General Attorney

Summary

About the Position: Provides legal services in a variety of substantive practice areas in support of the Latin America & Caribbean District's missions but is expected to focus on all aspects of procurement law. Expected to primarily support the District's work in Central & South America, which includes military construction, interagency support, & international support (i.e., foreign military sales & humanitarian assistance projects). Experience in these areas is highly desirable.

Duties

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• Requires thorough knowledge of the Government procurement processes under interagency and international agreements, acquisition planning, source selection, contract awards, bid protests, contract administration, claims, ethics, and fiscal law.
• Provides legal services in a variety of practice areas that are expected to include procurement law, including contract formation, administration, and litigation and may also include real estate/leasing, fiscal law, ethics, and/or torts.
• Furnishes expert legal advice and advocacy in all aspects of Government contracts and fiscal law, primarily in the context of interagency and international support for others.
• Identifies, researches, and addresses extremely complex and difficult legal questions affecting the Agency's missions.
• Represents and defends the Agency through all phases of litigation including defending the agency on bid protests, requests for equitable adjustments, claims, and appeals.
• Serves as Agency counsel and assists the Department of Justice in litigation before U.S. federal courts:
• - including by drafting motions and pleadings, preparing the administrative record, drafting and responding to discovery, and preparing for depositions, hearings, and trials.
• Advises and communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with senior leadership and team members at all levels.
• Works effectively and cohesively on teams, including clients, experts and other witnesses, and colleagues.
• Keeps managing counsel informed and coordinates advice to ensure consistency with agency policy before it is rendered to clients.
• This position is also expected to advise on real estate/leasing in support of the Central and South America Program.

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.
• Possess a current valid law license and be in good standing with the licensing authority of at least one state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Incumbent is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation.
• This position may require temporary duty (TDY) business travel up to 10% of the time.

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.

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

Education: Applicants 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) (NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts).Bar membership: Applicants must currently be a member in good standing of a bar of a state territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. A copy of your current certification must be submitted.

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).

To qualify at the GS-14 level: You must have more than three (3) years of professional legal experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

NOTICE TO VETERANS PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to Attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, the Department of the Army considers veteran's preference eligibility a positive factor for Attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (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. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at http://www.opm.gov/ )

For GS-14: Time in Grade Requirements: Applicants currently employed as an Attorney by the Federal government must have completed one year of time-in-grade at the next lower grade level (GS-13) or the equivalent within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled.

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, drafting legal documents, and reviewing client documents for legal soundness and accuracy sufficient for the accomplishment of difficult, complex, and varied work.

Demonstrated experience providing legal advice and guidance on the statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures concerning the Army's procurement system, contract administration, construction law, environmental law, real estate law, civil litigation, and fiscal law.

Demonstrated experience with and/or knowledge of the Corps' military construction, interagency support, and international support (i.e., foreign military sales and humanitarian assistance projects).

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.

Ability to work effectively on matters with increased confidentiality and/or sensitivity. Credentials as indicated in the resume and other application materials (e.g., awards, performance ratings, educational achievements)

Education

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 1 year probationary period or 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 Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or 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) 56 Career Program position aligned under the Legal 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.
• Recruitment/relocation incentives may be authorized.

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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.

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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.