Closing Date: 21st September, 2026
Description:
Summary:This is a Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA) position with duty in the Office of General Counsel, Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA). The General Counsel of the Department of War is dual hatted as the DLSA Director. DLSA provides a full range of legal advice and services to officials of the Defense Agencies and the DoW Field Activities
Read the entire announcement before starting the application process
Duties:
The Office of General Counsel, DeCA, has a robust and varied legal practice in support of DeCA and its mission. Our attorneys provide legal advice, counsel and representation in substantive areas including federal labor and employment law, commercial law, fiscal law, procurement law, construction law, environmental law, government standards of conduct and ethics, administrative law, and issues arising under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. Our attorneys represent DeCA before various administrative bodies and provide litigation support to U.S. Attorney Offices for matters pending in Federal courts.
As an Assistant General Counsel for Commercial Law, the incumbent reports to the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law and assists in discharging the responsibility of DeCA OGC to provide legal advice, counsel and representation in all aspects of the commercial law portfolio, including but not limited to contracts, fiscal law, environmental law, government ethics and standards of conduct, construction law, international law, administrative and civil law, the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, business law, intellectual property and data rights, issues of statutory and regulatory interpretation and the drafting of proposed legislation. The incumbent independently performs in-depth legal research and analysis, as well as writing briefs, legal memoranda, and other documents. The incumbent represents the agency before third parties, including but not limited to the Armed Forces Board of Contract Appeals and the Government Accountability Office, and is responsible for the investigation, preparation and presentation of the agency's positions and defenses before such tribunals. The incumbent addresses difficult and novel legal policy questions where frequently there is an absence of clearly applicable precedents. The incumbent provides support to the Department of Justice in matters litigated in Federal courts. The incumbent may perform the duties of the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law in his/her absence and other duties as assigned.
This position is in the Excepted Service.
The Defense Commissary Agency is an Equal Employment Opportunity Agency.
Notice of Veterans 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 documents (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 an SF 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.) If two of more applicants for an attorney position are determined to be equally "best qualified" for the position, but one of the applicants is a preference eligible veteran, the preference eligible veteran has preference over the non-preference eligible applicant.
Travel Required:
Relocation Expenses
Key Requirements:
Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.
Requirements:
As an Assistant General Counsel for Commercial Law, the incumbent reports to the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law and assists in discharging the responsibility of DeCA OGC to provide legal advice, counsel and representation in all aspects of the commercial law portfolio, including but not limited to contracts, fiscal law, environmental law, government ethics and standards of conduct, construction law, international law, administrative and civil law, the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, business law, intellectual property and data rights, issues of statutory and regulatory interpretation and the drafting of proposed legislation. The incumbent independently performs in-depth legal research and analysis, as well as writing briefs, legal memoranda, and other documents. The incumbent represents the agency before third parties, including but not limited to the Armed Forces Board of Contract Appeals and the Government Accountability Office, and is responsible for the investigation, preparation and presentation of the agency's positions and defenses before such tribunals. The incumbent addresses difficult and novel legal policy questions where frequently there is an absence of clearly applicable precedents. The incumbent provides support to the Department of Justice in matters litigated in Federal courts. The incumbent may perform the duties of the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law in his/her absence and other duties as assigned.
This position is in the Excepted Service.
The Defense Commissary Agency is an Equal Employment Opportunity Agency.
Notice of Veterans 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 documents (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 an SF 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.) If two of more applicants for an attorney position are determined to be equally "best qualified" for the position, but one of the applicants is a preference eligible veteran, the preference eligible veteran has preference over the non-preference eligible applicant.
Travel Required:
- Occasional Travel
- Business travel is required less than 20% of the time
Relocation Expenses
- Recruitment/relocation incentives may be authorized.
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS) may be authorized
Key Requirements:
- U.S. Citizenship is Required
- Direct Deposit of Pay is Required
- Tour of Duty: Full Time
- Bargaining Unit: No
- FLSA: Exempt
- License/Certification: Bar Certificate of Good Standing reflecting Active Status
Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
- Be a U.S. citizen or national. Applicants with a Permanent Resident Card are authorized to live and work in the U.S. but are not eligible for employment in positions requiring U.S. citizenship. If selected, proof of citizenship is required.
- Position may be subject to occasional overtime.
- Occasional business travel is required.
- License/Certification: Bar Certificate of Good Standing reflecting Active Status.
- Direct deposit of pay is required.
- Appointment is subject to a favorable suitability or fitness outcome, as determined by a completed background investigation. New federal employees will be fingerprinted.
- Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
- Meet minimum age requirement. See the Additional Information.
- May be subject to a probationary/trial period.
Qualifications:
You must meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualifications (https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-cler.asp) for series 0905 and additional requirements by the announcement closing date. Your resume (and/or transcript if necessary) must clearly show that you have the qualifications described below. See Required Documents for more information.
Basis for Rating: The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened for basic qualification requirements, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Errors or omissions may affect an applicant's rating or consideration for employment.
Selective Factors: Selection will be based on the judgment of the selecting official as to which applicant is best qualified to perform the duties of the position. The breadth and depth of relevant experience and knowledge and the quality of past performance will be the primary considerations used for selection. Attorneys performing duties at the GS-14, or equivalent-level, are expected to perform with substantial independence even when working on the most complex or difficult matters. Important selection factors are demonstrated substantial experience in the following: legal analytical ability and sound professional judgment; excellence in oral and written communication skills across audiences; strong client and colleague relations and interpersonal skills; ability to interpret law and provide authoritative legal advice; recognized ability as an advocate, including the ability to balance competing interests and provide alternative courses of action to advance agency interests; skill in resolving extremely complex and difficult legal questions which will be precedent-setting in nature and demonstrated advisory and conflict-resolution skills.
A selection panel may be used and oral interviews may be conducted with all, with some, or with none of the applicants, solely at the option of the selecting official.
Other Requirements:
A one/two-year trial/probationary period may be required.
Education:
Transcripts. REQUIRED when using education to meet qualifications or when education is required.
Foreign education (https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html) may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.
Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.
When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluat
- Qualification requirements for Attorney positions can be found in DoW Instruction 1442.02, "Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys."
- The minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration.
- Applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) from that institution.
- Bar Membership: An applicant must currently be an active member of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
- Applicant must have professional legal experience in excess of 3 years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Basis for Rating: The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened for basic qualification requirements, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Errors or omissions may affect an applicant's rating or consideration for employment.
Selective Factors: Selection will be based on the judgment of the selecting official as to which applicant is best qualified to perform the duties of the position. The breadth and depth of relevant experience and knowledge and the quality of past performance will be the primary considerations used for selection. Attorneys performing duties at the GS-14, or equivalent-level, are expected to perform with substantial independence even when working on the most complex or difficult matters. Important selection factors are demonstrated substantial experience in the following: legal analytical ability and sound professional judgment; excellence in oral and written communication skills across audiences; strong client and colleague relations and interpersonal skills; ability to interpret law and provide authoritative legal advice; recognized ability as an advocate, including the ability to balance competing interests and provide alternative courses of action to advance agency interests; skill in resolving extremely complex and difficult legal questions which will be precedent-setting in nature and demonstrated advisory and conflict-resolution skills.
A selection panel may be used and oral interviews may be conducted with all, with some, or with none of the applicants, solely at the option of the selecting official.
Other Requirements:
A one/two-year trial/probationary period may be required.
Education:
Transcripts. REQUIRED when using education to meet qualifications or when education is required.
Foreign education (https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html) may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.
Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.
When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluat
