Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens (U.S. citizenship required at time of application).

• Based on advice from senior attorneys and/or the Judge Advocate, performs developmental assignments including: the assessment and evaluation of legal compliance, legal sufficiency, and/or advisability, local policies and practices,
• Proposed actions and decisions, official conduct and authority, commercial transactions, draft documents and publications, investigations, responses to inquiries, public statements,
• Plans, and initiatives; the evaluation of claims by and against the government, assessing legal risk, and recommending disposition.
• Performs recurring assignments. With or without assistance, performs work assignments which gradually increase in difficulty and complexity. Incumbent determines the practices and procedures to use in accomplishing conventional tasks,
• Interprets and adapts guidelines in order to resolve procedural or factual issues. With assistance from senior attorneys and/or the Judge Advocate, carries out special projects and participates in special initiatives and studies.
• Performs special assignments in support of the organization; e.g., researching policy/precedent - and comparing to new or modified guidelines to assess impact; analyzing and providing substantive evaluation of data affecting program operations.
• Preparing and coordinating reference papers and documentation to support project initiatives; presenting reports to a variety of audiences; and performing analysis and providing recommendations to resolve issues.
• Prepares written correspondence and other documentation. Drafts or prepares a variety of documents in support of the SJA using software such as word processing, spreadsheets, etc., to facilitate work.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
• A security clearance may be required
• PCS expenses if authorized will be paid IAW JTR and Air Force Regulations
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Position may be subject to random drug testing
• Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
• Shift work and emergency overtime may be required
• Employee must maintain current certifications
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Advance in hire may be authorized if there is demonstrable proof provided on your resume
• Student Loan Repayment may be authorized
• Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for this position
• Relocation Incentive may be authorized for this position
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
• You will be in a one-year trial period during the first year of your PAQ internship appointment
• Grade Point Average - 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0

Qualifications

The recent law student graduates 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(LLB or JD). The recent law student graduate MUST provide proof they have passed the State Bar, and be currently licensed as an attorney, in active (or equivalent) status and in good standing, with the bar of the U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth. The attorney must maintain such bar membership in at least one jurisdiction during the entire course of employment with the Air Force.

Applicants must have completed their first law degree (LLB or JD) from a qualifying educational institution and all bar requirements within the previous two years or will complete these requirements by 1 May 2025 to meet the basic requirement to apply for the Recent Graduate Program.

Additionally, to be qualified as a GS-11, the attorney must also meet one of the following:- One year of professional law experience; or

- The second professional law degree (Master of Laws [LL.M.]), provided it required at least one full academic year of graduate study; or

- Superior law student work or activities, as demonstrated by one of the following: Academic standing in the upper third of the attorney's law school graduating class; Work or achievement of significance on one of the attorney's law school's official law reviews or journals; Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school (e.g., membership in the Order of the Coif, winning a moot court competition, or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools); Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program, as opposed to one[1]time, intermittent, or casual participation; Significant summer law office clerk experience; or other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Knowledge of applicable law pertaining to the specialized areas of legal practice, as determined by the SJA, in order to provide legal advice and counsel to command and management and represent AF interests.

2. Sufficient knowledge of federal, state, and local law, as it impacts the private individual, to provide personal legal assistance to eligible beneficiaries across the typical range of the AF legal assistance practice.

3. Skill in recognizing and analyzing key legal issues in a factual situation and applying well-reasoned analysis to reach clear, concise conclusions.

4. Ability to research legal issues, analyze complex factual situations in light of general legal principles and the results of research, and prepare legal opinions.

5. Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of individuals, in and outside the legal profession, both orally and in writing, in both formal and informal settings.

6. Ability to prepare cases for trial and/or try cases before a court, administrative body, or an official having quasi-judicial power.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

-OR-

Any veteran released or discharged from active duty within the previous two years, but due to a military service obligation, was precluded from applying for a recent graduate position during any portion of the two-year eligibility period following completion of applicable degree, and not more than six years have transpired since completing the requirements for the degree. Qualified candidates will be considered in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Pathways Guidelines . You can also visit: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/index-Standards.asp for additional qualification standards.

NOTE:
1. Quality Ranking Factor (Justification for quality ranking factor must be substantiated by the Job Analysis and be documented in the case file.2. Selective Placement Factors (Must be Document on SF39A and filed in the case file)

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

The resume/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.

Applications who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

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/eligibilities you are claiming. Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide and the required documents you must submit to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming.

1. Online Application: Questionnaire
2. 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".
3. License: At the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status with a bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status.

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. 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 (honorable/general) 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.

NOTICE OF VETERANS' PREFERENCE:
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' 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 to their submissions.

Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim Veterans Preference must submit VOW certification memo or copy of the official DD Form 214, which must include the character of service, and a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.)

NOTE: Applicants for attorney appointments do not require veterans' preference in order to be eligible for consideration.

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