Attorney-Adviser (General)

DLA Careers; Fort Belvoir (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

DLA General Counsel Headquarters at Fort Belvoir seeks a Contract and Intellectual Property Law Attorney with experience in acquisition and IP matters to support multiple directorates, including J-7, J-6, and J-3. The role involves providing authoritative legal advice on complex issues and coordinating with external agencies as required.

The successful candidate will possess a JD/LLB and bar admission, with 3+ years of relevant experience, and must meet DoD suitability and security requirements

Qualifications

• First professional law degree (LLB or JD) is required.
• Bar licensure and good standing with the state bar; certificate of good standing dated within 6 months.
• Minimum 3+ years of professional legal experience relevant to Acquisition and IP Law.

Responsibilities

• Provide Acquisition and Intellectual Property Law guidance to DLA HQ and subordinate offices.
• Advise on contract formation, administration, and related procurement issues; support for protests and data rights matters.

Skills

Acquisition and IP Law

Contract formation

Legal advisory

Litigation awareness

Education

J.D. or LLB

Bar admission with good standing

Job description

Summary

See below for important information regarding this job.

The duty location will be in the Office of General Counsel-DLA General Counsel -Headquarters, Fort Belvoir, VA.

Duties

This JOA is for the position of Contract and Intellectual Property Law Attorney in the DLA General Counsel Headquarters, Acquisition Law Division located at Fort Belvoir, VA.

• Specializes in providing Acquisition and Intellectual Property Law legal support and advice to DLA Headquarters Directorates and five DLA Major Subordinate Command Counsel offices, including the Acquisition Directorate (J-7), Information Operations (J-6), Logistics Operations (J-3) and Public Affairs personnel and leadership.
• Responsible for Acquisition and Intellectual Property Law guidance and advice to attorneys across the DLA Legal Enterprise and, as required, in coordination with external federal agencies.
• Advises on acquisition law issues, such as procurement and policy reviews, contract related litigation and protests, data rights, patent and trademark matters, contracts support for other activities and agencies, and review of Congressional requests.
• Represents DLA in Intellectual Property Law related engagements with the Military Services, US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and other external federal agencies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• This is an Excepted Service position.
• Tour of Duty: Flexible Schedule (https://www.dla.mil/Careers/Join-Our-Team/Benefits/#Work)
• Security Requirements: Non-Critical Sensitive with Secret Access
• Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination, where reciprocity cannot be applied; unfavorably adjudicated background checks will be grounds for removal.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
• Bargaining Unit Status: No
• Financial Disclosure Requirement: Required
• Selectees are required to have a REAL ID or other acceptable identification documents to access certain federal facilities. See https://www.tsa.gov/real-id for more information.

Qualifications

• The first professional law degree (LLB. or J.D.);
• Proof that you are licensed and a member in good standing with the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Annual bar certification cards issued from your state of licensure are not considered acceptable. Proof is a "certificate of good standing" issued by your state of licensure dated within 6 months of the closing date of this announcement or a screenshot of your bar status taken from your state of licensure website that is dated within 6 months of the closing date of this announcement or sworn statement to that effect. If there is not a date on the screen shot, you must provide a statement signed by you on the date that the screen shot was created. The successful applicant selected for employment must provide a "certificate of good standing" issued by their respective bar showing they are in good status and in active status prior to appointment.
• In addition to 1 and 2 (listed above), each grade level has the following qualification requirements:

You must possess professional legal experience in excess of 3 years commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

In accordance with DoDI 1442.2 (Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys), promotion for this position is based on the individual's time, performance, and mastery of skills at the required grade level and only with approval of the designated official (DLA General Counsel) in accordance with the applicable regulation.

The legal experience described in your application package or resume will be evaluated and screened for competencies required to perform the duties of the position as described in the Major Duties section of this announcement. The QUALITY of experience will be evaluated and screened to determine how closely or to what extent your experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Your application package or resume must demonstrate you have the competencies and quality of experience necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate grade level.

Principal Selection Factors

• Preferred that the candidate is actively registered as a patent attorney before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Acquisition and Intellectual Property Law experience. At least one year of relevant experience at the next lower federal grade is mandatory. Equivalent military, state or private law experience may be substituted for federal service.
• Demonstrated expert knowledge in the following areas: (1) Department of War or other similar federal agency acquisition process, such as FAR and DFARS, preferably including experience with contract formation and administration of complex federal services and supply acquisitions, and research and development contracts/other transaction agreements, (2) federal court and patent and trademark litigation and ADR, (3) providing authoritative legal advice on a broad range of complex Acquisition and Intellectual Property Law issues and problems.
• Experience defending challenges to acquisition decisions at the Contracting Officer, Agency, Government Accountability Office, Court of Federal Claims, Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, USPTO levels.
• Excellent analytical ability, including issue identification, legal research, analysis of options, risk analysis, and creative problem solving.
• Excellent communication skills and abilities (oral and written) . to articulate complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively to both legal and non-legal audiences.
• Excellent legal and business judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and client relationships, and the ability to interact well with senior officials on controversial and sensitive issues.

Security Clearance

Security Clearance: This position is designated Non-Critical Sensitive. If selected, you must obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. If you are unable to obtain this level of security clearance (as a result of undisclosed or disclosed background issues), within a reasonable period of time (as defined by the agency), the employment offer may be withdrawn. In addition, incumbent is subject to periodic re-investigation to maintain security eligibility in accordance with DoD 5200.2-R.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application.

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 college or university.

Additional information

• Excepted Service Position: This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.
• Veterans Information: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's 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.
• Reemployed Annuitants: This position does not meet criteria for appointment of Reemployed Annuitants. The DoD criteria for hiring Reemployed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/140025_vol300.PDF

Drug-Free Workplace Policy

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is committed to maintaining a safe, drug-free workplace. All DLA employees are required to refrain from illegal drug use on and off duty. DLA conducts pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, and random drug testing.

Applicants tentatively selected for employment in testing designated positions will undergo a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Refusal to undergo testing or testing positive for illegal drugs will result in withdrawal of the tentative job offer and a six-month denial of employment with DLA from the date of the drug test. Employees in drug testing designated positions are subject to random drug testing. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment. You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

The DLA drug testing panel tests for the following substances: marijuana, cocaine, opiates, heroin, phencyclidine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, fentanyl, norfentanyl, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and opioids.

ADVISORY

ADVISORY: Use of cannabidiol (CBD) products may result in a positive drug test for marijuana. DLA employees are subject to Federal law and under Federal law, Marijuana is illegal

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

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.