SummaryThe primary purpose of this position is to provide timely labor law research, advice, and counsel regarding national level policy of agencywide import to all organizational elements within the National Guard Bureau and to diverse state andfederal entities such as the various state National Guards, the state Attorneys General, and theDepartments of Defense, Justice, and Labor.
DutiesHelp
- Labor Counselor. The incumbent serves as a senior Labor attorney for the Litigation and Employment Law Division of the Office of the Chief Counsel.
- Employment Law Counselor. Serves as a senior employment law attorney for the Litigation and Employment Law Division of the Office of the Chief Counsel, with responsibility for planning and accomplishing varied and diverse legal functions pertaining to a geographically dispersed workforce of over 450,000, including civilian personnel, National Guard technicians, and National Guard military personnel.
- General Legal Advisor. Serves as the primary legal advisor to the Chief, National Guard Bureau, to develop and revise National Guard labor policy to address issues identified in past and pending federal litigation.
RequirementsHelp
Conditions of employment- U.S. Citizenship is required
- If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
- Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
- Must obtain and maintain a Top Secret Clearance for this position
- Attorney appointments are subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
- Candidates are not required to have active duty service or veterans' preference to be referred and considered. All qualified candidates who meet the recruitment assessment criteria will be referred to the selecting official.
- Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
- Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
- This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program.
- Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. Category II/Type 5/Code O
- Work may require frequent travel away from the normal duty station on military and commercial aircraft.
- Must either be currently in good standing (certified) with a State Bar or able to obtain certification
- Must be a graduate of an ABA-accredited law school
QualificationsGENERAL REQUIREMENTS:- You 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 (LLB or JD).
- In addition, at the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status with a bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status.
GS-15SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:In addition to the basic requirement: you must have professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that commensurate with the position's duties and responsibilities.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
1. Expert professional knowledge of constitutional law, federal law, regulations, and policies relevant to the utilization and operations of the National Guard. This includes expert knowledge of the Federal Management Labor Relations Act, the National Guard Technician Act, the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, and the Tucker Acts.
2. Expert professional knowledge of federal employment law, labor relations law, military personnellaw, and the personnel policies and practices of the Department of Defense, the Department of the AirForce, the Department of the Army, and the Federal Government. This includes expert knowledge ofthe National Guard Technician Act of 1968, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and related employmentdiscrimination statutes and regulations.
3. Expert professional knowledge and skill as an agency counsel litigating complex cases in federalcourts and before diverse administrative bodies, including the Merits Systems Protection Board, theFederal Labor Relations Authority, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This includesexpert knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and relevant military regulations pertainingto litigation.
4. Expert professional knowledge of the relationship between the National Guard of the 54 states andterritories, the National Guard Bureau, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force,the Department of the Army, the Office of Management and Budget, and Congress.
5. Highly skilled in effective written and oral communication, to include use of modern legal researchresources, including Lexis/Nexis and Westlaw.
At the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status and in good standing with a bar of the highest court of a State, US commonwealth, US territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status and dated within four months of application.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
EducationMust be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, and be currently licensed as an attorney, in active (or equivalent) status and in good standing, with the bar of a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth. The attorney must maintain such bar membership in at least one jurisdiction during the entire course of employment with the Air Force.
Additional informationEmployed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.
Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.
Writing Example: Prior to receiving an offer, you will be asked to provide a writing sample demonstrating your legal analytical skills.
120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.
Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
Incentives: Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.
Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.
BenefitsHelp
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 windowLearn 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.
