ATTORNEY-ADVISOR (CONTRACT)

United-States-Department-of-Defense; Fort Lee (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA) seeks an experienced attorney to join the Office of General Counsel. The position requires a JD/LLB, active bar membership, and over three years of professional legal experience in defense-related matters.

The selected attorney will provide authoritative legal advice, interpret laws, and engage in complex advocacy to support agency interests and policy decisions.

Qualifications

• Must have completed a full course of study in a school of law and have the first professional law degree (JD or LLB).
• Bar membership: active status in the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or DC.
• 3+ years of professional legal experience relevant to the duties.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative legal advice to DoD officials and agencies.
• Advise on complex legal questions and support defense-related matters with sound judgment.

Skills

Legal analytics

Oral communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or LLB

Job description

This is a Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA) position with duty in the Office of General Counsel, Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA). The General Counsel of the Department of War is dual hatted as the DLSA Director. DLSA provides a full range of legal advice and services to officials of the Defense Agencies and the DoW Field Activities

You must meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualifications for series 0905 and additional requirements by the announcement closing date. Your resume (and/or transcript if necessary) must clearly show that you have the qualifications described below. See Required Documents for more information.

• Qualification requirements for Attorney positions can be found in DoW Instruction 1442.02, "Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys."
• The minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration.
• Applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) from that institution.
• Bar Membership: An applicant must currently be an active member of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
• Applicant must have professional legal experience in excess of 3 years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

BASIS FOR RATING: The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened for basic qualification requirements, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Errors or omissions may affect an applicant's rating or consideration for employment.

SELECTIVE FACTORS: Selection will be based on the judgment of the selecting official as to which applicant is best qualified to perform the duties of the position. The breadth and depth of relevant experience and knowledge and the quality of past performance will be the primary considerations used for selection. Attorneys performing duties at the GS-14, or equivalent-level, are expected to perform with substantial independence even when working on the most complex or difficult matters. Important selection factors are demonstrated substantial experience in the following: legal analytical ability and sound professional judgment; excellence in oral and written communication skills across audiences; strong client and colleague relations and interpersonal skills; ability to interpret law and provide authoritative legal advice; recognized ability as an advocate, including the ability to balance competing interests and provide alternative courses of action to advance agency interests; skill in resolving extremely complex and difficult legal questions which will be precedent-setting in nature and demonstrated advisory and conflict-resolution skills.

A selection panel may be used and oral interviews may be conducted with all, with some, or with none of the applicants, solely at the option of the selecting official.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

A one/two-year trial/probationary period may be required.