General Attorney

Summary

About the Position: This position offers an opportunity to provide legal services supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, in executing its diverse missions, including flood risk management, navigation, coastal storm risk management, ecosystem restoration, and regulatory activities throughout Florida. The selected attorney will advise District leadership and program personnel on complex legal matters and help advance critical projects and initiatives.

Duties

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• Serves as Assistant District Counsel, providing legal advice and advocacy in environmental law (including the USACE Regulatory Program), administrative law, and litigation.
• Legal work may also include government contracting, construction law, real estate, fiscal law, information law, torts and other areas of law affecting District operations.
• Provides proactive legal advice to District leadership and program personnel; identifies and evaluates legal risks and develops practical, legally supportable solutions to advance District missions.
• Researches and analyzes complex legal issues; interprets statutes, regulations, and policies; and prepares legal opinions, memoranda, and other legal documents.
• Advises and represents the District in litigation and administrative proceedings, including matters that may arise under federal environmental and regulatory laws.
• Advises and represents the District in litigation and administrative proceedings, including matters that may arise under federal environmental and regulatory laws
• Supports the Department of Justice in federal court litigation, including developing litigation strategy, drafting pleadings and motions, preparing administrative records, addressing discovery, and preparing for hearings and trials.
• Communicates complex legal issues and recommendations clearly, orally and in writing, to leadership, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborates with attorneys, technical specialists, District personnel, and other federal agencies to resolve legal issues and promote consistent legal positions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 10% of the time.
• This position requires pre-employment financial disclosure and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and 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.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

• Technical Knowledge
  
  • Demonstrated practical experience and mature judgment in solving legal problems.
  • Demonstrated experience providing interpretations of statutes and regulations in the areas of environmental law, government contracting, construction law, real estate, fiscal law, litigation, torts, and/or administrative law.
  • Demonstrated experience with drafting legal documents and reviewing client documents for legal soundness and accuracy sufficient for the accomplishment of difficult, complex, and varied work
  
  Litigation - Representation and Advocacy
  
  • Demonstrated experience providing legal advice and trial advocacy regarding litigation that presents complex factual issues requiring extensive research, analysis, and obtaining and evaluating expert testimony or information.
  • Demonstrated experience effectively representing and advocating for the client in litigation (preparing administrative records, pleadings, and dispositive motions; drafting and responding to discovery; hearing or trial experience) and in different forms of alternative dispute resolution.
  • Demonstrated experience representing and advocating for the client in various forums, including before external agencies, stakeholders, and members of the public, often on contentious matters that involve very large sums of money and/or involve extremely capable opposing legal talent.
  
  Other Indicia of Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  
  • Ability to advise and communicate effectively with senior leadership and team members at all levels in a manner to advise, inform, and educate, even when the legal advice may differ from what is desired.
  • Ability to work effectively on teams, including clients, experts and other witnesses, and colleagues.
  
  
  • Credentials as indicated in the resume and other application materials (e.g., awards, performance ratings, educational requirements.

The following minimum qualifications requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:

For GS-12 grade level: Education Requirement: 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.). In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: Two or more years of professional legal experience. Examples of this experience are: researching and analyzing legal issues; interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, and case law; drafting legal memoranda, opinions, pleadings, or other legal documents; providing legal advice or recommendations to clients; and assisting with litigation, administrative proceedings, or other legal matters.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position: must possess either an advance law degree such as an LLM (masters of law) or graduated with a distinguished record from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class which may be substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience after being admitted to the bar. Examples of this experience are: researching and analyzing legal issues; interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, and case law; drafting legal memoranda, opinions, pleadings, or other legal documents; providing legal advice or recommendations to clients; and assisting with litigation, administrative proceedings, or other legal matters.

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. (must provide a copy)

Fitness to Practice Law: An applicant must currently be fit to practice law. If your fitness to practice law, or your conduct has ever been challenged you must submit a sworn statement giving the facts and circumstances, together with any explanations you consider appropriate. The sworn statement should be notarized and dated within 3 months of the date of your application. (If you are currently employed as an attorney with The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this requirement does not apply to you).

Time in Grade Requirement: If employed as an Attorney by the Federal government, you must have completed 1 year at the next lower level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled.

For GS-13 grade level: Education Requirement: 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.).

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: Two or more years of professional legal experience. Examples of this experience are: independently researching and analyzing complex legal issues; interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, and case law; preparing substantive legal opinions, memoranda, pleadings, or other legal documents; advising clients on legal risks and recommended courses of action; and managing or providing substantive support in litigation, administrative proceedings, or other complex legal matters.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position: must possess either an advance law degree such as an LLM (masters of law) or graduated with a distinguished record from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class which may be substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience after being admitted to the bar. Examples of this experience are: independently researching and analyzing complex legal issues; interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, and case law; preparing substantive legal opinions, memoranda, pleadings, or other legal documents; advising clients on legal risks and recommended courses of action; and managing or providing substantive support in litigation, administrative proceedings, or other complex legal matters.

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. (must provide a copy)

Fitness to Practice Law: An applicant must currently be fit to practice law. If your fitness to practice law, or your conduct has ever been challenged you must submit a sworn statement giving the facts and circumstances, together with any explanations you consider appropriate. The sworn statement should be notarized and dated within 3 months of the date of your application. (If you are currently employed as an attorney with The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this requirement does not apply to you).

Education

Time in Grade Requirement: If employed as an Attorney by the Federal government, you must have completed 1 year at the next lower level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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.
• 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.
• 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(n) CP-56 Career Program position aligned under the Public Affair, Inspector General, Legal, Learning, Archives, & Relations/ Communications (PILLAR) Career Management Directorate.
• 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 https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information.
• Permanent Change of Station (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.
• A Relocation/Recruitment Incentive may be authorized.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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.