Attorney-Adviser (General)

About the role

This position is located within the Defense Legal Services Agency, Office of the Military Commissions, Trial Judiciary (hereinafter "the Office"). The Office is headed by the Chief Trial Judge, a designee of the Secretary of War, for the supervision and administration of the Military Commissions Trial Judiciary.

What you will do

• Serves as an interface for the Trial Judiciary with high-ranking military and civilian managers across WHS/OSW internal and external agencies.
• Negotiates and resolves complex administrative logistical, and case-specific requirements while strictly protecting the deliberative process and adhering to the Code of Judicial Conduct.
• Conducts comprehensive reviews and evaluations of highly classified documents (up to TS/SCI/SAP) filed during military commission proceedings.
• Works under the broad guidance of the Trial Team Leader and specific guidance of the presiding military judge in preparing draft rulings and orders and directly support the presiding military judge.
• Conducts legal research of case precedent, legal documents, periodicals and textbooks; studies legal precedents and professional literature.
• Formulates independent legal strategies and recommends cogent courses of action to presiding military judges on matters of national and international significance.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

How you will be evaluated

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position may requires an online USA Hire Competency Based Assessment. The USA Hire online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Your eligibility and qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment(s) required for this position (if applicable).

If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Advisor to Military Judges Research and Writing Provide Judges Administrative and Logistical Support Interface with External Organizations DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures: Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.

You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-3) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.

You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-2) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference.

Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.

You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-1) to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference.

Documents you must provide

• YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DOCUMENT IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION CLAIMS.
• You MUST upload the applicable documents with your application package.
• If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
• All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience.
• Your resume must address your technical qualifications for the position, hours worked per week and the dates of employment for each position (hours per week and month/year to month/year to present) listed on the resume and it may not exceed two (2) pages.
• Your 2-page (or less) resume must be in PDF format, with no smaller than a 0.5" margin and no smaller than a 10-point font.
• If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration.
• If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed.
• The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent." 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 will not be considered for this vacancy.
• Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade held.
• It is recommended you provide a SF-50 within the last 52 weeks before the closing date of this JOA for current federal employees.
• We will use the employment date and grade on your resume in conjunction with the provided SF-50 to help determine initial eligibility, but may require additional information to confirm at the job offer stage if needed.
• College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education.
• Official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities DoD Priority Placement Program applicant supporting documentation - See the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section of this announcement Other Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable DOES THIS POSITION REQUIRE A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE?
• A copy of a Certificate of Good Standing from the applicant's licensing authority indicating the applicant is in an active status and authorized to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction.
• The applicant must also provide a copy of their law school transcript showing graduation from an American Bar Association accredited law school.
• ARE YOU A VETERAN CLAIMING SOLE SURVIVORSHIP PREFERENCE OR 5-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?
• You must provide legible copy/copies of the following: DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing all dates of service, type of discharge as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) or Statement of Service/Proof of Service (in lieu of a DD-214) from your command or local Personnel Support Detachment (PSD).
• The Statement of Service/Proof of Service must provide all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.).
• Veterans should upload their DD-214 once they receive it upon separation.
• You should also document your complete military service information in the Veterans Preference and Military Service Section of the assessment questionnaire (type of preference, dates of service, date of VA letter, character of service, disability claim and rank and date of retirement if retired).
• ARE YOU A DISABLED VETERAN or CLAIMING 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?
• Disabled veterans, veterans, widows, spouses or the mother of a veteran, who are eligible for 10-point veterans' preference, you must provide legible copies of the following: Applicable supporting documents as noted on Standard Form-15 (SF-15).
• To obtain a copy of SF-15, go to: *** ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL SCHEDULE A, SCHEDULE C, NON-CAREER SES OR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE EMPLOYEE?
• Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee) Agency; and Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements: including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

HR will initiate the drug test no later than 2 business days after the Tentative Job Offer is accepted. The selectee must sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding." A negative drug test result must be received by HR no later than 30 calendar days after the EOD.

Failure to pass the test or provide results in time may lead to the job offer being withdrawn or removal from Federal service.

Washington Headquarters Services uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: *** Stay informed of changes to your application status by signing up for automatic email alerts at: *** Washington Headquarters Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

NOTE: "Recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives may be considered".

Additional information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application.

Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: *** Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants (DODI 1400.25, volume 300). *** 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.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.