
ATTORNEY-ADVISER
- Full Time, onsite
- U.S. Army Communications Electronics Command
- Aberdeen Proving Ground, United States of America
- Provides acquisition policy guidance, counsel and support to the Command and to a multitude of Program Managers, the R and D Center and Laboratory Directors.
- Conducts extensive research, analysis and evaluation of highly particularized areas in support of the acquisition process.
- Contributes to the formulation of acquisition and program strategy and the structuring of source selection plans designed to affirm offers in major systems acquisitions of the manner in which their proposals are to be evaluated by the government.
- Provides oral and written advice concerning post-award contract matters including claims, disputes, bankruptcies, terminations, appeals, PL 85-804 and litigation.
- Renders authoritative legal opinions in matters of post-award contractual rights and obligations based upon statutes, regulations, Court, Comptroller General, and Administrative Board decisions, and DOD, Army and AMC policy directives.
- Provides oral and written advice concerning civilian personnel law, employment discrimination law and all labor relations matters.
- Represents DA as a trial attorney before arbitrators, investigators and administrative judges.
- Confers with government and contractor personnel at the highest levels regarding controversial and sensitive matters that might become, or are, the subjects of litigation.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- A two year trial/probationary period may be required.
- This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance for access for the duration of employment.
- This position will require the incumbent to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278e) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
- This position requires the incumbent to maintain an active bar membership that permits the representation of the Federal Government in the courts of their jurisdiction to the extent that private practice attorneys are able to for their clients.
Qualifications
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:
- Skill in identifying and researching highly technical and complex legal issues.
- Skill in providing legal, technical, and policy guidance.
- Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs.
1) Education: Assignments require the first professional law degree (Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctorate (J.D.)). Applicants for initial appointment into attorney positions must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of the applicant's graduation. The Army General Counsel may make an exception upon a showing that a candidate possesses superior qualifications and that no well-qualified candidates from accredited law schools are available.
2) Bar Membership: Applicants must be active members in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of a State, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
3) Professional Legal Experience
NH-03: Applicants must possess two (2) years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar commensurate with the duties of the position. The Attorney Qualifying Authority may grant an exception to this requirement when an applicant possess special qualifications.
NH-04: Applicants must possess more than three (3) years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar commensurate with the duties of the position.
4) Time in Grade (current Federal employees): Candidates selected for advancement will normally have completed at least one year of service that is one grade lower than the position to be filled. The selecting official may request a waiver of the one year requirement in cases where hardship or inequity exists.
NOTICE OF VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the 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. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with the list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at .
Education
Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at and .
Additional information
- To ensure compliance with Army Materiel Command (AMC), we will consider internal candidates to the agency that are qualified by AMC before considering external applicants (all US Citizens).
- 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.
- This is a DoD Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) position in the NH-03/04 broadband with an advertised pay range from GS-13/Step 1 to GS-15/Step 10. The pay band NH-03 includes the General Schedule grades equivalent to GS-12/13. The pay band NH-04 includes the General Schedule grades equivalent to GS-14/15. The position's maximum salary is covered by control points to account for variances in position responsibilities within the broadband. In the NH-04 pay band, this position is a non-supervisory professional/analyst with a control point of GS-14/Step 10. Management will set the selectee's pay for this position within the control point salary range consistent with the qualifications of the selectee and the expected contribution for the position.
- If selected at the NH-03 grade, after one year or more of service, you may be non-competitively promoted to the grade of NH-04, if management determines at that time that you meet the qualifications/professional legal experience requirements set forth in regulations, including Army Regulation (AR) 690-300. Promotion to next grade, however, is not automatic. You must meet the minimum qualifications set forth in the regulations before you can be considered for promotion.
- Management has the prerogative to select at the NH-03 or NH-04 level.
- If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the information sheet.
- This is a Professional Services Career Field position.
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
- 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 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.
- 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. .
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.
Conditions of Employment
- Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- A two year trial/probationary period may be required.
- This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance for access for the duration of employment.
- This position will require the incumbent to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278e) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
- This position requires the incumbent to maintain an active bar membership that permits the representation of the Federal Government in the courts of their jurisdiction to the extent that private practice attorneys are able to for their clients.
Qualifications
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:
- Skill in identifying and researching highly technical and complex legal issues.
- Skill in providing legal, technical, and policy guidance.
- Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs.
1) Education: Assignments require the first professional law degree (Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctorate (J.D.)). Applicants for initial appointment into attorney positions must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of the applicant's graduation. The Army General Counsel may make an exception upon a showing that a candidate possesses superior qualifications and that no well-qualified candidates from accredited law schools are available.
2) Bar Membership: Applicants must be active members in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of a State, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
3) Professional Legal Experience
NH-03: Applicants must possess two (2) years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar commensurate with the duties of the position. The Attorney Qualifying Authority may grant an exception to this requirement when an applicant possess special qualifications.
NH-04: Applicants must possess more than three (3) years of professional legal experience after admission to the bar commensurate with the duties of the position.
4) Time in Grade (current Federal employees): Candidates selected for advancement will normally have completed at least one year of service that is one grade lower than the position to be filled. The selecting official may request a waiver of the one year requirement in cases where hardship or inequity exists.
NOTICE OF VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the 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. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with the list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at .
Education
Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at and .
Additional information
- To ensure compliance with Army Materiel Command (AMC), we will consider internal candidates to the agency that are qualified by AMC before considering external applicants (all US Citizens).
- 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.
- This is a DoD Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) position in the NH-03/04 broadband with an advertised pay range from GS-13/Step 1 to GS-15/Step 10. The pay band NH-03 includes the General Schedule grades equivalent to GS-12/13. The pay band NH-04 includes the General Schedule grades equivalent to GS-14/15. The position's maximum salary is covered by control points to account for variances in position responsibilities within the broadband. In the NH-04 pay band, this position is a non-supervisory professional/analyst with a control point of GS-14/Step 10. Management will set the selectee's pay for this position within the control point salary range consistent with the qualifications of the selectee and the expected contribution for the position.
- If selected at the NH-03 grade, after one year or more of service, you may be non-competitively promoted to the grade of NH-04, if management determines at that time that you meet the qualifications/professional legal experience requirements set forth in regulations, including Army Regulation (AR) 690-300. Promotion to next grade, however, is not automatic. You must meet the minimum qualifications set forth in the regulations before you can be considered for promotion.
- Management has the prerogative to select at the NH-03 or NH-04 level.
- If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the information sheet.
- This is a Professional Services Career Field position.
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
- 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 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.