ATTORNEY ADVISER (CONTRACT)

Full Job Description

GS-12: The primary purpose of this position: This is a developmental position. All training must be completed and regulatory requirements met prior to promotion.

GS-13: The primary purpose of this position is: This is a developmental position. All training must be completed and regulatory requirements met prior to promotion. Restructured GS-0905-13 target 14.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: You 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).

In addition, 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.

GS-12: Specialized experience: I have a first professional law degree (LLB or JD) AND I have two (2) years professional legal experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level, OR I have a second professional law degree (LL.M.), plus one year of professional legal experience at the GS-11 level.

Professional legal experience must include Research and respond to difficult legal questions and methods of research, analyzing, interpreting, and applying Federal and State laws, regulations, policy directives, contracts, and other legal instruments; Examine, interpret, and advise on cases, instruments, directives, and makes recommended improvements or reversal of any adverse trends with attention to high risk/problem prone areas of adjudication; Provide legal advice on high-level inquiries, proposed legislation, policies, and regulations where a legal or legal related issues is involved; Develop solutions to problems involving highly intricate legal, factual, and political questions, and provides correct, practical legal advice and services in a timely manner.

GS-13: Specialized Experience: In addition to the basic requirement, you must have professional legal experience in excess of two (2) years that commensurate with the position's duties and responsibilities.

GS-14: Specialized Experience: In addition to the basic requirement: you must have professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that commensurate with the position's duties and responsibilities.

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: GS-12: 1.

Graduation from an accredited law school (J.D.) and active membership in good standing in the bar of a State or the District of Columbia. 2.

Proficiency in legal research methods, including familiarity with on-line legal databases and other agency resources. 3.

Ability to clearly and effectively communicate authoritative oral legal advice concerning the various stages of contracting, acquisition and procurement management. 4.

Skill in interpreting the law and applying it to specific situations and the exercise of legal judgment. 5.

Ability to render authoritative written and legal opinions and products involving extremely complex and difficult legal problems arising from the formation and management of contracts. 6.

Highly skilled in reviewing all legal documents (e.g., agency contractual instruments, pleadings, discovery, and other non-litigation related legal documents) for legal sufficiency and protection of the government's interests.

GS-13: 1. Graduation from an accredited law school (J.D.) and active membership in good standing in the bar of a State or the District of Columbia. 2.

In excess of three (3) plus years of experience commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. An LL.M.

in federal procurement can be substituted for one (1) year of relevant experience. 3.

Ability to provide authoritative legal advice concerning the various stages of contracting, involving complex and difficult legal problems arising from the formation and management of government contracts.

4. Skill and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with both professionals and nonprofessionals. 5.

Skill in interpreting the law and applying it to legally complex and factually complex situation and the exercise of legal judgment. 6.

Ability to tactfully advise senior leadership, counsel and other agency officials on sensitive legal issues.

Proficiency in legal research and familiarity with legal databases and other resources used to perform government contracting legal research. GS-14: 1.

Graduation from an accredited law school (J.D.) and active membership in good standing in the bar of a State or the District of Columbia.

Ability to render authoritative written and legal opinions and products involving extremely complex and difficult legal problems arising from the formation and management of contracts. 2.

At least four (4) years of federal acquisition related experience.

The second professional degree (LL.M.) in government procurement can be substituted for one year of federal acquisition related experience. Highly skilled in reviewing all legal documents (e.g.

agency contractual instruments, pleadings, discovery, and other non-litigation related legal documents) for legal sufficiency and protection of the government's interests. 3.

Knowledge of procedural rules governing litigation at the United States Government Accountability Office, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and the United States Court of Federal Claims. 4.

Knowledge of applicable federal procurement statutes, regulations (including the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Department of Defense regulations, and Air Force regulations) , case law, and Executive Orders and agency policy guidance applicable to government contracting, privatization, ethics, and acquisition.

5. Proficiency in legal research methods, including familiarity with on-line legal databases and other agency resources.

Skill in interpreting the law and applying it to specific situations and exercise of legal judgment. 6.

Ability to clearly and effectively communicate authoritative oral legal advice concerning the various stages of contracting, acquisition and procurement management.

At the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status and in good standing with a bar of the highest court of a State, US commonwealth, US territory, or the District of Columbia.

On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status and dated within four months of application.

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. Additional Conditions of Employment: This is a developmental position that leads to the full performance level.

The incumbent will receive on-the-job training designed to provide the opportunity to perform the duties at the full performance level.

The incumbent may be noncompetitively promoted to the next performance level upon (1) satisfactorily completing the training requirements (2) satisfactorily performing at the next performance level (3) meeting all OPM legal and regulatory requirements for promotion and (4) recommendation for promotion by the supervisor.

Major Duties:

GS-14: The primary purpose of this position is to provide complete legal services that will facilitate the United States Air Force's successful execution of its acquisitions.

As the world's leader in military flight operations, the Air Force frequently procures complex aviation systems and services that support and are vital to its mission to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace.

DUTIES: GS-12: With some supervision, the incumbent conducts legal research on difficult legal or factual questions in connection to bid protests and contract dispute litigation pending before the United States Government Accountability Office ("GAO"), the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals ("ASBCA") or the federal courts.

With some supervision, the incumbent prepares written legal products, pleadings and litigation documents for the assigned senior counsel's review and use (e.g., the Agency Report required by GAO Bid Protest Regulation 4 C.F.R.

Section 21.3(d), the Rule 4 file required by the ASBCA, and other, non-litigation related legal documents).

Whenever litigation is undertaken, the incumbent will be given responsibility for some phase of the written or oral proceeding.

Examples include drafting the agency's written memoranda of law or conducting the examination and cross-examination, under the guidance of the assigned senior trial counsel.

GS-13: The incumbent is assigned work from the Supervisory Attorney, a Principal Senior Trial Attorney, and/or the AFLOA/JAQ Director of the Commercial Litigation Directorate.

Maintains Highest Level of Federal Acquisition Subject Matter Expertise.

The incumbent maintains federal acquisition subject matter expertise by independently reviewing and researching changes in federal procurement statute, regulation, executive branch policy and case precedent.

Prepares Authoritative Written Products.

Incumbent prepares required memoranda of fact and law and other critical litigation pleadings (e.g., the Agency Report required by GAO Bid Protest Regulation 4 C.F.R.

Section 21.3 or the Rule 4 File required by the ASBCA Rule 4 File) and other, non-litigation-related legal documents, with minimum supervision.

GS-14: The incumbent is assigned by the designated Supervisory Attorney, Principal Senior Trial Attorney or, on occasion, by the Director of the AFLOA/JAQ Commercial Litigation Directorate to serve as the primary attorney charged with the preparation and presentation of the United States Department of the Air Force's position in multiple federal procurement litigations (e.g., bid protests, contract disputes, etc.) before administrative tribunals and/or federal courts (e.g., the Government Accountability Office ("GAO"); the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals ("ASBCA"); or the United States Court of Federal Claims).

Maintains Highest Level of Federal Acquisition Matter Expertise & Provides Reliable Legal Advice. Independently, executes legal analysis relevant to the Air Force's procurement mission.

Maintains federal acquisition subject matter expertise by independently keeping apprised and researching changes in federal procurement statute, regulation, executive branch policy and case precedent.