About the Position: Located at U.S. Army Military District of Washington and Joint Task Force-National Capitol Region, OSJA, Fort McNair, District of Columbia. This is a career ladder position that starts at the GS-13 with the full performance level being GS-14. 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 administrative law attorney advisor for the Joint Task Force – National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) and US Army Military District of Washington (MDW), Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. Prepares legal opinions on questions of law pertaining to the operation of the military installation. Issues regularly involve complex and difficult legal or factual questions because of the absence of clearly applicable precedents due to the newness of the program and require a high order of original and creative legal endeavor. Provides oral and written advice concerning General Administrative Law, Garrison Legal Advisor, Ethics, National Security Law, and Labor Law. Maintains contact with local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel, judicial officers, and civilian courts, lawyers, officials, and bar associations. Incumbent must ensure that the command satisfies applicable laws, including fiscal laws and regulations, when it engages in its support requirements for ceremonies and special events. Responsible for a variety of complex legal issues arising within the command, and other issues arising in support of executive agents for DA and DOD functions. Provides ethics counseling and legal advice on all standards of conduct issues to all personnel, directorates and organizations, and provides formal policy guidance to the Staff Judge Advocate. Advises on rules for military support and assistance to civil authorities, homeland defense, use of force and other legal issues related to domestic operations. Provides oral and written advice concerning civilian personnel law, employment discrimination law, and all labor relations matters. Represents DA as a trial attorney before arbitrators, investigators and administrative judges from various agencies. Conducts all aspects of pre-hearing preparation, including legal research, preparation of briefs, motions, and requests for discovery, examination of witnesses, and negotiation of settlements.

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.
• This position may require Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel of up to 10% of the time.

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, formulate legal opinions, provide advice, and represent the agency on general administrative and civil law matters. Knowledge of laws, judicial decisions, and regulations relating to all aspects of general administrative and civil law, particularly as they relate to a military installation and military clients. Knowledge of administrative law in areas such as administrative investigations, Government property management, Privacy Act issues, records management, funding and fiscal law matters, Memorandum of Understanding, Memorandum of Agreement, and Freedom of Information Act. Knowledge in rendering expert opinions and legal advice with respect to administrative and operational law matters in areas such as general military administrative and personnel law, civilian personnel and labor law, defense travel and transportation regulatory issues, investigations, and government information practices. 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-13 or equivalent Attorney positions must also possess 2 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: 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