Closing Date: 6th March, 2026

Description:

Summary:
The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the senior litigation attorney in complex cases and cases requiring expert experience and training before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Merit Systems Protection Board, Federal Labor Relations Authority, Federal District and appellate courts, arising primarily from events occurring on, or relating to present or former employees of, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the 88th Air Base Wing, and subordinate and tenant Air Force units.

Duties:
  • Represents the Command in EEOC, MSPB, FLRA, and related litigation in the more complex cases arising at WPAFB.
  • Provides legal counsel and advice covering the full range of labor law and personnel law matters to commanders, managers, investigators, EO personnel, and personnel specialists.
  • Provides written legal opinions and legal documents relating to personnel law, labor law, and other complex legal matters.
  • Serves as operational deputy, Labor and Employment Law Division, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.
  • Performs other legal duties as assigned by the Staff Judge Advocate.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • PCS expenses if authorized will be paid IAW JTR and Air Force Regulations. This is a Centrally Managed position under the Legal Career Field.
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
  • Attorney appointments are subject to serve a one-year trial 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
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
  • The position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Employee must maintain current certifications
  • Attorney appointments are subject to serve a one-year trial 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.
  • This position may require drug testing, and the candidate may be subject to passing a drug test upon selection
  • Selectee is expected to be granted with and/or maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position
  • Incumbent must be currently licensed as an attorney and counselor-at-law in a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
  • Certificate of good standing must be provided and dated w/in 4 months of the date of the application. On-line screen shot is permitted so long as date obtained is shown and dated w/in 4 months of the date of application
  • Employee 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
  • Employee must adhere to the Air Force Rules of Professional Conduct
  • Employee may be required to work overtime
  • Mobility is a condition of employment. The employee must sign an Air Force-wide mobility agreement
  • This position meets the professional exemption criteria for the Fair Labor Standards Act (5 CFR 551.207)
  • Employee must be a U.S. citizen

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). You must provide a copy of your Law School Transcripts.
  • 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 the date obtain is shown and reflects that it is dated within four months of the application and it shows that you are in "active" status. A copy of the Bar Card is not acceptable proof of good standing.
  • AFI 51-101 General requirements for a NH-04 (GS-14/15) are set forth under paragraph A4.1. In addition, the attorney shall have professional legal experience in excess of three years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

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:
  • Expert knowledge of federal personnel and labor law, including but not limited to statues, federal anti-discrimination and labor law regulations and supplements thereto, DoD Directives, Air Force Instructions and Policy Directives, and the case law of relevant federal courts and administrative adjudicative bodies.
  • Knowledge of modern legal practices and research resources, to include administrative databases and cyberFEDS and Lexis Nexis.
  • Substantial litigation experience before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, other administrative adjudicative bodies, and/or federal courts.
  • Skill in effective written and oral communication.
  • Ability to use a personal computer for research, communication, and preparation of litigation documents.
  • Ability to mentor, assist, and train less experienced attorneys, as well as commanders, managers, and personnel specialists in the evaluation of complex legal issues relating to agency personnel and personnel policies, laws, and regulations.

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 the date obtained is reflected and it is dated within 4 months of the application and it shows that you are in "active" status. A copy of the bar card is not acceptable proof of good standing.

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.

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.

Additional Information:
  • Employed Annuitants (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. Click here for more information.
  • Writing Example: Prior to receiving an offer, you will be asked to provide a writing sample demonstrating your legal analytical skills.
  • 120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
  • Incentives: Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.
  • Disabled veteran leave is available to a federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.
  • If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties, click here.
  • Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated