Closing Date: 30th May, 2024
Description:
Summary:About the Position: This position is located at USAG, Installation Legal Office, Fort Mead, MD.
If you are currently serving in a permanent, competitive service appointment in the Federal service, and are selected for this position, the appointment will remove you from the competitive service while you occupy this position.
Duties:
- Acts as legal advisor to administrative investigations and boards of officers and reviews proceedings for legal sufficiency.
- Advises on questions of access to the installation or loss of installation privileges and performs duties as primary Installation Hearing Officer.
- Prepares legal opinions on questions of law pertaining to the operation of the military installation.
- Serves as a functional expert for activities of private organizations and other non-Federal entities.
- Provides oral and written advice concerning civilian personnel law, employment discrimination law, and labor relations.
- Serves as an ethics counselor, as delegated by the authority of the Staff Judge Advocate, and renders opinions based on the Joint Ethics Regulation and other governing ethics laws and regulations.
- Serves as functional expert and primary representative of the SJA on various committees, including the Family Advocacy Program and Sexual Assault Prevention Program.
- Provides legal advice on a wide variety of installation level contracting and fiscal law matters involving the interpretation of applicable laws and regulations.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- A two-year trial/probationary period may be required.
- This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance for access for the duration of employment.
- This position may require the incumbent to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
- This position requires the incumbent to maintain active bar membership, in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Qualifications:
Who May Apply: US Citizens
Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position. KSA's:
- Skill in identifying and researching highly technical and complex legal issues.
- Skill in providing legal, technical, and policy guidance.
- Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs.
Qualification Requirements: The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:
Education Requirements: Position
requires the possession of the first professional law degree (LL.B. or
J.D.) AND in good standing with the bar of the highest court of a State,
U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
Applicants for initial appointment into attorney positions within the
Department of Army must be graduates of law schools accredited by the
American Bar Association at the time of the applicant's graduation. As
indicated below, a law school transcript must be submitted with your
application materials.
Bar Membership: Applicants
must currently be a member in good standing (as defined by the
pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S.
territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. As
noted below, proof of such membership and good standing must be
submitted with your application materials.
Experience: In addition to the requirements above, applicants for the GS-13 or equivalent Attorney positions must also possess 3 years of professional legal experience , acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as an LLM may substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience.
Time in Grade: The Qualifying Authorities (QA's) will make a determination as to the applicability of time in grade based on the requirements of the position. If you are currently employed as an attorney by the Federal government you must have completed one year at the next lower grade level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade level as the position being filled.
Notice of Veteran's Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the 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 Release or Discharge from Active Duty") 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. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with the list of the types of 10-point preference.
Education:
Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience.
