General Attorney

About the Position: Duties are performed independently, on own initiative and generally without preliminary instructions or technical guidance, with authorization to exercise independent judgment and to assume the responsibility for determining the course of action necessary to accomplish the work objective. Identify, research, and address extremely complex and difficult legal questions affecting USACE missions. With oversight by supervisor, represent the office to which assigned in meetings, negotiations, conferences, presentations, hearings, administrative litigation, or other forums, with municipal, state, other federal agencies, and private stakeholders. Renders legal advice and assistance to all elements of the Command in response to inquiries on numerous types of miscellaneous problems arising from day-to-day operations and which vary from simple to difficult. Assigned cases involve extremely complex and difficult legal questions or issues involving novel questions of law and policy. Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or 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. Education Requirement: 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 JD.). In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience: Two or more years of professional legal experience. Examples of this experience are: Providing legal counsel on complex issues by researching and interpreting federal and state laws and regulations to advise on organizational programs and day-to-day operations. Preparing legal documents, such as opinions, memoranda, and other legal instruments, to address novel questions of law and policy. Representing an organization in forums such as meetings, negotiations, or conferences with external stakeholders. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position: must possess either an advance law degree such as an LLM (masters of law) or graduated with a distinguished record from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class which may be substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience after being admitted to the bar. Examples of this experience are: Providing legal counsel on complex issues by researching and interpreting federal and state laws and regulations to advise on organizational programs and day-to-day operations. Preparing legal documents, such as opinions, memoranda, and other legal instruments, to address novel questions of law and policy. Representing an organization in forums such as meetings, negotiations, or conferences with external stakeholders. Bar Membership: An applicant must currently be an active member in good standing of the Bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (must provide a certificate of good standing) Fitness to Practice Law: An applicant must currently be fit to practice law. If your fitness to practice law, or your conduct has ever been challenged you must submit a sworn statement giving the facts and circumstances, together with any explanations you consider appropriate. The sworn statement should be notarized and dated within 3 months of the date of your application. (If you are currently employed as an attorney with The USACE, this requirement does not apply to you). Time in Grade Requirement: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government you must have completed 1 year at the next lower level (GS-12) within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement or previously served at the same or higher grade as the position being filled. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.