federal employment
- Required to participate in the direct deposit program
- This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
- The incumbent must be able to maintain a Secret security clearance
- This position requires occasional travel up to 5% away from the normal duty station for official business travel on military or commercial aircraft
- The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime
- Full professional training in law as evidenced by graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited U.S. law school is required
- Must be admitted to the bar, and be a member, on active status in good standing, of a federal court or the highest court of a state, territory, district, or commonwealth
- A current, valid license to practice law in a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a condition of continued employment
Qualifications:
Applicants must possess:
A first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) - (Must submit a copy of your transcripts with the degree conferred date, failure to do will result in an incomplete application.); and
Active membership in the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, with authority to engage in the active practice of law. For applicants selected from outside a current DoD civilian attorney position, bar status must be verified by an official current certificate from the licensing jurisdiction or through clear online verification from the licensing authority
And
Specialized Experience:
At least one (1) year of professional legal experience acquired after bar admission, equivalent to the GS-14 level in the federal service, demonstrating independent expertise in analyzing complex legal issues, conducting advanced legal research, and advising senior leadership on organizational policies, statutes, and regulatory compliance.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service program (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.
All qualifications must be met at the closing date of this announcement.
Education:
Applicants must possess a first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school. Education alone is not sufficient for qualification at the GS-15 level; applicants must also meet the active bar membership and specialized experience requirements described in this announcement.
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 transcript 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 towards qualifications; applicant's 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. (https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/)
Additional Information:
This is an excepted service appointment and does not confer competitive status.
Candidates must disclose any pending or completed disciplinary investigation or action in any jurisdiction in which they are members of the bar or licensed to practice law, consistent with applicable DoD attorney professional responsibility requirements.
Notice of Veteran's Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Uniformed Service") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed.
Military Spouse Preference: Military spouse preference will be considered, as applicable, consistent with DoDI 1400.25, Volume 315, and DoDI 1442.02. Application of military spouse preference may not contravene veterans' preference or nepotism rules.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil
Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/
Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.
Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.
Additional vacancies may be filled by this
All qualifications must be met at the closing date of this announcement.
Education:
Applicants must possess a first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school. Education alone is not sufficient for qualification at the GS-15 level; applicants must also meet the active bar membership and specialized experience requirements described in this announcement.
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 transcript 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 towards qualifications; applicant's 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. (https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/)
Additional Information:
This is an excepted service appointment and does not confer competitive status.
Candidates must disclose any pending or completed disciplinary investigation or action in any jurisdiction in which they are members of the bar or licensed to practice law, consistent with applicable DoD attorney professional responsibility requirements.
Notice of Veteran's Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Uniformed Service") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed.
Military Spouse Preference: Military spouse preference will be considered, as applicable, consistent with DoDI 1400.25, Volume 315, and DoDI 1442.02. Application of military spouse preference may not contravene veterans' preference or nepotism rules.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil
Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/
Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.
Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.
Additional vacancies may be filled by this
