LAW CLERK

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is: This is a formal Law Clerk intern position, established under the PALACE ACQUIRE (PAQ) program; centrally managed and funded by the Air Force Personnel Center, Directorate of Civilian Personnel Operations (AFPC/DPC) and administered by the Legal Career Program, AFPC/DPZC, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

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Duties

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- Assists military and civilian attorneys in rendering legal advice and litigating matters which may involve government contracts, labor and employment, environmental law, torts, administrative law, legal assistance and other areas in support of Air and Space Force missions and personnel.

- Drafts and edits legal opinions and memoranda, motions, discovery documents, briefs, and other documents under the supervision of senior attorneys.

- With assistance from other attorneys, performs other duties as assigned in support of the work of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see
• A security clearance may be required
• PCS expenses if authorized will be paid IAW JTR and Air Force Regulations
• Position may be subject to random drug testing
• Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays
• Employee must maintain current certifications
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Student Loan Repayment may be authorized
• Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for this position
• You will be in a two-year trial period during the first year of your PAQ internship appointment.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest
• Grade Point Average - 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0
• Must adhere to the Air Force Rules of Professional Conduct.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and specialized experience requirements.

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

Applicants must have completed their law degree from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) within the previous two years or is a third year law student.

Applicants must also have demonstrated superior law student work or activities, as demonstrated by one of the following:

• Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class; Work or achievement of significance on one of the law school's official law reviews or journals;
• Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school (e.g., membership in the Order of the Coif, winning a moot court competition, or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools);
• Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program, as opposed to one time, intermittent, or casual participation;
• Significant summer law office clerk experience; or
• Other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement.

Finally, applicants must have a Grade Point average of 2.95 or higher.

Any individual appointed as a law clerk may serve for no more than 14 months before being admitted to the bar of the highest court of a State, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or a U.S. commonwealth. Any individual who fails to be admitted to such bar within 14 months of appointment from the date of appointment shall be separated.

Law clerks may convert to an entry-level attorney (0905) position after demonstration of satisfactory employment as a law clerk and admittance to a bar of a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth. Department of the Air Force attorneys must remain in good standing and in active (or equivalent) status in at least one jurisdiction during their entire course of employment with the Department of the Air Force.

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 of legal systems, principles, research and writing.
2. Skill and ability to identify legal issues, cite applicable law, and determine if precedents are involved.
3. Skill in writing legal opinions and memoranda.
4. Skill in identifying and understanding issues, options and recommending courses of action.
5. Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of individuals, in and outside the legal profession, both orally and in writing, in both formal and informal settings.
6. Ability to prepare cases for litigation, to include interviewing witnesses and collecting and organizing evidence.

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.

Education

The PALACE Acquire Program offers you a permanent position upon completion of your formal training plan. As a Palace Acquire Intern you will experience both personal and professional growth while dealing effectively and ethically with change, complexity, and problem solving. The program offers a 2-year formal training plan with yearly salary increases. Promotions and salary increases are based upon your successful performance and supervisory approval. This is your opportunity to begin a successful civilian career with the Department of the Air Force.

You must have completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) AND must have documented Superior Academic Achievement (SAA):

a) Class Standing - upper third of the graduating class based on completed courses;

b) Grade Point Average - 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on your official transcript or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of curriculum;

PLEASE SUBMIT COPIES OF ALL TRANSCRIPTS TO INCLUDE TRANSFERRED HOURS - OFFICIAL COPIES ARE NOT REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION. IF SELECTED, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE OFFICIAL COPIES OF ALL TRANSCRIPTS. ***NOTE*** Degree Audits are not accepted.

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

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.