Closing Date: 16th December, 2025
Description:
Summary:About the position: Serves as an Attorney-Adviser (Labor) in the DHA Office of General Counsel.
This vacancy has multiple locations:
- Bethesda, Maryland: $142,488 - $185,234
- San Antonio, Texas: $126,361 - $164,268
- Falls Church, Virginia: $142,488 - $185,234
- Portsmouth, Virginia: $126,382 - $164,296
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
Duties:
- Advises leadership on civilian personnel, labor relations, and equal employment law issues, including matters arising from civil service system, employment discrimination and a variety of other labor issues.
- Represents Defense Health Agency as a litigating attorney before the Merit Systems Protection Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Federal Labor Relations Authority, Federal Service Impasses Panel, administrative fora, and other agencies.
- Provides settlement briefings to officials and negotiates settlements and stipulations with employees and attorneys.
- Prepares and researches legal advice regarding civilian personnel, employment discrimination, labor relations, administrative inquires, and informal, Inspector General, and Equal Employment Opportunity investigations.
- Provides training to Defense Health Agency principals and leaders and the subordinate Military Medical Treatment Facility directors and staffs in labor and employment law.
- Notifies subordinate offices and leadership of changes in law and Federal Regulations.
- Conducts settlement negotiations on behalf of the Defense Health Agencies management with opposing counsel, drafts settlement agreements, coordinates with directors on the meaning and resourcing of settlements.
- Prepares and presents the agency's case in administrative hearings.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance.
- Must be a graduate of a law school possessing the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) and be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a State or District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or a U.S. commonwealth.
- Business travel may be required up to 5% of the time.
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:
- Skill in identifying legal issues and conducting relevant legal research within Administrative Law, Labor Law, or Health Law.
- Skill in administrative hearings practice.
- Skill in oral and written advocacy.
- Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs.
Time-In-Grade Requirements: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government must have completed 52 weeks 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 as the position being filled. Time-in grade may be waived for current federal employees at management's discretion.
The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:
Education: An applicant 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).
Bar Membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your active status.
Experience Required for the GS-14: Applicant must have three (3) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the Bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Education:
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional Information:
- Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
- You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
- A two-year trial period may be required if new to federal service.
- Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
- If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances are not authorized.
- You may claim military spouse preference.
- Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
- If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
Additional Information:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits:
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. (https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits)
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application package (http://cpol.army.mil/employ/APF-JOA/CKDE.pdf) (resume and supporting documents) will be evaluated for basic qualification requirements and for the skills needed to perform the duties of the position, as described in this vacancy announcement and identified by the Selecting Official.
Veteran's preference requirements do not apply to attorney positions in the excepted service, however the principles of veteran's preference will be followed to the extent which is administratively feasible.
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.
Required Documents:
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application package (http://cpol.army.mil/employ/APF-JOA/CKDE.pdf) (resume and supporting documents) will be evaluated for basic qualification requirements and for the skills needed to perform the duties of the position, as described in this vacancy announcement and identified by the Selecting Official.
Veteran's preference requirements do not apply to attorney positions in the excepted service, however the principles of veteran's preference will be followed to the extent which is administratively feasible.
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.
Required Documents:
The following documents are required to be submitted as part of your application package.
