Attorney

Duties Serves as an Attorney-Advisor in the office of Counsel and is assigned a variety of legal matters. Renders legal advice and assistance in the administration of the Corps Clean Water Act 404 Regulatory Program and the Corps Civil Works Planning Program. Coordinates litigation and acts as liaison with Department of Justice attorneys in injunction or other proceedings for or against the government. Reviews for legal sufficiency prior to award, contracts and contract modifications. Contractual problems involve complicated and/or novel combinations of legal and factual issues not clearly covered. Furnishes legal advice and assistance in connection with non-contractual claims involving admiralty law and tort law. Renders legal advice and assistance (oral or written) to all elements of the District in response to inquiries on numerous types of miscellaneous problems. Investigates and prepares legal opinions pertaining to contractual claims in favor of or against the Government and serves as Government trial attorney. Requirements Conditions of Employment Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. Obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance. File annual Financial Disclosure, OGE-450. Must upload application documents as outlined in this announcement. Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document . Basic Education Requirement for Attorney-Advisor (General), GS-0905-13: An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LL.B or JD). Only a law degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the American Bar Association is acceptable to meet positive education requirements. (Transcripts must be uploaded) Official or unofficial college or university transcript(s) may be used for the application process. Official transcripts will be required at the time of selection. In addition to meeting the education basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: A. I have three (3) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the Bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Examples of this experience include: 1. Analyze facts, ascertain law and give opinions, articulating facts and legal issues; 2. Explain legal principles and identify alternative courses of action; 3. Advise Program or Project Managers, Contracting Officers, or other managers or supervisors: (a) Clean Water Act 404 Regulatory Program; (b) Civil Works Programs; (c) environmental law; (d) Government procurement; (e) non-contract claims; (f) general law (including ethics, information law, and fiscal law). BAR MEMBERSHIP: An applicant must currently be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The experience described in your résumé will be evaluated and screened for the Office of Personnel Management's basic qualifications requirements, and the skills needed to perform the duties of this position as described in this vacancy announcement. Time in Grade Restriction: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks MUST have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade (or equivalent). You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Legal, Government and JurisprudenceEducation FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: . Additional information 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. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a Professional Services Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations. Upload documents to support response to your assessment and as instructed through-out this announcement. NOTICE OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible to claim veterans' preference may include that information in their cover letter or résumé and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214) to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference and desiring to obtain consideration of veteran's status must submit a Standard Form SF-15, "Application for 10-point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. Benefits Help 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. How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation. Basis for Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of three quality categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified and Qualified. Veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. 1. Knowledge and experience with federal laws, regulations, policies, and procedures including in research, analysis, and effectively advising in complex areas of Federal law such as: a) Clean Water Act 404 Regulatory Program; b) Civil Works Programs; c) environmental law; d) Government procurement; e) non-contract claims; f) general law (including ethics, information law, and fiscal law) 2. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics. Please provide a writing sample, demonstrating your verbal communication and legal analysis skills through legal briefs, memoranda, or letters. WRITING SAMPLES SHOULD NOT EXCEED 10 PAGES. Benefits Help 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