Attorney-Advisor (General)

About the role

This position is in the Excepted Service. Selection under this appointment does not confer civil service competitive status.

What you will do

• This position is located in the Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA), and the duty station is at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the Office of General Counsel.
• Under the supervision and oversight of the DARPA General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsel, the Assistant/Associate General Counsel provides a full range of legal support to assigned DARPA offices and programs.
• The Assistant/Associate General Counsel also serves as a designated ethics counselor.
• This is a Career Ladder Position.
• If selected at the GS-13 level (Assistant General Counsel), the incumbent may be noncompetitively promoted to the GS-0905-14 level (Associate General Counsel) and ultimately to the target position, GS-0905-15 level (Associate General Counsel), without further competition once time-in-grade, training, satisfactory performance, and other requirements of the higher grade level are met.
• The duties listed below are examples of full performance at the GS-0905-15 level.
• The duties for levels GS-0905-13 and GS-0905-14 are similar or the same as those for the GS-15 level except for the volume and/or complexity of work and level of assistance and oversight provided.
• As an Attorney-Advisor (General), you will be responsible for the following duties and other duties as assigned: Serves as a legal advisor to assigned DARPA offices and programs, providing legal advice, counsel, and guidance on the full range of DARPA operations across multiple practice areas including federal procurement, intellectual property, fiscal, civilian personnel, environmental, ethics and Standards of Conduct, international, space, cyber, and privacy law.
• Provides advice to DARPA contracting officials regarding the administration of DARPA contracts, including contract drafting, negotiation, interpretation, termination, and disputes.
• Provides similar legal services for non-procurement instruments such as Other Transaction Agreements, grants, cooperative agreements, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, and Partnership Intermediary Agreements.
• Advises on ethics/standards of conduct issues such as conflicts of interest, seeking employment, outside activities, and post-government employment.
• Represents DARPA and as applicable assists the Department of Justice in litigation matters.
• Litigation matters include: patent infringement claims, copyright claims, and other intellectual property disputes; protests and claims before the Government Accountability Office and Court of Federal Claims; harassment/discrimination complaints before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and appeals of personnel actions before the Merit Systems Protection Board.
• Assists DARPA's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) team in reviewing and responding to FOIA requests, including advising on FOIA litigation matters.

Education

Applicants must possess a professional law degree (Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.)) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association by the closing date of the announcement.

Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: *** Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that: 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 institution.

How you will be evaluated

Once the application period closes, your application will be reviewed to determine whether you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position. Your resume and any required supporting documentation will be carefully evaluated to assess your qualifications and experience.

Applicants are expected to accurately and fully describe their qualifications and experience. If a review of your resume and/or supporting documentation determines that you have overstated or inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible or not qualified for the position.

Please follow all application instructions carefully as errors or omissions may affect your eligibility or evaluation. Applicants who meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements will be referred to the Selecting Official for further consideration.

All applicants must meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Documents you must provide

• A complete application package includes your resume and documents which prove your eligibility to apply.
• 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: 1.
• Cover Letter: Applicants must submit a cover letter addressing the evaluation criteria for the position and explaining their interest in the position.
• The cover letter must also identify the lowest grade level the applicant will consider and indicate if relocation expenses are required.
• Resume: A complete resume demonstrating relevant experience including job titles, duties, and accomplishments.
• The resume must provide sufficient detail for each position to demonstrate that the applicant meets the minimum qualification requirements.
• If an applicant submits multiple resumes, only the most recently submitted resume will be reviewed to determine qualifications and eligibility for referral to the Selecting Official.
• Performance Appraisals or Equivalent: Applicants who are current Federal employees must the two (2) most recent performance appraisals with the rating official narrative, if available.
• Applicants who are not current Federal employees must submit their most recent performance appraisal or equivalent performance evaluation from their current or most recent employer.
• The appraisal should include the overall rating and, if available, the supervisor's assessment of the applicant's performance and accomplishments.
• If an applicant is unable to provide a performance appraisal or equivalent because one is not available, the applicant should provide a brief explanation.
• Writing Samples: Two (2) recent legal writing samples of no more than five (5) pages each that demonstrate analytical and/or advocacy abilities.
• Excerpts of larger pieces may be submitted.
• Transcript(s): Attorneys who have graduated from law school less than five (5) years prior to the announcement closing date must provide a copy of their law school transcript(s), including class rank.
• We accept unofficial transcripts, as long as it contain the applicant's name, the name of the school, the date the law degree that was awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned.
• References: The names, phone numbers, and email addresses for at least three (3) professional references who may be contacted.
• SF-50: For current federal employees, a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
• Please redact social security numbers from any submitted documents.
• Certificate of Good Standing: Current certificate demonstrating that you are a current active member of the bar with a valid license to practice law in a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Additional documents you may be required to submit vary based on what authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying for one of the categories such as a veteran, a current or former permanent Federal employee, etc.).
• LEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility: ***

What to expect next

Your application package will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and qualifications requirements. The Selecting Official may choose to conduct interviews. Once the selection is made, the candidate will receive a notification of the selection decision and additional documentation may be required prior to appointment.

Interested attorneys are encouraged to contact Ms. Geraldine Chanel, DARPA Deputy General Counsel, at ***.

Additional information

Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at: *** Veteran's Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of 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.

(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 ***) *NOTE: Declining an interview or failing to report for a scheduled interview will be considered a withdraw from further consideration for employment under this vacancy.

After selection a statement as to whether or not you have ever been found by any tribunal to have committed any crime or other act reflection upon your suitability to practice law may be required.