ATTORNEY- ADVISOR (GENERAL)

Full Job Description

The primary purpose of this position is: To provide expert legal advice and analysis concerning military justice matters for the Department of the Air Force Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC), which is exclusively responsible for the disposition and prosecution of victim-based, covered criminal offenses as set forth under 10 U.S.C.

801(17) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, such as murder, manslaughter, and rape.

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.

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: 1.

Knowledge related to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault, domestic violence, crimes against children, and other victim-based criminal offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including the need for sensitivity in special victims' cases.

2.

Knowledge of applicable statutes, regulations and court decisions, to include Department of War and Department of the Air Force regulations, Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Manual for Courts- Martial, the Rules for Court-Martial, the Military Rules of Evidence, DA-PAM 27-9 (Military Judge's Bench book).

3. Skill and ability in performing legal research and communicating complex legal issues clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing.

This includes the ability to analyze criminal complaints to identify relevant issues, to analyze evidence, and to draw sound conclusions to make appropriate recommendations.

Incumbent is charged with demonstrating a high degree of expertise in every aspect of military law, strategy, and procedure related to the matters within his/her area of responsibility. 4.

Skill and ability to liaise with external offices, agencies, and organizations, including Congress and the Department of War, in order to successfully present OSTC positions, build consensus, and form effective working relationships.

5.

Skill and expertise in strategic thinking and the ability to consolidate information, communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to render authoritative written legal opinions and products involving extremely complex and difficult legal issues related to violent criminal offenses.

6.

Skill and ability to work independently with minimal supervision and guidance to meet established schedules for on-going projects and short notice suspense conducting advanced legal research using modern methods, litigation techniques and procedures.

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. Major Duties:

Provides expert legal advice, recommendations, and assistance directly to the Lead Special Trial Counsel (LSTC) and Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) staff on all matters pertaining to the Agency's strategy, regulatory, and statutory initiatives that influence the investigation and trial-level litigation of criminal offenses over which the OSTC exercises authority.

Takes lead in representing OSTC on committees, boards, or teams within the Department of the Air Force or the Department of War, concerned with the development of law and/or strategy in modifying the structure, process, and procedure of the military justice system.

Responsible for drafting assistance or editing portions of military justice regulations, the Manual for Courts-Martial, and other regulations and directives, as necessary.

Prepares formal legal opinions to agencies on issues affecting criminal offenses under authority of the OSTC, to include covered, known, and related criminal offenses and those that involve exceedingly novel, complex, and unusual questions of military justice, often without direct or analogous legal precedent.

Provides legal advice on sensitive, difficult, and often novel legal issues presenting complex factual scenarios in an area of evolving case law in the absence of clearly applicable precedents.

Develops recommendations and drafts initiatives designed to improve the investigation and prosecution of violent criminal offenses in the Department of the Air Force.

Serves as an expert advisor for OSTC personnel worldwide on the prosecution of violent criminal offenses; actively monitors cases, issues, and trends to help inform and develop strategies, legal theories and strategy proposals to meet requirements imposed by Congress, courts, and the Department of the Air Force.

Monitors changes and proposed changes in federal and state legislation to ensure OSTC policies, programs, and actions are aligned and consistent with statutory and regulatory requirements.

Directly advises OSTC prosecutors worldwide on trial and case disposition strategies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of OSTC operations while remaining in compliance with the law.

Maintains knowledge of applicable federal statutes, executive and administrative orders, departmental regulations, and ever evolving caselaw from state, federal, and military practice.

Assists with management and training of OSTC attorneys and paralegals worldwide, including dispersed geographic locations and time zones.

Recommends performance awards; identifies developmental and training requirements; serves on awards panels as needed; serves on hiring panels as needed; conducts interviews of candidates for positions as Special Trial Counsel; shepherds the referral of unresolved legal issues to a higher level; finds and implements ways to eliminate or significantly reduce any bottlenecks of cases and/or barriers to production.

Coordinates work efforts among litigating teams and other subject matter experts; promotes team-building; and improves business practices.

Exercises mature and experienced judgment in determining those matters of sufficient significance to warrant the attention of the LSTC.

Conceives, develops, and introduces new or revised objectives, goals, systems, and concepts for training of OSTC personnel and providing technical assistance to prosecutors.

Participates in the development of training courses designed to educate OSTC personnel. Provides timely updates to OSTC personnel on changes to law that have the potential to affect the OSTC mission.

Advises OSTC personnel on and assists with the establishment of training programs designed to inform, develop, and maximize effectiveness of OSTC personnel, specifically in the prosecution of felony-level violent crimes.

These efforts include collaboration and joint training with other services and with DAF Judge Advocates who are not currently assigned to DAF OSTC.

Collaborates with the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps, the Department of Justice, and other federal or state agencies to seek opportunities for additional training for assigned personnel that benefits the OSTC mission.

Locates and develops opportunities and training courses to facilitate instruction in advanced litigation techniques and strategies.

Leads OSTC staff and paralegals in development of methods and analytics to track OSTC performance measures.

Develops methods of data collection to ensure accurate and transparent reporting of case disposition timelines, prosecution rates, and other matters of interest to those concerned with the development of law and/or strategy in modifying the structure, process, and procedure of the military justice system.

Provides efficient analysis on trending case numbers, trial numbers, and other data sets to advise on how to appropriate allocate personnel and resources with regard to any potential upcoming congressional, departmental, or strategy changes.