Attorney-Adviser (General)

Duties

• Serves as principal senior legal adviser on the full range of civilian personnel, employment, and employment and labor law.
• Provides authoritative counsel on disciplinary and adverse actions, EEO complaints, and employee grievances.
• Represents the agency in high-stakes administrative litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, or other agencies as appropriate.
• Renders authoritative legal advice, counsel, and recommendations on a wide array of administrative and general law issues, including Freedom of Information Act appeals, AR 15-6 investigations, and other matters of command authority.
• Researches and resolves a variety of complex civil law matters where the law may be unclear or precedents are conflicting.
• Provides legal advice, counsel, and recommendations on procurement actions, including source selections, contract negotiations, and administration.
• Provides definitive advice and formal opinions on complex and sensitive questions related to government ethics, standards of conduct, and post-government employment restrictions.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• 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 may require the incumbent to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278e) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
• This position requires the incumbent to maintain an active bar membership that permits the representation of the Federal Government in the courts of their jurisdiction to the extent that private practice attorneys are able to for their clients.
• This position is subject to a Temporary Duty or business travel requirement of 15% or less of the time.
• A two-year trial/probationary period may be required.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Current and former Federal employees and 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.

Qualification Requirements: The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:

1) Education: Assignments require the first professional law degree (Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctorate (J.D.)). Applicants for initial appointment into attorney positions must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of the applicant's graduation. The Army General Counsel may make an exception upon a showing that a candidate possesses superior qualifications and that no well-qualified candidates from accredited law schools are available.

2) Bar Membership: Applicants must be active members in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of a State, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

3) Professional Legal Experience

GS-13: Applicants must possess two (2) years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar commensurate with the duties of the position. The Attorney Qualifying Authority may grant an exception to this requirement when an applicant possess special qualifications.

GS-14: Applicants must possess three (3) years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar commensurate with the duties of the position.

4) Time in Grade (current Federal employees): Candidates selected for advancement will normally have completed at least one year of service that is one grade lower than the position to be filled. The selecting official may request a waiver of the one year requirement in cases where hardship or inequity exists.

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 .

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 and .

Additional information

• To ensure compliance with Army Materiel Command (AMC), we will consider internal candidates to the agency that are qualified by AMC before considering external applicants (all US Citizens).
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 2 year trial period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the information sheet.
• This is a Professional Services Career Field position.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information.
• PCS allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
• Management has the prerogative to select at any grade.
• If selected at the GS-13 grade, after a year or more of service you may be non-competitively promoted to the grade of GS-14 if management determines at that time that you meet the qualifications/professional legal experience requirements set forth in relevant regulations, including AR 690-300. Promotion to GS-14, however, is NOT automatic. You must meet the minimum qualifications set forth in the regulations before you can be considered for promotion.