Supervisory Attorney-Adviser (General)

Full Job Description

About the position: Serves as a Supervisory Attorney-Adviser (General) in the DHA Office of General Counsel. This position is located at Naval Medical Center, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

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: Skill in identifying legal issues and conducting relevant legal research.

Skill in administrative hearings practice. Skill in oral and written advocacy. Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs.

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 Defense Health Agency considers veteran's preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring.

Applicants eligible for veteran's preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (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.

(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 http://www.opm.gov/).

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government you must have completed 52 weeks 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.

Time-in grade may be waived for current federal employees at management's discretion.

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 (LLB or JD).

Bar Membership: Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.

Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three months of the date the application is submitted.

If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your active status.

Experience Required for the GS-14: Applicant must have three (3) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the Bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Major Duties:

• Serves as a legal advisor throughout the due process procedures on credentialing, privileging, adverse privileging, and removal from practice of health care providers.
• Identifies potential and actual problem areas in health care delivery systems.
• Assists with the investigations of Potentially Compensable Events (PCEs) likely to result in litigation as they arise to document factual data to deter potential claims.
• Interprets and applies law and policy for the release or denial of requested medical Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) information, Privacy Act and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Provides guidance in developing privacy policies and procedures to identify, implement, and maintain health care information under applicable law.
• Serves as the primary legal advisor on formal legal relationships with Government and civilian medical institutions.
• Independently oversees all phases of medical negligence and any other tort litigation, to include investigation, support for claims adjudication, and federal court litigation.
• Responsible for the supervision and oversight of legal staff in the Defense Health Network that governs multiple facilities including Military Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs).
• Performs supervisory functions which includes planning, budgeting, directing, and controlling the technical and administrative operations of the Defense Health Network legal staff.
• Provides Standards of Conduct Ethics advice.