Honors Attorney (TERM)

Summary

Attorneys provide legal advice and representation to ensure that NGA accomplishes its mission in compliance with applicable laws. They ascertain facts, analyze issues, apply legal authorities, render opinions, and advocate Agency positions. Attorneys work cooperatively with others within the office, the Agency, the Intelligence Community, the DoD, and the U.S. Government. Attorneys perform legal r

Duties

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Attorneys provide legal advice and representation to ensure that NGA accomplishes its mission in compliance with applicable laws. They ascertain facts, analyze issues, apply legal authorities, render opinions, and advocate Agency positions. Attorneys work cooperatively with others within the office, the Agency, the Intelligence Community, the DoW, and the U.S. Government. This is a three (3) year TERM appointment within NGA that may be extended not to exceed four (4) years, and is not guaranteed. ELIGIBILITY LIMITATION: Eligibility is limited to graduating law students who will graduate from law school between October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2027, and recent law school graduates who began participating, and continue to be employed in, eligibility preserving employment within 24 months of law school graduation. Eligibility preserving employment includes full-time activities starting after law school graduation which can preserve a law school graduate's eligibility for the Honors Program such as judicial clerkships or time-limited court staff attorney positions; federal agency or state government Honors Attorney programs; or legal fellowships. Candidates will be assessed based upon the information relayed in their submitted (uploaded) resume, cover letter, and supporting documentation. Please ensure all work experience details month and year of starting or concluding a position. It is important applicants fully complete the following sections of the online application within the candidate portal (https://careers.nga.mil): Start, Prequalify, Personal Information, Preferences, and Education sections of the online application. For the Work Experience and Accomplishments sections, applicants need only identify their most recent work experience and accomplishment because the assessment panel will primarily rely upon the information contained within the candidate's submitted resume and supporting documents. Applicants will be rated and ranked by an agency Qualifications Review Board using only the information submitted for consideration. As applicants for this position are undergoing a competitive process for selection, NGA has the option, subject to availability of funds, to convert the employee into a permanent NGA employee without further competition. The term employee must have a "successful or better" overall rating on the most recent performance evaluation to be eligible for conversion. This position may be eligible for a RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: This position may offer a recruitment incentive, subject to eligibility, and candidates must sign a service agreement requiring prorated repayment if the agreement is terminated before completion.

Qualifications

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement: Demonstrated experience applying critical thinking to complex problem identification, analysis and resolution to provide superior legal research and legal writing. Demonstrated ability to evaluate pertinent facts; research, analyze and apply laws, rules, and regulations; and execute legal strategies. Demonstrated ability to provide timely, accurate, and practical written and oral legal advice to enable an organizational mission consistent with applicable laws. EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Juris Doctorate degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. -AND- LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: Must be a member in good standing of a bar of a U.S. state or territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired: Special high-level recognition for academic excellence in law school, such as selection to Order of the Coif, CALI Awards, etc. Work or achievement in the law school's law review or other recognized law journal. Participation in a moot court or mock trial competition or membership on a moot court or mock trial team. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, orally and in writing. Demonstrated experience collaborating with others (i.e. clients and colleagues) to enable effective and proactive resolution of legal and policy matters. Understanding of, demonstrated interest in, and/or experience in one of the following: administrative law, intelligence law, national security law, international law, information technology law, litigation, ethics, privacy, civil liberties, intelligence oversight, acquisition law, or intellectual property law.

Requirements

SPECIAL INFO: As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards. - U.S. Citizenship - Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) - Polygraph & Drug Test - Direct Deposit - Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs. Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs. NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process. This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.

How to apply

Application submission involves applying using NGA's online application process at NGA Careers Portal. Additional information concerning NGA's hiring process can be found by visiting NGA Hiring Process. All announcements close at 11:59PM EDT on the closing date listed. Be sure to complete and submit your application by that time in order to be considered. ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Both applicants for employment and current employees of NGA are entitled to request religious accommodations from generally applicable employment-related rules and requirements, so long as the accommodation requested would not result in an undue hardship to the conduct of NGA's business. You can apply for the job opening at https://careers.nga.mil/psp/CAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=20260294&PostingSeq=2