Attorney-Advisor (Contracts)-DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

The Air Force offers qualified applicants opportunities to be hired for certain occupations covered by Direct Hire Authorities (DHA). The use of DHA is a fast-track method of hiring applicants from the public with no prior federal status using a non-traditional method of recruitment.

To find additional information on "What Is DHA" and to view and/or apply to current DHA opportunities listed on Air Force Civilian Service's "Direct Hire Job Board", please click here. 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 within last 4 months, 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.

1. Serves as legal advisor on Government Contract matters
2. Provides legal assistance to active duty military, dependents, eligible DOD civilians, retirees, and other DOD cardholders, constant with Air Force Instructions and legal office policy.
3. Provdes legal advice advice, opinions and couseling concerning matters of acquisition administrative law. ethics, standard of conducts, commerical law, interllecal property law, public-private partnerships and depot maintaince activities

Ideal candidate:
Knowledge of laws, regulations, precedents and procedures related to Federal Government acquisition, fiscal, foreign military sales, and ethics law.
Ability to recognize and appropriately handle issues of precedent setting nature, sensitivity, or importance to agency goals, national and international security, or high public interest. Ability to make legally sound logical decisions and skill in applying the law to specific situations. You must possess skill in the presentation of and in opposition to evidence and arguments made in third-party proceedings, with the skill in writing sound and persuasive opinions, memoranda, briefs, reports, plans, and pleadings.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: 1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) and, for assignment to a civilian attorney position within the Department of Defense, OGC, or DLSA, active membership in the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. The Military Departments may also extend the requirement for active bar membership to assignment of civilian attorneys within their respective Departments. In addition, one of the following requirements must be satisfied:

1. Two years of professional legal experience at or equivalent to the NSPS YA1/YA2/GS-11 level/ NH-02 level.
2. The second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus 1 year of professional legal experience at or equivalent to the NSPS YA1 or GS-11 level/ NH-02.

--AND--

An attorney without experience may, in unusual cases, be employed at the GS-12 or equivalent level provided the individual has advanced educational attainments substantially beyond those required for work at the GS-11 or equivalent level, and his or her education clearly indicates ability to perform work of the type to be assigned; for example, education that included courses directly pertinent to the work of the agency. The essential point in such cases is to ensure that the individual's education has enabled him or her to step into complex legal work characteristic of the GS-12 or equivalent level, and to operate with the degree of independence and responsibility typical of that level.

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. Skill in representing and advocating for the Air Force at all levels of the Federal Government
2. Skills in presentation of an opposition to, arguments and evidence made in third party proceeding and other settings
3. Skill in writing sound and persuasive memorandum, briefs, reports, plans, and pleading
4. Ability to research case law and Air force and DoD regulations relating to legal issues
5. Ability to recognize, coordinate, and review he concentrated efforts of teams of personnel from the legal. acquisition, program management, contracting, engineering, logistics, and career fields
6. Ability to direct, coordinate, and review the concentrated efforts of teams of personnel from legal, acquisition,, program management, contracting, engineering, logistics, and other career fields
7. Ability to communicate well, both orally, and in writing
8. Ability to effectively interpret and apply case law and recommend change in legislation, policy, or regulation
9. Knowledge of laws, regulations, precedents and procedures related to federal government acquisitions, fiscal, foreign, military sales, and ethic law