Attorney (General)/Law Clerk Job

Vacancy No. Attorney/Law Clerk Flyer Department Missile Defense Agency
Salary $41,155.00 to $107,590.00 Grade 2 to 2
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/16/2024 Close Date 12/13/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Redstone Arsenal, ALFort Belvoir, VA


Summary

This solicitation is for the Missile Defense Agency and open to both attorneys and law students graduating this school year.

This position is in the Excepted Service. Selection under this appointment does not confer civil service competitive status.

There is one or more vacancies that may be filled at either Redstone Arsenal, Alabama or Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to: All U.S. Citizens

Duties

As a Attorney (General)/Law Clerk you will be responsible for the following duties:

MDA General Counsel (GC) seeks to recruit two to three attorneys through this recruiting action for a three-year, term appointment.

Participants who successfully complete the program will be placed in a permanent position in MDA GC.

The General Counsel Honors Attorney Program, within the Missile Defense Agency, will provide highly qualified, entry-level and new attorneys with the opportunity to gain exposure to a broad variety of subject matter areas over a three-year period.

The Program will include rotations in all divisions within GC, and it will provide attorneys with the opportunity to gain exposure to a broad variety of subject matter areas over a three-year period.

Participants will complete complex legal assignments and provide advice in a range of legal disciplines including:

  • Contract & Acquisition Law,
  • Administrative and Employment law,
  • Environmental law,
  • Federal & Administrative Litigation,
  • Fiscal law,
  • Government Ethics,
  • Intellectual Property and Patent law,
  • International law,
  • Treaties & International Agreements.

Participants will take on immediate responsibility and directly contribute to significant matters within GC and the Missile Defense Agency in support of its awesome mission to develop and deploy a layered Missile Defense System to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends from missile attacks in all phases of flight.

A mentor will be assigned to each attorney who will also participate in the Agency's Career Development Program which will introduce the selectee to the business aspects of the Agency.

This is a unique opportunity to join a staff of highly-motivated attorneys and receive on-the-job-training to equip the new attorney with the skills and expertise for placement in a highly coveted, permanent position at MDA.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Application materials must be received by 11:59PM EST on the closing date.
  • This is a drug testing designated position.
  • This is an Excepted Service position.
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
  • Must obtain/maintain required Critical Sensitive (Top Secret) Security Clearance.
  • Position is Term Appointment not to exceed 2 years may be extended up to 6 years.

Qualifications

Qualification standards for attorney positions may be found in DoD Directive 1442.2, "Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys" at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/144202p.pdf

Please provide a writing sample of no more than 10 pages along with your application.

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened for competencies needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the DUTIES section of this announcement. The QUALITY of experience relates to how closely or to what extent your experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Your resume must show you have the competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level. Salary will be set within the range specified in this vacancy announcement based on the complexity of work to be performed, the selectee's experience, education, training, and availability of funds.

Your resume must show you have the competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level.

Education

Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/approved.html
Applicants will be assessed against Qualification Requirements (i.e. education, certification(s), experience etc.).

You are eligible to apply if you are:

1. A U.S. citizen.

2. Able to successfully complete a background investigation and maintain a security clearance.

3(a) A third-year law student or recent graduate from an accredited law school awaiting Bar results;

(b) An attorney with a J.D. from an accredited law school with no more than two years of experience in the practice of law who is a member in good standing of a Bar in one of the 50 U.S. States or a U.S. Territory;

(c) An attorney with a J.D. from an accredited law school with less than three years of experience, which includes at least one year in a state or federal judicial clerkship, who is a member in good standing of a Bar in one of the 50 U.S. States or a U.S. Territory;

(d) A current or former Judge Advocate of any branch of the military or U.S. Coast Guard with less than 5 years of total legal experience.


NOTE: Failure to provide college transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Foreign Education: For further information, click on the following link: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Veteran's 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 (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit 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: If you submit a resume but no questionnaire, you cannot be considered for the position. If you submit a questionnaire but no resume, you cannot be considered for the position. Your application will be appropriately documented and you will be removed from further competition against this announcement.

*NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

Benefits

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. We will evaluate your application for basic eligibility and to determine if your experience meets the qualifications and other basic requirements are eligible for referral and selection consideration.

Required Documents

The following documents are REQUIRED:

  1. Résumé: If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for the qualifications and referred for selection consideration if eligible.
  2. Writing Sample (10 pages ONLY)
  3. Transcripts: REQUIRED--We accept unofficial transcripts, as long as they contain the applicant's name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned. Transcripts must be received in this office by 11:59 EST, of the 12/13/2024 to be considered.
  4. A sworn statement that your fitness to practice law has not been challenged. If your fitness to practice law has been challenged, you must provide a statement describing the circumstances and disposition of that challenge.

Additional documents you may be required to submit vary based on what authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying for one of the categories such as a veteran, a current or former permanent Federal employee, ICTAP, etc.).

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must submit the following items by email to MDAJOBFAIR@mda.mil. Please ensure you type the title of the position(s), grade level(s) you are interested in being considered for in the subject line of email.

Attorney (General) NH-0905-02/04 (Candidates may be selected at the NH-02, NH-03 or NH-04 Level)

For the Fort Belvoir, VA Location:$45,146 to $191,900(includes 33.26% locality)
For the Redstone Arsenal, AL Location: $41,155 to $191,900 (includes 21.48% locality)

Law Clerk NH-904-02 (This does not have promotion potential)
For the Fort Belvoir, VA Location: $45,146 to $107,590(includes 33.26% locality)
For the Redstone Arsenal, AL Location: $41,155 to $98,079 (includes 21.48% locality)

Agency contact information

MDA Servicing Team
Address
Missile Defense Agency
Bldg 5222 Martin Rd
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

If selected, additional documentation may be required prior to appointment.

Once you successfully complete the application process, you will receive a notification of receipt. Your application package will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and qualifications requirements, and you will receive a notification. A review will be made of your online questionnaire and the documentation you submitted to support your responses. A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter.

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.