Attorney-Advisor (General)-Direct Hire Authority

Job summary

Veterans' preference does not apply to DHA recruitment. Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for more information. The primary purpose of this position is to support the Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) as a senior attorney, providing legal advice and counsel for the most complex, often precedent, installation level cases in administrative law, claims, environmental law, contract law, labor law, international law, and operations law to the 96th Test Wing and tenant units.

Major duties

As a senior attorney, advises the [insert Wing-level organization] Commander, as well as subordinate and tenant unit commanders and managers, on a host of general law matters For the most complex installation legal issues, prepares for and represents the AF/installation and its legal interests in correspondence, meetings, negotiations, and judicial and administrative hearings, involving federal, state, and local (and overseas, foreign) officials, parties with adverse interests, and commercial entities. Provides legal assistance to active duty military, dependents, eligible Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, retirees, and other DoD cardholders, consistent with Air Force Instructions (AFIs) and legal office policy.

Qualification

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 dated within last 4 months. --AND-- PROFESSIONAL LEGAL EXPERIENCE: You must have professional legal experience in excess of two years commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of this position. IDEAL CANDIDATE The ideal candidate for this General Attorney position is a highly experienced and adaptable legal professional who thrives in a large, complex, and dynamic legal environment. While the candidate may bring specialized expertise in one or more areas of general law-such as contract, labor, environmental, or administrative law-they must possess the intellectual agility and professional drive to master the full spectrum of the installation's legal portfolio. This individual excels at tackling novel, often first-of-their-kind issues, providing sound judgment and legally compliant advice to support the diverse missions of the 96th Test Wing and its numerous mission partners. Embodying the vision of a legal professional as a mission asset, the ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who seeks out innovative and legally sound solutions that enable the warfighter. They possess the unwavering integrity to advise against actions when legally or ethically required, but their focus is always on finding a path to "yes" through creative, mission-focused counsel. They are a skilled advocate and negotiator, comfortable representing Air Force interests in a variety of settings and providing clear, decisive guidance to commanders. The candidate is also a collaborative team player and a natural mentor. Joining a large and highly experienced legal team, they are expected to work collegially, sharing their expertise and contributing to a culture of excellence. A commitment to developing the next generation of legal professionals is essential, and the candidate should demonstrate a willingness to mentor junior attorneys. The ideal candidate is, above all, a dedicated public servant committed to upholding the highest standards of the legal profession while actively advancing the national defense mission. 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 applicable law pertaining to the specialized areas of legal practice, as determined by the SJA, in order to provide legal advice and counsel to command and management and represent AF interests. 2. Sufficient knowledge of federal, state, and local law, as it impacts the private individual, to provide personal legal assistance to eligible beneficiaries across the typical range of the AF legal assistance practice. 3. Skill in recognizing and analyzing key legal issues in a factual situation and applying well-reasoned analysis to reach clear, concise conclusions. 4. Ability to research legal issues, analyze complex factual situations in light of general legal principles and the results of research, and prepare legal opinions. 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 trial and/or try cases before a court, administrative body, or an official having quasi-judicial power. 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

Must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, and be currently licensed as an attorney, in active (or equivalent) status and in good standing within last 4 months, with the bar of a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth. The attorney must maintain such bar membership in at least one jurisdiction during the entire course of employment with the Air Force.

Evaluations

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further. APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.