General Attorney

Full Job Description

About the Position: Serves as Senior Assistant District Counsel.

Independently plans, organizes, and conducts work, rendering legal advice and opinions on a wide range of complex and difficult legal issues.

Incumbent is expected to carry out any assignment within his/her area of responsibility without preliminary instructions, and otherwise to operate with relative autonomy and direct client interface.

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.

Specialized Experience: Three or more years of professional legal experience, acquired AFTER being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

At least one year of the required professional legal experience is equivalent to the GS-13 under the General Schedule or other pay systems (NOTE: EXPERIENCE MUST BE DOCUMENTED IN YOUR RESUME).

Examples of this experience include (1) analyzing facts, ascertaining law, giving opinions and stating facts on legal issues; (2) explaining legal principles and identifying alternative courses of action; (3) advising Program or Project Manager, Contracting Officer, or other manager or supervisors (a) on all aspects of procurement process to include drafting special agreements or unusual contracting clauses, (b) on NEPA, ESA, CZMA or other aspects of environmental law, (c) on the civilian personnel system and all aspects of handling issues of conduct, performance, and EEO, or labor unions in the federal sector, and (d) on regulation under the Clean Water Act and Rivers and Harbors Act; AND (4) preparing litigation reports and legal documents required by the agency in various federal courts.

Time in Grade Requirement: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government must have completed 1 year at the next lower 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.

Major Duties:

• Acts as principal attorney in charge of civil litigation and renders legal services relating to contracts, real estate, and regulatory/environmental.
• Renders legal opinions and provides advice and representation to other offices within the District regarding a wide range of questions and issues.
• Provides review, analysis and resolution of regulatory/environmental matters, including but not limited to matters involved in the District’s Regulatory Permit program.
• Conducts investigations for, prepares litigation reports for, and coordinates with and assists Department of Justice or Assistant United States Attorneys in lawsuits and other cases.
• Assists the District Counsel by being responsible in most cases for directly advising the District Commander as a functional expert for the District in legal matters.