Attorney-Adviser (Labor) in Wiesbaden, Germany

Summary About the Position: This position is located at U.S. Army Legal Support Activity (USALSA), Europe, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA), Wiesbaden, Germany. If you are currently serving in a permanent, competitive service appointment in the Federal service, and are selected for this position, the appointment will remove you from the competitive service while you occupy this position. Responsibilities Provides oral and written advice concerning civilian personnel law, employment discrimination law and all labor relations matters. Reviews proposed activity regulations for legal sufficiency and impact on other regulations, and on programs, procedures and methods of operation. Practices preventive law by informing management of the impact of changes in civilian personnel and labor law and regulations. Advising managers and supervisors on informal resolution of grievances and providing advice to line management and EEO Officer on resolving informal discrimination complaints. Cases involve union/employee grievances on a wide variety of topics, adverse actions, reductions in force, employment discrimination. Conducts research in connection with cases to analyze factual and legal issues and to determine what additional facts are needed and what legal sources are applicable. Prepares and presents briefs on factual and legal issues, including motions, requests for admissions and discovery, subpoenas in litigation before both boards and relevant courts. Participates in pre-hearing conferences, examines and cross examines witnesses, argues motions, prepares and presents opening statements and closing arguments. Evaluates adverse decisions for possibility of appeal. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position. KSA’s: Skill in identifying and researching highly technical and complex legal issues. Skill in providing legal, technical, and policy guidance. Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs. Qualification Requirements: The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration: Education Requirements: Position requires the possession of the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) AND a member in good standing with the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Applicants for initial appointment into attorney positions within the Department of Army must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of the applicant’s graduation. As indicated below, a law school transcript must be submitted with your application materials. Bar Membership: Applicants must currently be a member in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. As noted below, proof of such membership and good standing must be submitted with your application materials. Experience: In addition to the requirements above, applicants for the GS-13 or equivalent Attorney positions must also possess 2 years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as an LLM may substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience. Time in Grade: The Qualifying Authorities (QA’s) will make a determination as to the applicability of time in grade based on the requirements of the position. If you are currently employed as an attorney by the Federal government, you must have completed one year at the next lower grade level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement or previously served at the same or higher grade level as the position being filled. NOTICE OF VETERAN’S PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran’s preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the 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 Release or Discharge from Active Duty”) 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. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with the list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/sf/. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. Education Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. Additional Information PLEASE NOTE THAT REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION, TIME IN GRADE, AND EXPERIENCE MAY BE WAIVED BY THE APPLICABLE AUTHORITY AND THE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD NOT DETER ANY INDIVIDUAL FROM APPLYING FOR THE POSITION. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. This is a Professional Services Career Field position to the Army Legal Functional Community. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. Recruitment and relocation incentives may be authorized. Student loan repayment may be authorized. Salary negotiations, including an advanced in hire, for candidates new to Federal service or who would otherwise qualified, may be authorized. Credit for prior non-Federal experience and certain military service for leave accrual rates may be authorized. May be eligible for situational telework only, including emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. Applicants must comply with the Exceptional Family Member Program requirements as outlined in DoD Instruction 1315.19. U.S. citizens overseas under ordinarily resident status are not eligible for appointment under the Status of Forces Agreement. Locality pay does not apply in the overseas area. On this overseas accompanied tour, medical and DoDDS special education services may not be available in the immediate location of this position. Movement overseas may require you to initiate a change in your health benefits plan to ensure coverage. Employees (and family members) who require medical or dental care in the overseas location will be responsible for obtaining and paying for such care. Access for civilian employees and their families to military medical and dental treatment facilities is on a space-available and reimbursable basis only. Pay retention may be offered to selected applicants for positions at overseas locations. Pay retention will not be offered as an incentive for employees moving between overseas positions. Selectees may receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, home leave, etc. Selectees will have their eligibility for foreign area benefits determined at the time of hire in accordance with Department of State Standardized Regulation (DSSR) and DoDI 1400.25 volume 1250. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/1400.25-V1250.pdf For positions in a foreign country, that country’s laws or international agreements may have a direct impact on the ability of an employee’s same sex domestic partner or spouse to accompany the employee and receive certain benefits. If you believe you may be affected by these laws and agreements, you should familiarize yourself with relevant information and direct questions concerning a specific country (Foreign Duty Location) to the appropriate Army Human Resources point of contact prior to the acceptance of employment and your entrance on duty. Defense National Relocation Program will not be authorized. “This in an Excepted service position and is not eligible for Statutory or Administrative return rights IAW DODI 1400.25 and AR 690-300, Chapter 18, Return Rights. Contact your organizations Human Resources Specialist if you have any questions.”