General Attorney

Summary

About the Position: Duties are performed independently, on own initiative and generally without preliminary instructions or technical guidance, with authorization to exercise independent judgment and to assume the responsibility for determining the course of action necessary to accomplish the work objective.

Duties

• Identify, research, and address extremely complex and difficult legal questions affecting USACE missions.
• With oversight by supervisor, represent the office to which assigned in meetings, negotiations, conferences, presentations, hearings, administrative litigation, or other forums, with municipal, state, other federal agencies, and private stakeholders.
• Renders legal advice and assistance to all elements of the Command in response to inquiries on numerous types of miscellaneous problems arising from day-to-day operations and which vary from simple to difficult.
• Assigned cases involve extremely complex and difficult legal questions or issues involving novel questions of law and policy.

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. 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: Providing legal counsel on complex issues by researching and interpreting federal and state laws and regulations to advise on organizational programs and day-to-day operations. Preparing legal documents, such as opinions, memoranda, and other legal instruments, to address novel questions of law and policy. Representing an organization in forums such as meetings, negotiations, or conferences with external stakeholders. 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: Providing legal counsel on complex issues by researching and interpreting federal and state laws and regulations to advise on organizational programs and day-to-day operations. Preparing legal documents, such as opinions, memoranda, and other legal instruments, to address novel questions of law and policy. Representing an organization in forums such as meetings, negotiations, or conferences with external stakeholders. 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 certificate of good standing) 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 USACE, this requirement does not apply to you). Time in Grade Requirement: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government you must have completed 1 year at the next lower level (GS-12) within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled.

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/. 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. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. 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. Basis for Rating: Your application package (resume and required supporting documents) will be reviewed to verify that you meet the basic eligibility and qualification requirements. If eligible and meeting basic qualifications, your application package will be evaluated in conjunction with your résumé and supporting documents for the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position. Knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position: Knowledge of or demonstrated experience in the specialized body of law applicable to procurement law, civil works authorities, environmental law, labor and employment law, admiralty/maritime law, fiscal law, real estate law, and litigation. This includes experience with and knowledge of Federal, DoD, and Department of the Army regulations, guidelines, and policies. Experience and mature judgment in handling legal problems, including statutory interpretations, preparing legal documents and reviewing the same for legal soundness and accuracy sufficient for the accomplishment of difficult, complex, and varied legal work, relating to complex procurement, civil works, environmental, labor and employment, admiralty/maritime, fiscal, and real estate law, as well as litigation. Knowledge of or demonstrated experience to work effectively with senior management officials, diverse teams, and other diverse personnel in both government and private industry. Ability to quickly balance competing goals, and to organize, prioritize, and work effectively, with limited supervision, to meet established deadlines and achieve prescribed goals and objectives, propose reasonable courses of action, identify client objections, and formulate well-reasoned advice responsive to client needs. Ability to advise and communicate clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing, with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics. Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates Other 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. Relocation or a Recruitment incentive may be authorized if it is in the best interest of the government. This is a Legal Career Program position aligned under the Public Affairs, Inspector General, Legal, Learning, Archives, & Relations/ Communications (PILLAR) Career Management Directorate. This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act. Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative This announcement may be used to fill like vacancies for three months after the closing date. All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.