Air Force Legal Operations Agency

Summary
The primary purpose of this position is to provide specialized professional legal advice and services as senior litigation attorney for the Air Force's Environmental Restoration Program (ERP), and as a senior level litigation attorney for environmental legal litigation practice on all environmental matters.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help

• Incumbent is responsible for highly specialized, professional litigation involving the Air Force's legally and technically complex, multi-billion dollar, high mission impact cleanup program involving federal, state and local environmental statutes, rules, regulations and policy. Incumbent maintains currency in a wide range of laws, regulations, policy and guidance impacting environmental restoration, base realignment and closure, real property law and government procurement law as assigned by the Litigation Center Chief and his/her designee(s).
• Incumbent is recognized as a subject matter expert in complex litigation involving all aspects of environmental, occupational safety and health, property and/or cultural and natural resources laws, rules and regulations. The incumbent gives legal advice and provides legal opinions on questions involving environmental restoration under any relevant statute or regulation, including, but not limited to the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), occupational safety and health, natural and cultural resources and property law issues.
• Represents the interests of the Air Force in environmental, occupational safety and health, property, and natural and cultural resources related litigation and administrative proceedings in state and federal courts and administrative venues. In both civil and administrative litigation, incumbent is responsible for preparing legal memoranda and briefs to identify the relevant precedent and Air Force interest in the matter at hand and to develop an Air Force position and litigation strategy. Administrative litigation typically is of an enforcement nature.
• As a primary expert in designated areas of environmental, occupational safety and health, natural and cultural resources, and property law, the incumbent continually builds upon that expertise and ensures that the benefits of that expertise and experience are shared with other Air Force attorneys and with DoD as a whole. Incumbent prepares and conducts legal training so that judge advocates and other DoD attorney advisors stay current in these rapidly changing, highly technical fields.

Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
• Attorney appointments are subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Candidates are not required to have active duty service or veterans' preference to be referred and considered. All qualified candidates who meet the recruitment assessment criteria will be referred to the selecting official.
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Work occasionally requires travel away from the normal duty station
• Must be able to obtain and retain up to a SECRET Security Clearance

Qualifications
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• You MUST have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD).
• In addition, at the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status with a bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status.

Specialized Experience: In addition to the basic requirement: you must have professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that commensurate with the position's duties and responsibilities.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
1. Must have a law degree (JD) from a recognized law school and be a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a state or the District of Columbia or other federal bar, as appropriate. Extensive environmental law and/or litigation experience and/or a master of laws (LL.M.) in environmental/natural resource law is required.
2. Must have the skill and ability to conduct complex legal research and a familiarity with the research resources most commonly involved in environmental, occupational safety and health, natural and cultural resources and property laws. This includes various statutes, Department of Defense and Air Force policy and guidance, the United States Code, court opinions, the Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Evidence, etc.
3. The incumbent must have in-depth experience as a practicing environmental law attorney and possess at least three years of relevant experience. This position requires a fully qualified attorney licensed and admitted to the practice of law in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. The incumbent must be thoroughly competent in federal civil procedure, environmental and natural resources law and knowledgeable in administrative and general law.
4. Must be highly skilled in written and oral advocacy in order to prepare and present written briefs and oral arguments on behalf of the Air Force. Must possess knowledge of research databases and resources such as Westlaw, Lexis, etc.
5. Must possess superior negotiation skills and be capable of rational, logical thinking in order to formulate, coordinate and present the government's legal position before senior attorneys assigned to various government agencies as well as the court.
6. Previous experience in the use of computer word processing software such as Microsoft applications, etc. is highly desirable, but is not required. Experience working within a large and complex legal organization is desirable but is not required. Similarly, experience working at high levels within the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, and the Department of Justice is desirable, but is not a requirement.
At the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status and in good standing with a bar of the highest court of a State, US commonwealth, US territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status and dated within four months of application.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must have a law degree (JD) from an accredited law school and be a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a state or the District of Columbia or other Federal Bar, as appropriate, and at least 12 years of related experience. A master of laws (LL.M.) in a related field will count for three (3) years of experience.

Education
Must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, and be currently licensed as an attorney, in active (or equivalent) status and in good standing, with the bar of a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth. The attorney must maintain such bar membership in at least one jurisdiction during the entire course of employment with the Air Force.
Additional information
Employed Annuitants (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. Click here for more information.
Writing Example: Prior to receiving an offer, you will be asked to provide a writing sample demonstrating your legal analytical skills.
120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.
Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
Incentives: Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.
Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.
If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.
Expand Hide additional information
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.
Benefits
Help
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.
Review our 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.