Attorney-Adviser; General

About the Position

Serves as an Attorney‑Adviser (General) in the DHA Office of General Counsel. This position is located in Aurora, Colorado. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

US Citizens

• Skill in identifying legal issues and conducting relevant legal research.
• 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.

There is no formal rating system for applying veteran’s preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Defense Health Agency considers veteran’s preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran’s preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documents (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.

If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government, the applicant must have completed 52 weeks 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 as the position being filled. Time‑in‑grade may be waived for current federal employees at management’s discretion.

An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD).

Applicant must currently be a member in good standing of 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. The document should be dated within three months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered but not arrived, a screenshot of the certificate, clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days, may be provided to validate active status.

Applicant must have two (2) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the Bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.