About the Position: This position serves as an Attorney-Advisor (Special Education) in the Americas Legal Office, located in Peachtree City, Georgia. The incumbent will serve as the lead legal advisor for special education matters in the Americas region and will provide subject matter expertise in special education law across DoDEA's global footprint.
Who May Apply: U.S. Citizens VETERAN'S PREFERENCE INFORMATION: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the Army 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. (SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preference and the required supporting documents, is available from the Office of Personnel Management Website at http://www.opm.gov/.). To successfully claim veteran's preference, your resume/supplemental data must clearly show your entitlement. In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Experience: You must have three or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as an LLM may substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience. Expertise in Special Education law, including litigation and policy development as well as experience advising on labor and employment law, administrative law, and federal education statutes is highly desirable. Bar Membership: You must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State, Territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
Serve as the subject matter expert on Special Education law, advising on compliance, policy development, and litigation risk mitigation
Provide legal counsel to DoDEA leadership, including school-level administrators, on matters involving the IDEA, Section 504, student rights, and related education law issues.
Develop and deliver legal training and tools for educators, administrators, and legal staff to support the provision of a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
Represent DoDEA in administrative and judicial proceedings, including those before the EEOC, MSPB, and other relevant forums.
Provide legal advice on labor and employment matters, including employee relations and equal opportunity.
Draft legal opinions, memoranda, and policy guidance on a wide range of legal issues affecting DoDEA operations.