STUDENT TRAINEE (LAW CLERK)

About the role

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information. The primary purpose of this position is to provide a student trainee who has been appointed to the Pathways Program with on-the-job training and guidance to further student technical development in law.

What you will do

• With supervision, performs tasks that are developmental and recurring in nature that require application of basic occupational field theory and principles in the technical area of legal services.
• With supervision, conducts investigations to obtain evidentiary data and recommend an agency course of action.
• With guidance, drafts, negotiates, or examines contracts or other legal documents required by the agency's activities.
• Works closely with senior attorneys, assists in the performance of legal research, analysis of legal decisions, opinions, ruling, memoranda, and other legal decisions, prepares/writes digests of points of law involved.

Education

This position has an education requirement.

You MUST provide transcripts or Official Letter of Enrollment to support your educational claim.

An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.

You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here to check.

How you will be evaluated

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further. BASIS OF RATING: Your application will be rated under the Category Rating procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualifications requirement.

Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran Preference is still applied. Category 3, Best Qualified: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements. Category 2, Highly Qualified: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements.

Category 1, Qualified: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements. Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements.

To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire. The numeric rating you received is based on your responses to the questionnaire.

The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills and abilities required of this position. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities.

Please follow all instructions carefully.

Documents you must provide

• The following documents are required and must be provided with your application.
• Applicants who do not submit required documentation to determine eligibility and qualifications will be eliminated from consideration.
• Other documents may be required based on the eligibility you are claiming.
• Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide and the required documents.
• Online Application: Questionnaire Resume: Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts.
• You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable.
• Additional information on resume requirements can be located under "How To Apply".
• Transcripts/Registration: If position requires education, you must submit copies of your transcripts and if required for the position, submit an active, current registration/license.
• Veterans: If claiming 30% Disabled Veteran or Veteran's Preference - Submit VOW certification memo or copy of the official DD-Form 214, which must include the character of service (i.e., with an honorable or general discharge).
• This will be annotated in block 24 on member copy 2, 4, or 7 of the DD-Form 214.
• If claiming 30% Disabled Veteran, you must also submit a VA Letter or a disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces.
• NOTE: All veterans claiming 10-point preference must also submit a SF-15.
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: You must include a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP.
• Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
• ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active-duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date.
• Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave.
• At the time the active- duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD-Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.
• Active-duty members applying for a civil service position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD-Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position.
• The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following: Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member Branch of Armed Forces Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s) Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty Terminal leave start date (if applicable) Expected character of service/discharge and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement) Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander.
• Note: The VOW Act provides tentative preference.
• If appointed, a DD Form-214 must be submitted upon receipt.

What to expect next

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official.

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application.Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility and qualifications for consideration. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.

To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select My Applications, and click on the More Information link under the application status for this position. If you do not provide an email address, you are responsible for checking status updates and notifications in USAJOBS.

Hard copy notifications will not be sent to you.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated in the "Highly Qualified" or "Best Qualified" Category on the rating criteria for this vacancy.

You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (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. Click here for more information.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected, and placed at the highest grade for which they applied.

You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP.

Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist. Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition.

Additionally, if you are serving on a term appointment in the competitive service, you may be converted to a career or career-conditional appointment without further competition. NOTE: Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

For information on veteran's preference click here. 120-DAY COMPETITIVE CERTIFICATE: This vacancy announcement may be used to fill like vacancies for 120-days from the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as/if additional vacancies occur during this period.