Closing Date: 19th April, 2024
Description:
Summary:About the Position: This position is located at U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, Office of the Soldier's Counsel (OSC), Fort Eisenhower, Georgia.
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.
Duties:
- Provide legal advice, legal briefings, and counsel to those Soldiers in the MEB process in the legal office area of responsibility and may require travel.
- Review the case file and Soldier's medical records to evaluate potential and likely outcomes; assist in structuring the case to accomplish the client's desired, realistic end state; advise client on potential results of the boards.
- Advise client on other known medical testing or medical records which he should work with his medical team to be conducted or documented; and work with the client to ensure necessary documentation is present for his case.
- Incumbent will educate and explain the mechanics of the Army PDES to Soldiers, commanders and staff of both the Warrior Transition Unit and non-WTU units in their locations, health care practitioners, and civilian and military attorneys.
- Conduct examination of witnesses and prepare legal memoranda in connection with medical treatment, board proceedings, and medical documents, and work closely ensuring that proper medical records are created and medical issues are documented.
- Provide a smooth and seamless transition for the Soldier from the MEB to the Physical Evaluation Board phase of the Army PDES.
- Work closely with the PEB Soldier Counsel to prepared for informal and formal hearings and that the case is fully developed and complete both factually and strategically, thereby presenting the strongest case to the PEB and subsequent rating boards.
- Counsel will provide assistance to the PEB Soldier Counsel as needed, including, but not limited to, case preparation, client preparation, witness identification and preparation, document collection, and legal research and writing.
- MEB Counsel will provide the full range of legal assistance to the Soldier post-MEB and/or post-PEB through the point of return to his unit or discharge from active duty, including appeals, reconsiderations, and reviews.
- Incumbent will provide legal assistance IAW AR 27-3 and may require to be on call for assistance.
- This assistance includes, but is not limited to: medical disability issues; acceptance of donations and gifts and other remuneration; domestic relations including divorce, child custody and support, adoption, landlord/tenant; estate planning, etc.
- Incumbent will provide legal briefings IAW AR 600-8-101 and installation policies regarding in- and out-processing in the Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC) and in other locations as directed.
- Incumbent will properly screen and refer clients who are eligible to file claims UP AR 27-20 (e.g., personal items lost, damaged, or destroyed while deployed, or claims pursuant to a move of household goods) to the appropriate Claims Office.
- Supervises at least one paralegal specialist (GS-9 or equivalent. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, difficulty of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. Provides technical oversight.
- Develops performance plans, evaluates work performance, and provides recommended ratings of record.
- Identifies developmental and training needs of employees; provides and/or arranges for needed development and training.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- A two-year trial/probationary period may be required.
- This position requires the incumbent to maintain active bar membership, 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.
- Position requires all employees assigned to a MTF are required to be screened for applicable immunizations regardless of series, based on occupational risk, and are subject to missing/required immunizations IAW AR 40-562, Chapters 3 and 4.
- Physical exam may be required.
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 legal issues and conducting relevant legal research within Legal Assistance, Administrative Law, or Health Law.
- Skill in administrative hearings practice.
- Skill in oral and written advocacy.
- 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/.
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.