Attorney-Adviser (General)
Job description
Duties
- Provides comprehensive legal advice and client support in core practice areas: Employment Law/Employee Discipline, Labor Relations, Equal Employment Opportunity, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and all aspects of administrative investigations.
- Represents DLA in various judicial/administrative forums including Merit Systems Protection Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Federal Labor Relations Authority, arbitrations, and unemployment hearings.
- Independently prepares required pleadings and other documents; initiates/responds to discovery procedures; interviews witnesses; files appropriate motions; prepares and files briefs; recommends/conducts settlement negotiations where appropriate.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- This is an Excepted Service position.
- Tour of Duty: Set Schedule
- Security Requirements: Non-Critical Sensitive with Secret Access
- Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination, where reciprocity cannot be applied; unfavorably adjudicated background checks will be grounds for removal.
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
- Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
- Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized/Authorized
- Bargaining Unit Status: No
- Financial Disclosure Requirement: Required
Qualifications
1) The first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.);
2) Proof that you are licensed and a member in good standing with the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Annual bar certification cards issued from your state of licensure are not considered acceptable. Proof is a "certificate of good standing" issued by your state of licensure dated within 6 months of the closing date of this announcement or a screenshot of your bar status taken from your state of licensure website that is dated within 6 months of the closing date of this announcement or sworn statement to that effect. If there is not a date on the screen shot, you must provide a statement signed by you on the date that the screen shot was created. The successful applicant selected for employment must provide a "certificate of good standing" issued by their respective bar showing they are in good status and in active status prior to appointment.
3) To Qualify at the GS-13 Level:
You must possess professional legal experience in excess of 2 years commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.
The legal experience described in your application package or resume will be evaluated and screened for competencies required to perform the duties of the position as described in the Major Duties section of this announcement. The QUALITY of experience will be evaluated and screened to determine how closely or to what extent your experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Your application package or resume must demonstrate you have the competencies and quality of experience necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate grade level.
PRINCIPAL SELECTION FACTORS:
Provide Knowledge, Skills, and Ability (KSA) narrative statements addressing the following principal selection factors:
a. Knowledge and experience in Federal personnel and labor law matters pertaining to equal employment opportunity, personnel law and union-management rights.
b. Experience in litigating cases before the Merit Systems Protection Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Federal Labor Relations Authority, Arbitration, and Alternative Dispute Resolution, including experience in preparing persuasive arguments in pleadings, trial briefs, motion practice, settlement negotiations, witness preparation, and discovery.
c. Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal skills and client relationships, and the ability to interact well with senior government officials on controversial and sensitive issues, including successfully advising management against taking inappropriate courses of action.
Other Selection Factors Considered (Narrative Statement Not Required):
Analytical ability, including issue identification, legal research, analysis of options, risk analysis, and creative problem solving.
Excellent communication skills (oral and written).Legal and business judgment.
Ability to provide superior service to clients.
Security Clearance: This position is designated Non-Critical Sensitive. If selected, you must obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. If you are unable to obtain this level of security clearance (as a result of undisclosed or disclosed background issues), within a reasonable period of time (as defined by the agency), the employment offer may be withdrawn. In addition, incumbent is subject to periodic re-investigation to maintain security eligibility in accordance with DoD 5200.2-R.
Education
Education may not be used as a substitution for qualifications for this position.
Additional information
COVID19 - Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
Excepted Service Position: This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.
Veterans Information: 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 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. (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 www.opm.gov).
As of 23 December 2016, Military retirees seeking to enter federal service in the Department of Defense now require a waiver if they would be appointed within 180 days following their official date of retirement.
Reemployed Annuitants: This position does not meet criteria for appointment of Reemployed Annuitants. The DoD criteria for hiring Reemployed Annuitants can be found at: http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has established a Drug-Free Federal Workplace Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for DLA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with DLA for a period of six months. This policy extends to random testing for the use of illegal drugs by employees who occupy testing designated positions defined as sensitive in Section 7(d) of Executive Order 12564. The Defense Logistics Agency's Drug Free Workplace Plan's drug testing panel includes testing for the following illegal substances: marijuana, cocaine, opiates (codeine/morphine), 6-Acetylmorphine (heroin), phencyclidine, amphetamines (amphetamine/methamphetamine), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone. ADVISORY: By using cannabidiol (CBD) products you are risking a positive drug test result for marijuana.
