This position is located in the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA). The General Counsel of the Department of War, who is appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the chief legal officer of the Department of War and performs such functions and performs such functions as the Secretary of War may prescribe.
Summary
This position is located in the Office of General Counsel (OGC), Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA). The General Counsel of the Department of War, who is appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the chief legal officer of the Department of War and performs such functions and performs such functions as the Secretary of War may prescribe.
This is an excepted service attorney position open to the public. Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens. This position is filled under DoD civilian attorney hiring procedures and is not subject to the standard competitive-service examining process.
This is an Excepted Service position in the 0905 Attorney series and is governed by DoD Instruction 1442.02, Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys.
This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection.
Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following:
Fiscal: ยท Fiscal: Serves as a staff attorney with continuing responsibility for legal advisory services in the area of the DoD budget, including gathering, reviewing, and coordinating proposed changes to the DoD Appropriation and Authorization Acts and working with representatives of the DoD, OMB, and Congressional staff members through all stages of the Appropriation and Authorization process. The incumbent also has responsibility for numerous special projects and assignments within the overall responsibility of the DoD General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsel (Fiscal).
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
Must be determined suitable for federal employment
Required to participate in the direct deposit program
This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
The incumbent must be able to maintain a Secret security clearance
This position requires occasional travel up to 5% away from the normal duty station for official business travel on military or commercial aircraft
The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime
Full professional training in law as evidenced by graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited U.S. law school is required
Must be admitted to the bar, and be a member, on active status in good standing, of a federal court or the highest court of a state, territory, district, or commonwealth
A current, valid license to practice law in a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a condition of continued employment
Qualifications
Applicants must possess:
A first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) - (Must submit a copy of your transcripts with the degree conferred date, failure to do will result in an incomplete application.); and
Active membership in the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, with authority to engage in the active practice of law. For applicants selected from outside a current DoD civilian attorney position, bar status must be verified by an official current certificate from the licensing jurisdiction or through clear online verification from the licensing authority
AND
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
At least one (1) year of professional legal experience acquired after bar admission, equivalent to the GS-14 level in the federal service, demonstrating independent expertise in analyzing complex legal issues, conducting advanced legal research, and advising senior leadership on organizational policies, statutes, and regulatory compliance.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service program (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. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
All qualifications must be met at the closing date of this announcement.
Education
Applicants must possess a first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school. Education alone is not sufficient for qualification at the GS-15 level; applicants must also meet the active bar membership and specialized experience requirements described in this announcement.
Applicant must possess a professional law degree, (Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.)), from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any state, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions.
Foreign Education:
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, please click Foreign Education.
Additional information
This is an excepted service appointment and does not confer competitive status.
Candidates must disclose any pending or completed disciplinary investigation or action in any jurisdiction in which they are members of the bar or licensed to practice law, consistent with applicable DoD attorney professional responsibility requirements.
Notice of Veteran's Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Uniformed Service") to their submissions. Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed.
Military Spouse Preference: Military spouse preference will be considered, as applicable, consistent with DoDI 1400.25, Volume 315, and DoDI 1442.02. Application of military spouse preference may not contravene veterans' preference or nepotism rules.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil
Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/
Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.
Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.
Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:
legal experience,
subject matter expertise,
professional accomplishments,
writing and analytical ability,
and other job-related factors demonstrating ability to perform the duties of the position.
Selections for DoD civilian attorney positions are made on the basis of merit, with the objective of identifying the highest-caliber, most qualified candidate.
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.
A complete application package includes your resume and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further:
Resume - A complete resume demonstrating relevant experience including job titles, duties, and accomplishments. The resume must provide sufficient detail for each position to demonstrate that the applicant meets the minimum qualification requirements. If an applicant submits multiple resumes, only the most recently submitted resume will be reviewed to determine qualifications and eligibility for referral to the Selecting Official.
NOTE: The maximum number of pages accepted for a resume is TWO pages. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
Cover letter - Address demonstrated interests and/or qualifications as they relate to this position. Cover letters must not exceed two pages.
Law school transcript(s) - This position has an individual occupational requirement for education. You MUST submit a copy of your transcript(s) with your application package, or you may be rated ineligible. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but official transcripts will be required prior to entry on duty.
Certificate of Active Bar Status: Certificate of good standing from the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three (3) months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your current, active status.
Writing sample - Applicants must submit a writing sample of no more than 10 pages that demonstrates their legal research, analysis, and writing ability.
Veterans' preference documentation, if applicable:
DD-214
SF-15 for 10-point preference, if applicable
Supporting documentation for claimed preference
Current or former Federal employee documentation (if applicable): Applicants who are current or former Federal employees may submit an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, to document Federal service, grade, and pay history, if relevant.
To apply, please email your two-page resume, a writing sample, and a cover letter (if applicable) directly to the following Resume Bank: osd.pentagon.ogc.mbx.dodogcresumebank@mail.mil.
Email Subject Line Format: The subject line of your email must strictly state: Resume File: APPLICANT'S LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, Office of the General Counsel
Important Resume Rule: In compliance with federal hiring guidelines, your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. Any pages submitted beyond this limit will not be reviewed or considered during the qualification process.
All applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on December 2, 2026, to be considered. Please ensure all required documents are attached in PDF format prior to transmitting your application.
General Counsel of the Department of Defense
Human Resources Directorate
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350
US
Next steps
This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will not be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants must follow the directions in the "How to Apply" section of this flyer to be considered. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer. Notice of Result letters will not be sent to applicants who respond to this flyer.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
A complete application package includes your resume and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further:
Resume - A complete resume demonstrating relevant experience including job titles, duties, and accomplishments. The resume must provide sufficient detail for each position to demonstrate that the applicant meets the minimum qualification requirements. If an applicant submits multiple resumes, only the most recently submitted resume will be reviewed to determine qualifications and eligibility for referral to the Selecting Official.
NOTE: The maximum number of pages accepted for a resume is TWO pages. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
Cover letter - Address demonstrated interests and/or qualifications as they relate to this position. Cover letters must not exceed two pages.
Law school transcript(s) - This position has an individual occupational requirement for education. You MUST submit a copy of your transcript(s) with your application package, or you may be rated ineligible. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but official transcripts will be required prior to entry on duty.
Certificate of Active Bar Status: Certificate of good standing from the Bar of a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States (e.g., American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the District of Columbia. Document should be dated within three (3) months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your current, active status.
Writing sample - Applicants must submit a writing sample of no more than 10 pages that demonstrates their legal research, analysis, and writing ability.
Veterans' preference documentation, if applicable:
DD-214
SF-15 for 10-point preference, if applicable
Supporting documentation for claimed preference
Current or former Federal employee documentation (if applicable): Applicants who are current or former Federal employees may submit an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, to document Federal service, grade, and pay history, if relevant.
To apply, please email your two-page resume, a writing sample, and a cover letter (if applicable) directly to the following Resume Bank: osd.pentagon.ogc.mbx.dodogcresumebank@mail.mil.
Email Subject Line Format: The subject line of your email must strictly state: Resume File: APPLICANT'S LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, Office of the General Counsel
Important Resume Rule: In compliance with federal hiring guidelines, your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. Any pages submitted beyond this limit will not be reviewed or considered during the qualification process.
All applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on December 2, 2026, to be considered. Please ensure all required documents are attached in PDF format prior to transmitting your application.
General Counsel of the Department of Defense
Human Resources Directorate
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350
US
Next steps
This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will not be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants must follow the directions in the "How to Apply" section of this flyer to be considered. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer. Notice of Result letters will not be sent to applicants who respond to this flyer.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
