About the Position: This position is located at US Army Installation Management CMD USAG Yuma Proving Ground Installation leal Office Yuma, AZ 85365. 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 the primary legal assistance attorney and chief of legal services. Provides post-employment briefings and advisories to retiring and separating personnel. Exercises independent discretion to resolve sensitive issues or complex policy matters raised by conflicts of interest. Provides legal advice, opinions and counsel to command officials regarding the body of law containing the statutes, regulations, and judicial decisions that govern the establishment, functioning, and command of military organizations. Responsible for planning, coordinating, and advising on all matters involving legal advice and assistance to eligible military and civilian clients. Performs various legal assignments which require research, analysis, and seasoned judgment to interpret new or changed policies, federal and state statutes, administrative decisions, case laws, legal opinions, as well as DOD and Army regulations. Reviews and evaluates office automation capabilities within the Army authorized legal assistance software programs to ensure legal documentation and reporting standards and requirements are met. Plans, coordinates, and conducts preventive law programs and community affairs activities. Provides legal counseling and advice to clients on a variety of personal and financial issues. Assists clients in determining the facts of the case or issue. Serves as coordinator in all matters pertaining to tort litigation involving the United States government as either plaintiff or defendant. Initiates, investigates, and processes property damage claims on behalf of the United States IAW AR 27-20, Chapter 14, when other methods of recovery are not provided. Reviews and approves administrative settlements of claims for damage or loss of personal property submitted by soldiers and civilian employees' incident to their service. Review and certifies for payment claims for reimbursement of expenses of sale or purchase of real estate incident to civilian employee transfer. Plans and directs operations, assigning and reviewing work assignments on a daily, weekly, or longer basis to assure an even flow and distribution of work within the CJA’s office. Plans work schedules and sequence activities to ensure the meeting of deadlines and priority work assignments established by the CJA. Adjusts work schedules in response to change in workload and other requirements. Plans and develops estimated budgetary and manpower requirements and, when necessary due to staff reductions, plans downward adjustments with least adverse impact on the program. Writes standard operating procedures, decision papers, policy letters, and general guidance for assigned programs and legal assistance and claims operations.

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 be 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, formulate legal opinions, provide advice, and represent the agency on general administrative and civil law matters. 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. Ability to analyze, formulate legal opinions, provide advice, and represent the agency on general administrative and civil law matters. Knowledge of applicable rules of professional responsibility and ethics. Knowledge of Government ethics laws and regulations. Knowledge of ethics law in areas such as integrity concerns, Non-Federal Entity considerations, Joint Faculty Appointments, financial disclosure reports, and travel and conference reviews. Knowledge of laws, judicial decisions, and regulations relating to federal claims law. Ability to analyze, formulate legal opinions, provide advice, and represent the agency on general claims law matters. Skill as a Claims attorney. 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-W6CKAA US ARMY IMCOM-USAG YUMA DO NOT MAIL Yuma, AZ 85365 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk