Attorney-Adviser (International)

Who May Apply: US Citizens Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position. KSA’s: Skill in identifying and researching highly technical and complex legal issues. Skill in providing legal, technical, and policy guidance. Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs. Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs. Knowledge and experience in international law at a strategic level. Ability to provide legal advice on the interpretation, applicability, and effect of U.S. law, host nation law, and international agreements. Skill in developing plans, coordinating, and participating in and/or leading negotiations involving foreign government officials on matters of national security. Skill in drafting, negotiating, and interpreting International Agreements such as Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreements (ACSAs), ACSA Technical and Implementing arrangements, Memoranda of Understanding, Memoranda of Agreement, Status of Forces Agreements, Diplomatic Notes for Administrative and Technical Status under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Country Studies impacting the U.S. military, and other international agreements. Skill in providing legal and policy advice on command strategy documents such as posture statements, global strategy, campaign plans, or engagement plans. Ability to identify, research, document, and organize legally and factually complex issues. Ability to analyze, formulate legal opinions, provide advice, and represent the agency. Skill in planning, organizing, setting priorities, and completing multiple tasks of varying complexity. Ability to communicate legal issues orally and in writing. Ability to recognize and analyze problems, conduct research, summarize results, and make appropriate recommendations. Ability to craft creative solutions to complex problems. Ability to express, orally and in writing, complex legal issues in clear and succinct language so that the concepts are understood by both lawyers and non-lawyers. Ability to work effectively with senior officials as clients. Ability to perform legal research and thoroughly analyze and problem solve a wide variety of complex legal issues. Ability to work with multiple legal offices on a daily basis. Ability to prepare legal opinions that are concise, well-reasoned, legally sound, and consistent with relevant precedent. Ability to work cooperatively as part of a team and/or lead a team to resolve issues. Ability to analyze issues and apply legal principles, particularly as related to the Government’s interests. Ability to learn and apply new areas of the law. Ability to analyze thoroughly and solve a wide variety of complex legal problems. Ability to express information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Ability to provide legal advice and services with respect to regulations, practices, or other legal matters, and formulate opinions involving the analysis and interpretation of international, federal, state and local laws. Ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment. Ability to exercise sound judgment in challenging situations. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with agency staff at all levels as well as with key individuals in a variety of other federal organizations and interest groups. Qualification Requirements: The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration: Education Requirements: Position requires the possession of the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) AND member in good standing with the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Applicants for initial appointment into attorney positions within the Department of Army must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of the applicant’s graduation. As indicated below, a law school transcript must be submitted with your application materials. Bar Membership: Applicants must currently be a member in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. As noted below, proof of such membership and good standing must be submitted with your application materials. Experience: In addition to the requirements above, applicants for the GS-15 or equivalent Attorney positions must also possess 3 years of professional legal experience , acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as an LLM may substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience. Time in Grade: The Qualifying Authorities (QA’s) will make a determination as to the applicability of time in grade based on the requirements of the position. If you are 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 level as the position being filled. NOTICE OF VETERAN’S PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran’s preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the 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. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with the list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/sf/.
About the Position: This position is located at Office of the U.S. Cyber Command, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Meade, Maryland. If you are currently serving in a permanent, competitive service appointment in the Federal service, and are selected for this position, the appointment will remove you from the competitive service while you occupy this position.