The Defense Commissary Agency is located on Fort Lee, in the greater Richmond, VA area (RVA). Richmond is a popular travel destination with a reputation for good food as well as local vineyards, breweries and distilleries. Virginia, including the Fort Lee and RVA areas, is rich in history and culture with easy access to myriad outdoor activities. Popular nearby destinations include Washington, D.C., Charlottesville and Williamsburg, VA, and Virginia Beach. It is also only a couple of hours away from the Blue Ridge Mountains and other popular east coast beaches as well as state and national parks and wildlife refuges.


The Office of General Counsel, DeCA, has a robust and varied legal practice in support of DeCA and its mission. Our attorneys provide legal advice, counsel and representation in substantive areas including federal labor and employment law, commercial law, fiscal law, procurement law, construction law, environmental law, government standards of conduct and ethics, administrative law, and issues arising under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. Our attorneys represent DeCA before various administrative bodies and provide litigation support to U.S. Attorney Offices for matters pending in Federal courts.

As an Assistant General Counsel for Commercial Law, the incumbent reports to the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law and assists in discharging the responsibility of DeCA OGC to provide legal advice, counsel and representation in all aspects of the commercial law portfolio, including but not limited to contracts, fiscal law, environmental law, government ethics and standards of conduct, construction law, international law, administrative and civil law, the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, business law, intellectual property and data rights, issues of statutory and regulatory interpretation and the drafting of proposed legislation. The incumbent independently performs in-depth legal research and analysis, as well as writing briefs, legal memoranda, and other documents. The incumbent represents the agency before third parties, including but not limited to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and the Government Accountability Office, and is responsible for the investigation, preparation and presentation of the agency's positions and defenses before such tribunals. The incumbent addresses difficult and novel legal policy questions where frequently there is an absence of clearly applicable precedents. The incumbent provides support to the Department of Justice in matters litigated in Federal courts. The incumbent may perform the duties of the Deputy General Counsel for Commercial Law in his/her absence and other duties as assigned.

This position is in the Excepted Service

The Defense Commissary Agency is an Equal Employment Opportunity Agency

Who May Apply: U.S. citizens.

Notice of Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of 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 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 an SF 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. (SF15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at www.opm.gov.) If two of more applicants for an attorney position are determined to be equally "best qualified" for the position, but one of the applicants is a preference eligible veteran, the preference eligible veteran has preference over the non-preference eligible applicant.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Occasional Travel
• Business travel is required less than 20% of the time

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

• PCS may be authorized.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• U.S. Citizenship is Required
• Direct Deposit of Pay is Required
• Tour of Duty: Full Time
• FLSA: Exempt
• Bargaining Unit: No
• License/Certification: Bar Certificate of Good Standing in Active Status

To apply, please e-mail your 2-page resume and cover letter to the DoW OGC Resume Bank at osd.pentagon.ogc.mbx.dodogcresumebank@mail.mil and also send a copy to deca.lee.hq.mbx.general-counsel@mail.mil. The subject line of your e-mail should state "Resume File [APPLICANT'S LAST NAME, FIRST NAME], Office of General Counsel, Defense Commissary Agency.

Your resume and cover letter must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on [insert day and date].

Documents to be submitted later:

1) An example of writing skills demonstrated by a legal brief, memorandum, letter, etc. (five pages or less).

2) If the applicant is a current Federal employee, a copy of the applicant's most recent performance appraisal (or an explanation of why a performance appraisal cannot be provided), plus the applicant's most recent non-award SF-50 or DD3434.

3) Applicants who are not currently serving in a DoD civilian attorney position must also submit:

a) a transcript of the applicant's law school records with an official statement of his/her relative standing in his/her class, if obtainable. A copy of the transcript is acceptable for the application but the official transcript must be submitted prior to entrance on duty;

b) a certificate showing active membership of a qualifying state bar (see Bar Membership above). A copy is acceptable for the application but the official certificate or on-line link to verify the information, presented prior to entrance on duty.

c) a statement that his/her fitness to practice law or their conduct as an attorney has never been challenged. If fitness or conduct has been challenged, a statement explaining the circumstances must be provided.

The successful applicant will be required to submit an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, within 30 days of assuming the position.