Attorney- Adviser (General)

Duties

• Advise the Norfolk District on complex legal matters pertaining to real estate activities, to include Federal Civil Works, Military Construction, the Residential Communities Initiative (RCI), and Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI).
• Present the USACE position in order to resolve legal and factual issues and balancing the competing interests of local sponsors, landowners, state, and Federal agencies, USACE and applicable laws, regulations, and policy.
• Communicate with landowners, real estate professionals, other federal agencies and the highest level of local and state sponsors and government and the attorneys representing such entities.
• Advise and perform legal services, including assessment of risks, in contract formation activities and contract disputes.
• Advise on environmental laws including NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and applicable state laws.
• Represent the Norfolk District in meetings with the USACE vertical chain, other federal agencies and the highest level of local and state sponsors and government, and the attorneys representing such entities.
  
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Appointment to this position is subject to a background investigation to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• This position requires pre-employment financial disclosure and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
  
  

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and 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 qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration.

Education: Successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree (L.L.B or J.D.) (Note: Must provide a copy)

AND

Bar Membership: Currently an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, and be admitted to practice before a state or federal court. (Note: Must provide a copy)

AND

Specialized Experience for GS-13 Level: Two or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position: Providing legal services and interpreting laws and regulations for real estate acquisitions, civil works, environmental, and regulatory matters.

OR

Graduated from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or obtained and advanced law degree such as Master of Law (LLM) and have one year of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, which commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Specialized Experience for GS-14 Level: Three or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position: Providing expert legal advice and trial advocacy regarding contract formation, administration, and litigation, and real estate acquisitions and matters related to Federal projects and property.

Time in Grade Requirement: If currently employed as an attorney by the federal government you must have completed one year of time-in-grade 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.

Notice of 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. (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.)

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: 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.

One year trial/probationary period may be required.

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.

This is a Career Program (CP) 56 - Legal position

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.

Recruitment and Relocation incentives may be authorized

This is a developmental position to the GS-14. You may be selected at the GS-13 or GS-14 grade level. Promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed. You may be eligible for non-competitive promotion to the target position upon meeting time-in-grade restrictions and the following requirements:

• (1) Incumbent demonstrates ability to perform at target grade level;
• (2) Higher level work exists at target grade level;
• (3) Increased responsibilities are assigned;
• (4) Supervisor recommends promotion;
• (5) Incumbent completes all required training and conditions of employment, and;
• (6) Incumbent completes all regulatory requirements for career ladder promotions.