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
in this document.
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 three 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.
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
- Specialized Experience in Leadership
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- Knowledge, skills and abilities to perform and/or oversee administrative functions and office management, including budget, training and other office management matters.
- Demonstrated experience in reviewing attorney legal work and opinions for soundness of judgment, application of legal principles, and conformance with governing policies and regulations.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate and communicate professionally with higher echelons.
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- Demonstrated experience briefing and advising senior leadership as a functional expert.
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- Demonstrated experience in training and mentoring legal professionals.
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- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
- Supervisory Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
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- Knowledge, skills and ability to directly supervise non-attorney staff in the Office of Counsel.
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- Knowledge, skills and ability to assist the District Counsel in the overall management of the Office of Counsel.
- Specialized Experience in providing Legal Services
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- Demonstrated ability to provide specialized legal expertise in unique, complex, and critical matters.
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- Demonstrated ability to identify, research and address, with practical experience and mature judgment, extremely complex and difficult legal questions affecting USACE missions.
- Demonstrated ability to furnish expert legal advice, assistance, and services to the District Engineer.
- Demonstrated ability to provide legal advice on such other varied programs and subjects as administrative investigations, the Federal Tort Claims program, Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, and fiscal law issues.
- Legal Advice Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
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- Demonstrated experience in providing legal advice and assistance to all organizational elements of the district on complex and difficult legal matters and in practicing preventive law.
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- Demonstrated experience in federal civil litigation.
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- Demonstrated experience in federal government procurement law.
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- Demonstrated experience in federal labor and employment law.
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- Demonstrated experience in real estate law.
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- Demonstrated experience in federal environmental law and in providing legal support for the Corps of Engineers civil works mission and regulatory program
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 (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 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.)