Summary This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), District (D)13, D13 Command Cadre, D13 Legal Staff (DL), in Seattle, WA. Responsibilities In this position, you will serve as a Legal Assistance Attorney under the general supervision of the Staff Judge Advocate, furnishing legal counsel, advice, and services to individuals eligible for legal assistance within the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include: Rendering substantive advice guidance and services for estate planning, including probating issues, tax implications related to death, by-pass trusts, credit shelter trusts, special needs trusts, Uniform Gift to Minors Act, Uniform Trust for Minors Act, guardianship, child welfare trusts, and advanced medical directives. Drafting wills, trusts and others documents necessary to properly complete an estate plan; drafting military testamentary instruments; drafting medical directives; rendering substantive advice regarding landlord-tenant disputes; rendering substantive advice regarding consumer affairs matters, etc. Assist eligible personnel with legal problems occasioned by deployment, including periodic pre-deployment briefings to crews of high and medium-endurance cutters and other deployable Coast Guard units. Providing legal assistance to Reserve members being recalled to active duty; such mobilization may result in a temporary "surge" in legal assistance cases with relatively large numbers of eligible personnel needing assistance in a short period of time. Drafting pleadings, client correspondence, settlement agreements and other written documents in support of all practice areas. Representing clients in judicial, quasi-judicial, and administrative hearings. Propose instructions and directives relating to legal assistance and reviews proposed instructions and directives and those circulated by higher authority. Requirements Conditions of Employment All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Key Requirements: U.S. Citizenship is required. This position requires membership in a State Bar. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service. This position requires a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI). This position requires a valid Government Driver's License. Qualifications Basic Requirement for all grade levels: 1. You must be a graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school; AND 2. You must have bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico or the US. Virgin Islands. Minimum Experience Requirements: At least (1) one full year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the federal service performing legal work. Examples of experience include Providing legal advice; Drafting legal documents; Representing clients; Developing litigation strategy Advising on compliance with relevant laws and regulations; Assisting with dispute resolution through negotiation, mediation, or litigation. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education Education Requirements: This position has a positive education requirement. All Candidates must possess a J.D. or LL.B degree from an accredited law school; AND, must be a member in good standing of the appropriate licensing authority of any state, territory of the United States, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or District of Columbia bar. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Education's web site at click here NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Additional Information Applicants will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. Certain responses on the form could pose a problem with suitability for employment determinations. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete/make updates to the OF-306 and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, or imprisonment. DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about e-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities at click here Recruitment incentives may be authorized. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. More than 1 selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 45 days from the date the certificate was issued. If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact 571-607-1596. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation
