Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. citizens.

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 100 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 125th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.  

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a General Attorney GS-905-11/12, you will be responsible for:
• Advising on procurement and contract matters including the Federal Acquisition Regulations; research, supply, and service contracts; and contract performance and disputes.
• Representing the Department’s position, with limited supervision, at administrative hearings and trials, including the drafting and filing of all pleadings, motions, and briefs; conducting discovery; and any other litigation responsibilities related to an assigned matter through all levels of appeal.   
• Preparing written opinions and rending oral legal advice to internal and external stakeholders on the interpretation of applicable law, including statutes, regulations, Comptroller General’s decisions, Office of Personnel Management regulations, Office of Management and Budget circulars, and other issuances.    
• Preparing written opinions and rending oral legal advice to internal and external stakeholders on the interpretation of applicable law, including statutes, regulations, and other issuances, pertaining to one or more of DBAL’s practice areas, including, but not limited to: contracts, Federal surplus property, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FEPRA), torts, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), labor relations, personnel, procurement, appropriations, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, and Federal advisory committees.  

The duties above are at the GS-11 level. The GS-12 level will have more complexity and less supervision.

Conditions of employment

• Relocation will not be paid.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be a US Citizen

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Conditions of Employment

TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY:

• You may be eligible for occasional telework in which you are required to report to the office on a regular basis. Participation must be requested and approved by the supervisor and there must be a signed telework agreement. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor. You must have access to high speed internet and cell phone service meeting current Agency policy from the approved work location.  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

1. You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

AND

2. Proof of admission to the Bar of the highest court of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and current membership in such Bar as would permit the practice of law. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

3. Has one-year professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, OR

Has a second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study OR

Has a record showing superior law schoolwork or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class.
2. Work or achievement of significance on his/her law school’s official law review.
3. Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif.
4. Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools.
5. Full-time or continuous participation, for one year or two semesters of law school, in a legal aid program (as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation).
6. Significant summer law office clerk experience after beginning law school.
7. Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-11:

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-09 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience assisting with legal research on matters related to procurement and contracts.
2. Experience drafting answers, motions, briefs and other pleadings in defense of cases filed in courts or assisting with administrative tribunals.
3. Experience assisting with preparing written opinions and orally presenting legal and factual arguments.

Minimum Qualification Requirements for GS-12:

1. You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

AND

2. Proof of admission to the Bar of the highest court of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and current membership in such Bar as would permit the practice of law. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

3. Has two years professional legal experience, at least one of the two years must be at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, OR

Has one year professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, PLUS a second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study OR

Has one year professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of an attorney at the grade immediately below the one being filled, PLUS record showing superior law schoolwork, or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Academic standing in the upper third of the law school graduating class.
2. Work or achievement of significance on his/her law school’s official law review.
3. Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif.
4. Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools.
5. Full-time or continuous participation, for one year or two semesters of law school, in a legal aid program (as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation).
6. Significant summer law office clerk experience after beginning law school.
7. Other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-12:

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-11 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience performing legal research and providing legal advice on matters related to procurement and contracts.
2. Experience drafting answers, motions, briefs and other pleadings in defense of cases filed before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals or the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
3. Experience preparing written opinions and providing oral legal advice in response to questions on the interpretation of laws applicable to procurement or contracts matters, including statutes, regulations and Comptroller General decisions.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your application and documentation submitted to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications and competencies listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the Monster Competency Based Assessment(s) required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Non-Supervisory: Oral Communications, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management

We will refer the best qualified candidates to the Selecting Official of the job for further review and consideration. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet qualifications required, and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with this position as defined below. Please be sure to give examples in your resume and explain how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possessed, the level of people you interacted with, and the complexity and sensitivity of the issues you handled.