ATTORNEY-ADVISER (REAL PROPERTY).

US Army Corps of Engineers; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

US Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District seeks an experienced attorney to serve as the District Counsel’s legal advisor on real estate matters arising from Fort Worth District projects. The role includes advising on property acquisitions, reviewing contracts, and drafting title opinions to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

The candidate must have an ABA-accredited law degree (JD/LLB) and active bar membership, with at least two years of professional legal experience

Qualifications

• Completion of ABA-accredited law school with JD/LLB
• Bar membership in good standing of a U.S. state or territory
• Experience assessing complex real estate transactions and related legal documents

Responsibilities

• Serve as legal advisor to District Counsel on real estate projects
• Advise on acquisition of real property interests by purchase, donation, exchange or interagency transfer
• Research and provide legal advice during all real estate processes (acquisition, in-lease, out-grant, disposal)
• Prepare legal documents for real estate condemnation and large-scale litigation
• Draft documents for Project Partnership Agreements (PPA) implementations
• Review contracts and provide opinions on legal sufficiency
• Prepare attorney title opinions complying with law and regulations

Skills

Legal analysis

Regulatory knowledge

Communication (oral & written)

Time management

Problem solving

Education

ABA-accredited law school (JD/LLB)

Job description

Duties

• Serves as legal advisor to the District Counsel, and Fort Worth District personnel, concerning real estate issues arising out of projects in the Fort Worth District.
• Advises and performs legal services in connection with the acquisition of real property interests, by purchase, donation, exchange, or interagency transfer.
• Researches, analyzes, and provides legal advice during various stages of all real estate processes, including, but not limited to, acquisition, in-lease formulation, out-grant management and disposal and disposition of real estate claims.
• Researches, analyzes, and provides legal advice and prepares legal documents for real estate condemnation and litigation involving very large sums of money, or large sums of money, or where the issues are strongly contested.
• Researches, analyzes, and provides legal advice and prepares legal documents for the planning and implementation of projects leading to a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA).
• Reviews contractual documents and furnishes oral and written opinions as to their legal sufficiency.
• Preparing attorney title opinions consistent with statutory and constitutional requirements

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires active bar membership, in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• The duties of this position require the incumbent to possess or obtain and maintain a valid state Driver’s License.

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

The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration:

Education

An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.). Law school transcripts must be submitted at the time of application.

Bar Membership

An applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Experience

An applicant must have more than two years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Time in Grade Requirement

If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government you must have completed one year 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.

Specialized Experience

Two or more years of specialized experience which includes: 1) Providing legal advice during various stages of the real estate acquisition process; 2) Reviewing legal documents to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies; 3) Drafting documents associated with real estate acquisitions; AND 4) Reviewing all legal instruments and/or documents with potential legal ramifications. (NOTE: EXPERIENCE MUST BE DOCUMENTED IN YOUR RESUME).

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Your application package will be evaluated to ensure your experience, knowledge, skills, training and/or education meet the qualification requirements stated in this vacancy announcement. Quality of experience relates to how closely or to what extent an applicant's background and recency of experience and education clearly reflect that you possess the following required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of this position. The following KSA's must be addressed in your resume. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating or effect your overall rating.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs) Qualification Requirements

• Knowledge and experience with the Regulations of the Attorney General Governing the Review and Approval of Title for Federal Land Acquisitions (2016) (the DOJ Title Standards), applicable USACE rules and regulations, and state laws affecting the acquisition of real property.
• Ability to analyze and provide legal advice during various stages of the real estate acquisition process.
• Ability to balance external and agency (internal) program goals and priorities; ability to balance customer programs with legal goals and priorities; and ability to utilize various approaches in solving problems and issues.
• Ability to organize work effectively to meet established deadlines and priorities.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

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:

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.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or 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
• 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, Relocation, Advanced in hire, Student loan repayment may be authorized if it is in the best interest of the government.

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.

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.