ATTORNEY-ADVISER (GENERAL)

Summary

THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION.

This National Guard position is for a ATTORNEY-ADVISER (GENERAL), Position Description Number T5161000 and is part of the MD 175th ANG, National Guard.

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Duties

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The purpose of this position is to provide full-time professional legal support to the Adjutant General, staff elements and subordinate units of the Army and Air National Guard of the State, as well as to the USPFO for the State. This position performs the following duties:

Responsible for the effective management and accomplishment of the day to day legal workload necessary to provide legal services and support to the Adjutant General, staff elements of both the Army and Air National Guard and subordinate units, as well as the United States Property and Fiscal Officer for the State and his staff. Provides professional legal advice and opinions, both written and oral, on issues arising from federal laws and regulations or concerning the federal mission of the National Guard. Serves as litigation point of contact for the State. Prepares litigation reports, briefs, pleadings and other papers associated with civil litigation involving the National Guard. Upon designation by the U.S. Department of Justice, or, in appropriate cases, when designated by the Office of Legal Advisor, National Guard Bureau, may appear as counsel for the National Guard or National Guard officials or employees in civil litigation.

Acts as the State Adjutant General's representative in third-party proceedings under the Federal Labor-Management Relations Statute. Reviews technician collective bargaining agreements for legal sufficiency. Upon designation by the State Adjutant General, may participate in collective bargaining as a member of the management negotiating team. Serves as claims officer for the State. Prepares claims reports for the processing of claims by the appropriate claims office. Upon designation by the State Adjutant General, participates as Staff Judge Advocate to the Convening Authority in State National Guard courts-martial and as legal advisor or counsel in administrative board proceedings. Reviews Reports of Survey, Line of Duty determinations and similar administrative proceedings for legal sufficiency.

Reviews contracts, procurement actions and real property matters involving federal funds for legal sufficiency. Upon designation by the State Adjutant General, participates in negotiations involving contracts, acquisitions, and real property matters. Assists in drafting of Drafts contracts, agreements and real property documents. Prepares and presents legal training for judge advocates and for other personnel as required. Acts as legal assistance officer for full-time active duty members of the National Guard of the State. Provides general legal counsel and assistance in preparation of simple documents and correspondence on a broad range of personal civil matters. Drafts wills, powers of attorney and similar personal documents.

Acts as legal assistance officer for members of the National Guard of the State by providing the following:

a. Domestic relations. Advises on legal and practical meaning and effects of divorce, legal separations, annulment, custody. Refers to appropriate agencies as necessary.

b. Wills and estates. Provides legal advice and counseling on wills and estates. Drafts and executes wills and codicils. Advises on estate planning to include minor tax considerations and non-trusts under applicable state statutes, or refers to private attorneys as necessary.

c. Nonsupport and indebtedness. Advises and counsels on effect and procedures, to include garnishment rules, repossession procedures, default judgments, adverse personnel actions. Refers to appropriate agencies as necessary.

d. Landlord-Tenant relations and customer affairs. Advises and counsels on tenant's rights; eviction procedures; the legal effect and meaning of leases, offers to purchase, sales contracts and customer's rights in dealing with merchants and lenders; credit reporting agencies; etc. Prepares correspondence and legal instruments. Provides advice on rights accorded by Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act and other statutory provisions.

e. General. Prepares complex powers of attorney and other instruments, advises on immigration/naturalization procedures, insurance matters, general contracts, personal property law. Provides for client referrals to private attorneys as appropriate.

Coordinates activities with part-time judge advocates to insure effective utilization of part-time JAG officers.

Performs other professional legal and military duties as required.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Applicants who meet one of the DoD Priority Placement Program (PPP) categories below are eligible to apply with this preference . (See Required Documents section)

• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Employees
• Priority Placement Program, Military Spouse Preference (MSP)

Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a trial period. Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.

This position requires a secret security clearance; the incumbent of this position must obtain and maintain a secret Clearance.

This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.

This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. This designation will not exceed 14 calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the TAG.

Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.

This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The employee is subject to random drug testing. Pre-employment drug testing and participation in random drug testing is a condition of employment.

Qualifications

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of 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 (for example, 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

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-12 or equivalent entry-level attorneys are entrusted with the initial preparation of proposed solutions to projects. They conduct investigations to obtain facts, study legal precedents, make recommendations, and prepare necessary documents. They receive preliminary instructions, their commitment authority is limited, and their completed written work is carefully reviewed.

Assignments require the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), active membership in the bar of the highest court of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, and one of the following:

(a) Two years of professional legal experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level.

(b) The second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus one year of professional legal experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level.

An attorney without experience may be employed at the GS-12 or equivalent level if the individual has advanced educational attainments substantially beyond those required for work at the GS-11 or equivalent level and if their education clearly indicates ability to perform the type of work to be assigned, including courses directly pertinent to the work of the agency. The individual's education must enable them to step into complex legal work characteristic of the GS-12 or equivalent level and to operate with the degree of independence and responsibility typical of that level.

Length of time is not of itself qualifying. Candidates' experience should be evaluated on the basis of duties performed rather than strictly on the rank of the individual; however, established compatibility criteria/assignments must be followed. The applicant's record of experience and/or training must show possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to fully perform the duties of the position.

Education

Assignments require at least the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.).

You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position.

Additional information

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov)).

• We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 180 days of the closing date.
• This position MAY be eligible for recruitment or relocation incentives, pending availability of funding and management request.
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does NOT convey eligibility to be converted to the Competitive Service.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.