PUBLIC NOTICE FOR ATTORNEY-ADVISOR (GENERAL)

Summary This position is located in the Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA). The General Counsel (GC) of the Department of Defense, who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the Chief Legal Officer of the Department of Defense (DoD) and performs such functions as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe. The General Counsel is also dual-hatted as the Director, DLSA, which provides a full range of legal services to the Defense Agencies and the DoD Field Activities. Learn more about this agency Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship is required Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration) May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period Must be determined suitable for federal employment Required to participate in the direct deposit program This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance The employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft Full professional training in law as evidenced by graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited U.S. law school is required Must be admitted to the bar, and be a member, on active status in good standing, of a federal court or the highest court of a state, territory, district, or commonwealth A current, valid license to practice law in a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a condition of continued employment Qualifications For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the length of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume? at https://www.usajobs.gov//faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ The General Attorney Series 0905, has Individual Occupational Requirements that must be met in addition to the specialized experience. In order to qualify, you must meet the education requirements described below. 0905 BASIC REQUIREMENT: 1. Must possess the first professional law degree, i.e. Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctorate (J.D.), from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. AND 2. Must be an active member, in good standing, of the bar of the highest court of any one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any territory or possession of the United States. AND 3. This position requires professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Attorneys performing duties in GS-15, or equivalent-level positions are expected to perform with substantial independence even when working on the most complex or difficult matters. Examples of legal experience are: Post-bar experience as a licensed attorney preparing for, participating in, and/or appealing formal hearings or trials involving litigation and/or administrative law at the Federal, State or local level or at military courts-martial. Qualifying litigation experience involves cases in which a complaint was filed with a court, or a charging document (e.g., indictment or information) was issued by a court, a grand jury, or appropriate military authority. Qualifying administrative law experience involves cases in which a formal procedure was initiated by a governmental administrative body, OR post-bar experience as a licensed attorney presiding over formal hearings or trials involving felony-level criminal litigation and/or administrative law at the Federal, State or local level or as a military judge presiding over general courts-martial. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements: You may qualify at the GS-15 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates: 1. Adapting general legal principles to specific uses and problems, and must use original, creative thinking to determine how complex legal and policy problems may best be solved; 2. Performing legal work of exceptional difficulty which may involve any combination of the following: new programs, implementation of new laws, novel questions pertaining to existing laws and programs, controversial issues, large expenditures of funds, sensitive information involving senior officials, impacts on large segments of the population or on the health, welfare, and morale of members of the Armed Forces; And 3. Exercising independent judgment in providing legal counsel and services to officials in assigned areas. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Education Education cannot be substituted for experience. Additional information Retired Civil Service Employee: Employment of retired Federal employees receiving an annuity is subject to the requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) policy guidance. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf.) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are a displaced Federal Civil Service employee and attain a rating of at least 85, you may be entitled to receive special priority selection under the ICTAP. For more information on ICTAP, click here ICTAP Guidance. Current or Former Political Appointees: Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Submit a copy of your SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and, Beginning and ending dates of appointment. ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act Chapter 21 of Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 2108a, requires Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, assuming the service member is otherwise eligible. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. The service member's military service dates are necessary in order to determine whether he or she meets the definition of "veteran" under 5 U.S.C. 2108(1). The "certification" must reflect the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of submission. The "certification" must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin (if applicable), your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable). Further, under paragraph (h) of the rule, agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD-214 or other appropriate documentation. Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible." Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave. Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative. Read more Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.