Attorney-Adviser

Summary

About the Position: This position is in support of the DHA Office of General Counsel, located in Falls Church, Virginia. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Duties

Manage fraud cases by determining and coordinating optimal civil, criminal, and administrative remedies.

Coordinate with government partners, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and criminal investigators, providing direct litigation support, and delivering official agency analysis on legal matters such as settlements.

Responsible for the entire suspension and debarment process, from analyzing referrals and preparing administrative records to drafting decisions for the Suspension and Debarment Official (SDO).

Support Department of Justice (DOJ), Defense Health Agency’s Office of Inspector General, and other relevant stakeholders on TRICARE program-related healthcare fraud and abuse matters..

Represent the government in adversarial proceedings and hearings, such as those before the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for bid protests and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals for appeals.

Support the Department of Justice (DOJ) in civil litigation that significantly impacts the Military Health System (MHS), Defense Health Agency, and the TRICARE program, often involving millions of dollars and complex policy issues.

Review complex contractual documents and provisions for legal sufficiency and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policy.

Formulate the government’s legal position on claims, disputes, and appeals, often against top-tier law firms.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position: Skill in identifying contracting and acquisition legal issues Ability to prepare litigation reports and briefings Skill in oral and written advocacy. Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs. NOTICE OF VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: 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. (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/). TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: If currently employed as an attorney by the Federal Government 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. The following minimum qualification requirements must be met before applicants are eligible for further consideration: Education: An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD). Bar Membership: 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. Document should be dated within three months of the date the application is submitted. If the document has been ordered, but not arrived, you may provide a screenshot of your certificate (clearly showing a time/date within the last 90 days) which validates your active status. Experience Required for the NH-04: Applicant must have three (3) or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the Bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Evaluations

Your application package (resume and supporting documents) will be evaluated for basic qualification requirements and for the skills needed to perform the duties of the position, as described in this vacancy announcement and identified by the Selecting Official. Veteran's preference requirements do not apply to attorney positions in the excepted service, however the principles of veteran's preference will be followed to the extent which is administratively feasible. Time in Grade: The Qualifying Authorities (QA's) will make a determination as to the applicability of time in grade based on the requirements of the position. If you are currently employed as an attorney by the Federal government you must have completed one year 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 level as the position being filled.

How to apply To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/02/2026 to receive consideration To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13094645). Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. NOTE: The maximum number of pages accepted for a resume is TWO pages. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit:https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Other information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. A two-year trial period may be required if new to federal service. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances are not authorized. You may claim military spouse preference. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.