About the Position: This position is located at Headquarters, Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), Office of the Chief Counsel, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. 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

Represents the command as trial attorney for civilian personnel, labor relations, and equal employment opportunity litigation cases arising within the command, with potential to establish command and department-wide precedent. Incumbent establishes case strategy and tactics, prepares prehearing motions and petitions, and identifies relevant witnesses and documents via discovery procedures, including interrogatories and depositions. Assists in judicial review of administrative decisions in coordination with attorneys from DEVCOM HQ, AFC HQ OSJA, HQDA Labor and Employment Law Division and Litigation Division, as well as the Department of Justice. Conducts settlement negotiations for management with opposing counsel, drafts settlement agreements, coordinates with commanders and directors on the meaning of settlement, and executes settlement agreements. Assists labor counselors at subordinate commands/Organizations to appeal adverse decisions and assists with determinations regarding appropriateness of appealing adverse decisions. Develops the command position on litigation issues that arise in conjunction with federal court and administrative tribunal proceedings in litigation against the Agency. Provides oral and written advice and technical legal guidance to key officials to subordinate commands/organizations concerning all aspects of the law of federal employment and federal labor-management relations. Provides advice and prepares opinions on legal issues or factual questions, some of which lack clearly applicable precedents or contain complex factual scenarios. Prepares recommended course of action for senior staff members; prepares factual analysis and legal opinions and presents oral briefings to command officials. Reviews and provides legal opinions regarding employee disciplinary actions and grievances, including appeals of adverse actions. Provides legal review on all types of investigations to include AR 690-12 Appendix D Inquiries; AR 15-6 Preliminary Inquiries and Investigations; Commander’s Inquiries; Line of Duty Investigations; Financial Liability Investigations of Property Loss. Incumbent provides legal advice, counsel, and opinions on a variety of general law actions, which could include any of the following: civilian and military administrative actions; military justice matters; security, intelligence, and espionage, etc. Incumbent assists the Office of The U.S. Army Legal Services Agency in support of United States Attorneys involving litigation matters in Federal District Court and in Circuit Courts of Appeal. Serves as an Ethics Counselor and, in that role, provides legal advice, counsel, and opinions on a variety of matters.

Requirements

• 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 a member in good standing with 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-14 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. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/sf/.

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. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

Contacts

• Address FN-APF-W6EYAA US ARMY COMBAT CAPABILITIES DEV CMD DO NOT MAIL Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk