About the Position: This position is located at US Army IMCOM Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Installation Legal Office, Legal Assistance Branch, JBLM, WA. 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

Plans work to be accomplished, interprets policies, and procedures, and establishes priorities. Assigns work to subordinates, and delegates authority as appropriate. Sets or implements organizational goals to meet mission requirements. Develops performance standards for subordinates to meet goals. Makes informal performance appraisals. Provides advice and guidance to employees and counsels them on work related problems. Provides professional legal advice and representation to active duty and retired personnel, family members, and authorized civilian personnel. Advises and counsels on tenant's rights, eviction procedures, and legal effect and meaning of leases, offers to purchase, sales contracts and consumers' rights in dealing with merchants and lenders, credit reporting agencies, and similar issues. Provides specific analysis and detailed advice on the legal and practical meaning and effects of divorce and legal separation, annulment, and custody, but represents only one party to the case. Provides legal advice, counsels on the need for a will, drafts, and executes wills and codicils. Advises on procedural and qualifying requirements, preparation of documents for court filing or for forwarding to attorney in another state as appropriate. Performs in-court representation as authorized by SJA. Advises and counsels on effect and procedures, to include garnishment rules, repossession procedures, default judgments, and adverse personnel actions. Prepares/oversees preparation of powers of attorney and other instruments, advises on immigration/naturalization procedures, insurance matters, general contracts, and personal property law. Performs preventive law functions of publicity, education, and training to ensure that servicemen and their families are informed about the availability of legal counseling services. Performs legal assistance services to ensure combat readiness in event of emergency deployment by taking actions in concert with unit commanders to ensure that deployable personnel have put their personal legal affairs in order.

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: Ability to identify, research, document, and organize legally and factually complex issues. Ability to analyze, formulate legal opinions, provide advice, and represent the agency. Ability to communicate legal issues orally and in writing. Ability to supervise and lead a small legal team comprised of military and civilian personnel. Ability to provide technical supervision, plan work requirements, and lead other personnel. 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: 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. 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 FU-W12KAA US ARMY IMCOM-USAG JBLM DO NOT MAIL Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk