Duties
The primary purpose of the position is to serve as the sole full-time professional legal adviser, providing consultation, collaboration, support, guidance, and subject matter expertise (SME) to the Wing Commander. This position is responsible for the following duties:
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Advises Commander and staff on interpretation of federal statutes and regulations, ensures that legal advice, consultation, and collaboration is furnished in a timely manner. Advises senior leadership of the alternatives and possible solutions which are legally permissible or desirable. Prepares, researches, and issues oral and written legal opinions and legal advice with regard to a wide variety of laws, regulations, instructions, directives and policies in the area of Administrative Law, including but not limited to: Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, reports of survey, line-of-duty determinations, constitutions and by-laws of private organizations, formal and informal investigations and commanders' inquiries, legal sufficiency reviews, collateral investigations, federal and state Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) complaints, Congressional Inquiries, Inspector General investigations, Equal Opportunity/Equal Employment Opportunity (EO/EEO) investigations, fiscal law, unfavorable personnel actions, standards of conduct, family advocacy, and public relations.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW: Provides advisery, guidance, consultation, and collaboration to Commander, staff, and supervisors. Coordinates with State Human Resources Office and the State Judge Advocate on all labor law training as well as impact on established programs, procedures, and methods of operation. Provides preventive law guidance to management personnel on the impact of regulatory changes. At the request of the State Judge Advocate: Prepares, researches and issues oral and written opinions, and may, upon designation by the State Adjutant General, participate in collective bargaining as a member of the management negotiating team and represent the organization in third-party administrative, quasi-judicial, and judicial proceedings.
ETHICS: As the SME in Government Ethics, provides training to all unit members, staff and personnel on matters such as 1) Financial disclosure programs and reviews; 2) Ethics counselor program training, advice and assistance; 3) Post-government employment program advice and assistance; and 4) Gift acceptance programs, including gifts of travel, gifts to the command and service member. Provides advice, assistance, administration and command reporting for filing with the Office of Government Ethics.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE: Provides legal assistance on a non-interference basis to members of the ANG, spouses of members, and family members as authorized by ANGI 51-504, AFI 51-504 (when applicable), CNGBI, NGR, and other AF/JA guidance and, as resources and expertise permit, legal assistance may also be provided to Active Component members, other Reserve Component members, and retirees of any military service. In line with professional responsibility standards, may provide legal assistance with respect to the following legal matters to eligible beneficiaries: wills, powers of attorney, living wills and health care directives, notary services, dependent care plans, casualty affairs (death incident to the performance of military duty), employment problems arising from the performance of military duty and subject to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) or a similar state statute, landlord-tenant problems specifically related to performance of military duty, tax problems specifically related to performance of military duty, matters arising from the performance of military duty and subject to the Service members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) or a similar state statute, providing special victim's counsel (SVC) services, and other legal assistance as approved by the National Guard Bureau (NGB) and the Air Force, or by the State Headquarters (HQ) Staff Judge Advocate (SJA), the Wing Commander (CC), or other appropriate commander (CC), or the unit SJA.
POLICY SETTING: Formulates Wing legal policy and its execution; legal representation; legal initiatives; constitutional, civil, criminal, labor law; a full spectrum of expert legal advice to Wing leaders.
MILITARY JUSTICE: Prepares and renders legal advice and opinions to commanders and senior staff regarding military justice options. Prepares and renders legal advice on disciplinary matters, nonjudicial punishment, and statutory pretrial advice in prospective court-martial cases. Prepares statutory post-trial advice and actions of convening authority
Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED. If you are not sure you are eligible for military membership, please contact a National Guard recruiter prior to applying for this position. This is an excepted service position that requires membership in a compatible military assignment in the employing state's National Guard, required prior to the effective date of placement. Selectee will be required to wear the military uniform. Acceptance of an excepted service position constitutes concurrence with these requirements as a condition of employment. Applicants who are not currently a member of the National Guard must be eligible for immediate membership and employment in the National Guard in the military grade listed in this announcement. Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service. Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. Participation in direct deposit is mandatory. Must be able to obtain a Secret Security Clearance within one year of appointment.
Occasional travel may be required.
Qualifications
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), active membership in the bar of the highest court of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, and one of the following:
Two years of professional legal experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level.
or
The second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus one year of professional legal experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level.
An attorney without experience may be employed at the GS-12 or equivalent level if the individual has advanced educational attainments substantially beyond those required for work at the GS-11 or equivalent level and if their education clearly indicates ability to perform the type of work to be assigned, including courses directly pertinent to the work of the agency.
Length of time is not of itself qualifying. Candidates' experience should be evaluated based on duties performed rather than strictly on the rank of the individual; however, established compatibility criteria/assignments must be followed. The applicant's record of experience and/or training must show possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to fully perform the duties of the position.
Education
Must have a law degree (LLB or J.D) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Bar.
You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position.
Additional information
If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov)).
- We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 180 days of the closing date.
- This position MAY be eligible for recruitment or relocation incentives, pending availability of funding and management request.
- This position is in the Excepted Service and does NOT convey eligibility to be converted to the Competitive Service.
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.
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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.