Duties

Summary

About the Position: Civilian attorneys serve a vital role in supporting Army mission! Position is at Army HQ, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Army General Counsel (GC) is the senior Army lawyer and ultimately responsible for final Army positions on legal issues and matters. The Army OGC (Ethics & Fiscal Law Team) provides legal policy, training, assistance, and advice to the Secretary, Under Secretary, five Assistant Secretaries and numerous other members of the Department
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Responsibilities

• Provides legal and policy advice and guidance to the Secretary of the Army and Army Secretariat and their staffs, the Army Staff, and field agencies on matters relating to standards of ethical conduct and ethics law.
• Responsible for formulation, planning, and execution of Army's Ethics Program, implementing Ethics in Government Act of 1978, the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, and regulations promulgated by Office of Government Ethics for Executive Branch, Army-wide.
• Maintains currency in legal policy and developments in government ethics, ensure subordinate organizations perform duties and implement guidance received from the Secretary of the Army, DAEO, Alternate DAEO, and the Office of Government Ethics.
• Maintains liaison with the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), Department of Defense (DOD) Standards of Conduct Office (SOCO), OTJAG, and the standards of conduct offices of the other military departments and their respective general counsels.
• Represents the Army's position in discussions of legal interpretations of ethics laws and regulations and formulation of policy proposals.
• For both OGE 278s and 450s, reviews for completeness, accuracy, and conflicts of interest, and certifies reports.
• Teaches Ethics. Provides written opinions and personal consultations to Department of Army personnel.

Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel up to 25% Business related travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Appointment may require a suitability/fitness determination.
• A two year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Secret Security Clearance.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position. KSA's:

(1) Experience handling legal problems of statutory interpretation, preparing sound and accurate legal documents, sufficient for accomplishment of difficult, complex and varied legal work relating to the Joint Ethics Regulations (JER) and OGE Regulations
(2) Experience advising and communicating effectively with senior leadership at all levels.
(3) Skill in ethics practice area, to include the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, criminal conflict of interest and post-government employment statutes, and the controlling Office of Government Ethics regulation and Joint Ethics Regulation.
(4) Ability to understand the controlling statutes, regulations, and case law pertaining to Federal travel and transportation, such as the Joint Travel Regulation or the Joint Federal Travel Regulation.
(5) Ability to identify and analyze issues, conduct legal research, summarize results, reach sound legal conclusions, provide sound, effective legal advice and counsel both orally and in writing.

VETERANS PREFERENCE INFORMATION: 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. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with a list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/sf/ .

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government must have completed 52 weeks at the next lower grade 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. Time-in-grade may be waived for current federal employees at management's discretion.

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

Education: 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 (LLB or JD).
Bar membership: Applicant must currently be a member in active and good standing with the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Document should be dated within three months of the date the application is submitted.
Experience: Applicant must have 5 years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Education

Please refer to Qualifications section for information on the education requirements for this position.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

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.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• 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 Career Program (CP) 56-Legal position.
• You may claim military spouse preference.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay.
• If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .
• Although there is no limitation on the number of pages that your resume may contain, it is highly recommended that you limit your resume to 5 pages or less. Exceeding 5 pages will not affect your qualifications or eligibility for this position.

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 as described in this vacancy announcement and identified by the Selecting Official.

Veteran's preference requirements do not apply to attorney positions in the excepted service, however the principles of veteran's preference will be followed to the extent which is administratively feasible.

Time in Grade: The Qualifying Authorities (QA's) will make a determination as to the applicability of time in grade based on the requirements of the position. If you are currently employed as an attorney by the Federal government you must have completed one year at the next lower grade level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade level as the position being filled.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

The following documents are required to be submitted as part of your application package:

1. Your resume:

Your resume may be submitted in any format and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.

Although there is no limitation on the number of pages that your resume may contain, it is highly recommended that you limit your resume to 5 pages or less. Exceeding 5 pages will not affect your qualifications or eligibility for this position.

If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.

For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Official Law school transcripts. Photo copies are acceptable when applying but certified documents must be furnished before entering on duty. Official statement of relative standing in class is required.

3. Bar Membership certificate. The official certificate must show that you are a member in active and good standing with the bar, dated within three months of the date the application is submitted.

4. Fitness to practice law. A sworn (notarized) statement from you that your fitness to practice law or conduct as an attorney has never been challenged in any jurisdiction to the best of your knowledge, or if either has been challenged, a sworn (notarized) statement concerning the facts and circumstances, together with any explanation that you deem appropriate may be submitted. As an alternative to a sworn (notarized) statement, a statement which includes a declaration under penalty of perjury may be submitted in the following format: "I declare (or certify, verify, or state) under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct...executed on (date)... (Your signature)." (28 U.S.C. 1746). The statement must be dated within three months of the date the application is submitted.

5. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• Most recent Performance Appraisal, 2 letters of Recommendation
• Veterans documents, if applicable
• Permanent change of station (PCS) orders and marriage license, if claiming military spouse preference.

NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

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.