About the Position: This position is located at Special Victims' Counsel Program, HQDA, Pentagon, Arlington, VA 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

Provides expert legal representation and guidance for eligible clients regarding their post-trial parole, clemency, and appellate matters to include personally representing clients during this process as necessary. Coordinates with counsel from sister-Service victims’ counsel as needed and appropriate, particularly to represent and advocate for the interest of specific clients. Provides regular updates regarding matters meriting appeal and provides templates to both educate and directly support SVCs. Solves extremely complex and difficult legal questions and issues. Independently researches, drafts, interprets, and applies legislation, regulations, contracts, orders, decisions, opinions, and any other legal instruments in determining a solution. Responsible for management and coordination of program level appellate issues. Develops and executes training for SVC Program and all Army SVCs, Army military justice practitioners, special victim responder-stakeholders, and sister-service victims’ counsel, as appropriate. Performs constant analysis of factors to identify and define major issues, review source material, and revise course content to ensure modifications are integrated into the course curriculum. Performs as subject matter expert for Program with respect to the law related to victims’ issues and victims’ rights, appellate processes, and appellate procedure. Assists in drafting of legal reviews, reports, legislative proposals and other requests for information, as required. Maintains advanced professional knowledge of victims’ rights law and regulations, and the changing nature of the law. Must maintain broad, current knowledge of DOD and Army organizations, functions, authorities, and lines of command.

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 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 GS-13: 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. Experience GS-14: 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. If selected at the GS-13 grade, after a year or more of service you may be non-competitively promoted to the grade of GS-14 if management determines at that time that you meet the qualifications/professional legal experience requirements set forth in relevant regulations, including Army Regulation (AR) 690-300. Promotion to GS-14 however, is NOT automatic. 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/. This is a Term position NTE 2 years.

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 HT-W0KEAA US ARMY LEGAL SERVICES AGENCY DO NOT MAIL Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk