About the Position: This position is located at U.S. Army Military District of Washington (USAMDW) and Joint Task Force - National Capitol Region (JTF-NCR), Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA), Fort McNair, District of Columbia. 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

Serves as Military District of Washington (MDW) Employment Law Trial Attorney, Labor Counselor, and general administrative law attorney. Represents MDW as trial attorney for civilian personnel, labor relations, and equal employment opportunity litigation cases arising within MDW, cases that could establish command and department-wide precedent. Establishes case strategy and tactics; prepares prehearing motions and petitions; identifies relevant witnesses and documents via discovery procedures, including interrogatories and depositions. Advises supervisors and key management officials as to whether a case should be tried or settled and provides supervisors and key management officials progress reports throughout the administrative and judicial process as requested and as necessary. Assists MDW installation counsel to appeal adverse decisions and assists with determinations regarding appropriateness of appealing decisions adverse to other MDW installations. Develops the MDW position on litigation issues that arise in conjunction with federal court and administrative tribunal proceedings. Provides oral and written advice and technical legal guidance to key MDW officials, and, upon request, to subordinate MDW installations 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. Reviews and provides legal opinions regarding non-appropriated fund employee disciplinary actions and grievances, including appeals of adverse actions. Serves as administrative law attorney advisor for JFHQ-NCR/MDW, OSJA, a direct Reporting Unit falling directly under HQDA for its normal operating missions and functions.

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. Ability to analyze, provide advice, and represent the agency on labor & employment matters. Knowledge of labor and employee relations concepts, case law, principles, practices and regulatory requirements sufficient to perform detailed analyses; draw conclusions on complex legal issues, problems and situations; and advise senior managers regarding corrective techniques in response to a wide range of HR problems covered by bargaining unit contracts typically involving multiple union interests. Practical knowledge of understanding of Federal HR management functions, theories and techniques; and the basic relationships of the various HR disciplines to include conflict resolution techniques and negotiation and settlement strategies sufficient to interact in highly charged, emotional situations which arise due to delicate or highly contested case matters and determinations. Skill in providing expert legal and policy advice on civilian personnel matters, including expert legal advice on civilian personnel law, labor law, and employment law issues. 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 HT-W0GVAA US ARMY MILITARY DIST OF WASHINGTON DO NOT MAIL Fort McNair, DC 20319 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk