This position is located in the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG), Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The incumbent executes a wide variety of assignments involving substantial opportunities to enhance research and legal writing skills, as well as learn about the professional role/duties of an attorney within a Federal Government agency, while working in close association with members of OGC.
Summary
This position is located in the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG), Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The incumbent executes a wide variety of assignments involving substantial opportunities to enhance research and legal writing skills, as well as learn about the professional role/duties of an attorney within a Federal Government agency, while working in close association with members of OGC.
Students Enrolled or Accepted for Enrollment During the Current or Next Upcoming Semester in a Degree-seeking Program (diploma, certificate, etc.) in an Accredited/Qualifying Educational Institution, on a Full or Half-time Basis.
Draft and comment on (1) proposed legislation/regulations, (2) congressional testimony, (3) litigation materials, and (4) legal opinions, as well as assists in the process of formulating OGC legal policy on topics of current interest.
Assist with aspects of research projects and reports spanning several weeks? time that may include documenting findings and proposing preferred or alternative courses of action.
Conduct background research on various topics; legal research and opinion writing; and gathers legislative histories and surveys of Congressional testimony on a particular topic.
Synthesize basic research and analytical techniques, and employs verbal and writing skills as appropriate for each assignment.
Attend staff meetings, briefings, and formal/informal conferences in assigned areas with responsibility for preparing draft summary reports and personal observations for the record.
Attend planned seminars, discussion groups, and lectures to further broaden understanding of Federal Government operations and the interrelationship between the branches of Federal Government.
Prepare draft briefing papers, position papers, and replies to Congressional inquiries.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or be exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov).
Suitable for federal employment
This national security position, which may require access to classified information, requires a favorable suitability review and security clearance as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain security eligibility may result in termination.
Incumbent is required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment, and is subject to random drug testing for the duration of service with DoD OIG.
The incumbent must adhere to the DoD Standards of Conduct.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
Applicants' resume must demonstrate one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience is defined as: performing legal research and analyzing laws, facts, evidence, and precedents; assisting with the preparation of legal memoranda; assisting attorneys in preparing legal documents and responding to inquiries on legal matters.
Students must have completed two years of law school by the beginning of the 2023 summer and must be continuing in legal studies throughout the 2023-2024 school year.
Students must also be attending an American Bar Association Accredited Law School WITHIN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION. Prior graduates and students graduating in the Spring of 2023 are not eligible.
(Note: An official transcript; statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable for proof of eligibility prior to appointment.)
Candidates must submit a writing sample that identifies a legal issue; states and cites the legal standard(s); identifies facts; and applies the legal standard to the facts. Failure to provide a writing sample will disqualify Applicants for the position. Writing samples should be no more than 10 pages long, and must reflect the Student's work product.
Students must submit all application materials (cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample) with no obvious grammatical errors.
Application of Veterans Preference: The Category Rating Method does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible's who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Qualified) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.
Education
Must have Completion of 2 academic years of graduate level education, or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.
You MUST provide unofficial transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specialized 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: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
Incumbent will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within 90 calendar days of the initial issue date of the referral list.
Position(s) may be filled by displaced Department of Defense (DoD) employees through the Priority Placement Program.
DoD Priority Placement Program (PPP) Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible candidates will receive priority consideration at the full performance level only.
You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).
Recruitment Incentive MAY NOT be authorized at the discretion of the Hiring Official.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes certain reimbursements/payments taxable. For information on these changes and the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA), for which some appointees are eligible, click here
Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination.
Travel requirement is NOT REQUIRED.
Retired Civil Service Employee: Employment of retired Federal employees receiving an annuity is subject to the requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) policy guidance. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300
Military retirees seeking to enter civil service in the Department of Defense now require a waiver if they are within 180 days following their official date of retirement (5 United States Code 3326.)
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Priority Consideration: If you are a displaced Federal Civil Service employee and attain a rating of at least 90, you may be entitled to receive special priority selection under the ICTAP. For more information on ICTAP, click here ICTAP Guidance. NOTE: If you have never worked for the Federal Government, you are NOT ICTAP eligible.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application
Pay for first time hires to the Federal Government will typically be set at step 1 salary range for their respective grade level.
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.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications and education requirements above. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Applicants who indicate they meet the minimum qualifications will receive an email invitation from usastaffingoffice@opm.gov to complete online assessments. The email may appear in a "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
Please plan to set aside three (3) hours for the assessments; however, most people are expected to complete the assessments in about 90 minutes.
You must complete all of the required assessments within 48 hours after the close of this Job Announcement to be eligible for this position.
Your results will be kept on record for use when applying for future jobs that require these assessments. You will not be allowed to re-take an assessment for one year.
If you have completed all of the required assessments previously and these results may be re-used, you will receive an email stating you have already completed the required assessments.
Your results on these assessments will be used to place you into one of the three quality categories listed below according to Category Rating and Selection Procedures. In addition, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to verify you meet the qualifications for this job. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and may be interviewed prior to selection. You will be notified of the outcome.
Qualified Category - Meets the minimum qualifications as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement.
Highly Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates proficiency in some of the job-related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire.
Best Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates a high level of proficiency in the job related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire.
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.
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.
You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Resume: You are encouraged to choose only ONE method of submitting your resume. (HR will review the resume that the system date stamps as the latest one received. You may submit your resume by: attaching in your USAJOBS account. For assistance in preparing your resume, take a look at the DFAS Resume Tools. : Only the first 5 pages of your resume will be reviewed. Be sure your relevant experience is included in those first five pages.
2. Complete Assessment Questionnaire: Your resume must describe the quality of work in regards to responses to the occupational self-assessment questionnaire as they generate your numerical rating.
3. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected at the full performance level and placed at the full performance level. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
The following supporting documents are ONLY required if applicable to your personal qualifications or status.
1. Transcripts and/or Certifications: All applicants to include current agency employees, must submit proof of education if the job announcement requires education to meet the basic qualification requirements, or if substituting education to meet the specialized experience requirements. . For additional information on acceptable documents, click here https://www.dfas.mil/Careers/howtoapply/transcriptscertifications/ . All applicants to include current agency employees/contractors must also document your education and/or certifications in your resume.
2. Cover Letter: You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume. Your cover letter will not be used to verify your qualifications or determine eligibility for preference.
3. Veterans Preference: If you are claiming veteran's preference, you MUST submit the appropriate documentation. Failure to do so WILL result in the loss of veteran's preference, and may impact your placement on the certificate. For more veterans' information please click here.
You must submit a legible copy of your DD Form-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service. Alternatively, If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD Form-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position. The certification should also include your rank, dates of active duty service and what they condition of discharge is thought to be.
If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD Form-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability
If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
2. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
3. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking Application Status.
DoD OIG - OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350
US
Next steps
The occupational questionnaire and the resume that you submit will be used to assess your qualifications for the job, and to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. We will notify you of the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
All information included in the resume and Occupational Questionnaire is subject to review and verification. HR will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be further evaluated by information provided in the Occupational Questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have misrepresented your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position and, if you're already an employee, you may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal service.
Application of Veterans Preference: The Category Rating method protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible's who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Qualified) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Resume: You are encouraged to choose only ONE method of submitting your resume. (HR will review the resume that the system date stamps as the latest one received. You may submit your resume by: attaching in your USAJOBS account. For assistance in preparing your resume, take a look at the DFAS Resume Tools. : Only the first 5 pages of your resume will be reviewed. Be sure your relevant experience is included in those first five pages.
2. Complete Assessment Questionnaire: Your resume must describe the quality of work in regards to responses to the occupational self-assessment questionnaire as they generate your numerical rating.
3. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected at the full performance level and placed at the full performance level. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
The following supporting documents are ONLY required if applicable to your personal qualifications or status.
1. Transcripts and/or Certifications: All applicants to include current agency employees, must submit proof of education if the job announcement requires education to meet the basic qualification requirements, or if substituting education to meet the specialized experience requirements. . For additional information on acceptable documents, click here https://www.dfas.mil/Careers/howtoapply/transcriptscertifications/ . All applicants to include current agency employees/contractors must also document your education and/or certifications in your resume.
2. Cover Letter: You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume. Your cover letter will not be used to verify your qualifications or determine eligibility for preference.
3. Veterans Preference: If you are claiming veteran's preference, you MUST submit the appropriate documentation. Failure to do so WILL result in the loss of veteran's preference, and may impact your placement on the certificate. For more veterans' information please click here.
You must submit a legible copy of your DD Form-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service. Alternatively, If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD Form-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position. The certification should also include your rank, dates of active duty service and what they condition of discharge is thought to be.
If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD Form-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability
If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
2. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
3. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking Application Status.
DoD OIG - OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350
US
Next steps
The occupational questionnaire and the resume that you submit will be used to assess your qualifications for the job, and to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. We will notify you of the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
All information included in the resume and Occupational Questionnaire is subject to review and verification. HR will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be further evaluated by information provided in the Occupational Questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have misrepresented your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position and, if you're already an employee, you may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal service.
Application of Veterans Preference: The Category Rating method protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible's who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Qualified) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
