GENERAL ATTORNEY.

Duties

• Provide legal advice and trial advocacy in a wide range of practices with a focus on government contract law.
• Conduct legal research.
• Review documents.
• Draft agreements and legal opinions.
• Participate on project delivery teams.
• Engage in litigation.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination based on a completed background investigation.
• Pre‑employment Financial Disclosure Statement (OGE Form 450) required; annual submission thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500‑7‑R.
• Must maintain a license to practice law and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Position is designated as moderate risk involving Public Trust.
• Background investigation includes a credit check to determine suitability for Federal employment.
• Travel up to 10 % of the time.

Qualifications

Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories are eligible to apply. Applicants must provide documentation proving eligibility for the selected category.

Education: Successful completion of a full course of study at an ABA‑accredited law school and possession of a first professional law degree (LLB or JD). Foreign education must be evaluated by a recognized private organization and deemed equivalent to U.S. accreditation.

Bar Membership: Current membership in good standing of the bar of a state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Experience Requirements (based on General Schedule grade):

• GS‑11: Less than one year of professional legal experience after bar admission. Exceptions may be made for a second professional law degree (LLM) or graduation in the top 25 % of an ABA‑accredited law school class.
• GS‑12: One year of professional legal experience after bar admission. Same exceptions as GS‑11 apply.
• GS‑13: Two years of professional legal experience after bar admission. Same exceptions as GS‑11 apply.
• GS‑14: Three or more years of professional legal experience after bar admission. Graduation in the top 25 % of the class or an advanced law degree (LLM) may substitute for one year of experience.

Professional legal experience includes:

• Researching complex legal issues involving federal and state laws, regulations, and policies to provide authoritative guidance.
• Preparing legal opinions, memoranda, contracts, and other instruments addressing complex or novel legal questions with significant programmatic impact.
• Representing the organization in negotiations, hearings, conferences, administrative litigation, and other legal proceedings with federal, state, local agencies, and private stakeholders.
• Providing legal advice and interpreting federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies to support management decisions, policy development, and daily operations.
• Conducting comprehensive legal research and developing legally sound recommendations to resolve high‑impact matters involving significant financial, regulatory, or public‑interest considerations.

Time‑in‑Grade Requirements (must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade within the last 52 weeks):

• GS‑11: Prior GS‑10 service.
• GS‑12: Prior GS‑11 service.
• GS‑13: Prior GS‑12 service.
• GS‑14: Prior GS‑13 service.

Additional qualifications:

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre‑Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship is required.
• One‑year probationary period during which fitness and public‑interest advancement are evaluated.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Submission of a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 450) upon entry and annually thereafter.
• Selection may be subject to Department of Defense referral system restrictions for displaced employees.
• Reemployment as a retired federal employee is possible under the Career Program (CP) 56 – Legal.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Potential PCS (Permanent Change of Station) allowances authorized per Joint Travel Regulations and agency determination.
• Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized subject to management and command approval.