Benefits
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Selection(s) will be based on the judgment of the selecting official as to which applicant is best qualified to perform the duties of the position.
Once this announcement closes, candidates will be evaluated based on the application package submitted. An oral interview may be conducted with some, none, or all candidates, depending upon the relative qualifications of the applicants.
Benefits
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.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
The documents you are required to submit vary based on what authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee). Please review the following to see if there are any documents you need to provide: https://www.dla.mil/portals/104/documents/Careers/supportingdocumentation.pdf
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted ON-LINE via USAJobs by 11:59 pm EST on the closing date of the announcement.
Only complete application packages will be considered. APPLICATIONS THAT FAIL TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
At a minimum, applicants MUST submit the following information:Applications will NOT be accepted or considered if sent by mail or facsimile. Only on-line applications will be considered.- A general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment and supervisor name(s) and telephone number(s).
- A narrative statement, separate from the resume and/or application, specifically describing the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. This is known as a "KSA narrative statement".
- Proof that you are licensed and a member in good standing with the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Proof is a "certificate of good standing" issued by your state of licensure within 6 months of the date of application or a screenshot of your bar status taken from your state of licensure website dated within 6 months. The successful applicant selected for employment must provide a "certificate of good standing" issued by their respective bar showing they are in good standing and in active status prior to appointment.
- A statement signed by you as to whether or not you have ever been found by a tribunal to have committed any crime or other act reflecting upon your suitability to practice law.
- A copy of your law school transcript if you have been licensed to practice law less than 10 years.
- A short writing sample (no more than 10 pages double-spaced). (Optional).
- If applicable, a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
- If applicable, supporting documentation for veteran's preference.
- If applicable, supporting documentation for military spouse preference.
- Applicants who fail to submit items 1-5 above will not be considered.
Contact Information:
Ms. Sherry McNaughton
Supervisory Paralegal
717-770-5010
sherry.mcnaughton@dla.milAgency contact information
KRISTINE ROLLER
Phone
717-770-8141
Email
KRISTINE.ROLLER@DLA.MIL
Address
DLA General Counsel
8725 John J Kingman Road
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060
USNext steps
This position is being filled as Temporary appointment not-to-exceed (NTE) 1 Year. Current permanent DLA employees eligible as a Promotion, this position will be filled as a Temporary Promotion NTE one year (or specific date) and may be extended up to a total of five years or converted to a permanent promotion without further competition. Current permanent DLA employees eligible as a Reassignment/Change-to-Lower Grade, this position will be filled as a Reassignment/Change-to-Lower Grade with the intent to be limited to the time period specified in the announcement and may be reassigned at management's discretion or made permanent at any time. Upon termination/expiration of the temporary assignment, placement will be either to the gaining or previous organization in accordance with DLA policy (DLAI 1442.04) regarding placement rights after a time-limited assignment. For all others, if selected, this would be a Temporary/Time-Limited Appointment NTE 1 Year, and extended in increments of up to one year, NTE a total of three years. The selected applicant will be required to sign a written agreement acknowledging the conditions of this temporary assignment/appointment and that they may be released from this position upon management discretion.
Once your complete application is received, the most highly qualified candidates will be forwarded to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview.Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request
Required Documents
The documents you are required to submit vary based on what authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee). Please review the following to see if there are any documents you need to provide: https://www.dla.mil/portals/104/documents/Careers/supportingdocumentation.pdf
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
This job is open to
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Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
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Federal employees - Competitive service
Current or former competitive service federal employees.
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Federal employees - Excepted service
Current excepted service federal employees.
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Individuals with disabilities
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The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
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Veterans
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