Closing Date: 27th November, 2026
Description:
Summary:The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in in the Deputy General Counsel for Litigation, Office of General Counsel, Smithsonian Institution.
Duties:
The Assistant General Counsel is responsible for providing professional legal services under the supervision of the Chief Legal Officer and the Deputy General Counsel for Litigation.
In this position, you will:
- Represent the Smithsonian Institution in legal matters pending before federal adjudicating bodies (including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims, Federal Courts of Appeal, and United States District Courts).
- Conduct affirmative discovery and coordinate responses to discovery requests for matters filed in federal courts and federal administrative forums, including the preservation, identification and production of documents and responds to subpoenas.
- Identify and prepare witnesses for depositions, hearings and administrative proceedings in several administrative forums.
- Represent the Smithsonian in hearings and administrative proceedings in several federal administrative forums.
- Advise the Chief Legal Officer and SI units on the defense or settlement of such claims and cases.
- Collaborate with the Department of Justice on federal court litigation involving the Smithsonian, including claims under Title VII, ADEA, Rehabilitation Act, Equal Pay Act, Federal Tort Claims Act, bid protests, breach of contract, copyright infringement, property matters, and federal environmental laws.
- Provide legal advice in matters related to federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the ADEA, the Rehabilitation Act (including requests for reasonable accommodation), the Federal Labor Relations Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the civil service laws; the Federal Tort Claims Act; Federal Acquisition Regulations and contract law; property law; and federal environment laws.
- Provide legal advice in matters which affect the Institution's operations and activities.
- Promote and assist with the effective implementation of the Chief Legal Officer's plans and priorities.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
- May need to complete a Probationary Period
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
- Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
Conditions of Employment:
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website. (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/)
Qualifications:
There is no OPM qualification standard established for positions in the Attorney-Advisor, 0905 series, and agencies may establish their own standards for these Excepted Service positions. The following minimum qualification requirements will be used to determine if applicants are eligible for further consideration:
Education: Applicants must (1) possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.), LL.B or equivalent degree from a law school accredited by the American Association of Law Schools, and (2) be a member in good standing of the Bar of the State or the District of Columbia. You MUST submit a copy of your unofficial transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.
Bar Membership: An applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the Bar of the highest court of any state, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory or the District of Columbia. (Submit a copy of your membership)
Experience: You qualify for this position if you possess four (4) years of specialized legal experience relevant to the duties of the position, and which has enabled the applicant to perform complex legal work and to operate with a substantial degree of independence and responsibility at the grade 13 level. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience representing clients in all phases of litigation from the investigation, pleadings, and discovery stages through the pre-trial, trial, settlement, and appeal processes.
Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual 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.
Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.
Education:
There is no basic education requirement.
Additional Information:
This position is not included in the bargaining unit.
Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.
Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.
Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.
Additional Information:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits:
Bar Membership: An applicant must currently be a member in good standing of the Bar of the highest court of any state, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory or the District of Columbia. (Submit a copy of your membership)
Experience: You qualify for this position if you possess four (4) years of specialized legal experience relevant to the duties of the position, and which has enabled the applicant to perform complex legal work and to operate with a substantial degree of independence and responsibility at the grade 13 level. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience representing clients in all phases of litigation from the investigation, pleadings, and discovery stages through the pre-trial, trial, settlement, and appeal processes.
Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual 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.
Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.
Education:
There is no basic education requirement.
Additional Information:
This position is not included in the bargaining unit.
Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.
Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.
Selections may be made for vacancies across the Smithsonian Institution (SI). By applying to this position, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more SI hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.
Additional Information:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits:
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.
Please see Benefits at https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.
Flexible Spending Accounts - https://www.fsafeds.com/
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply to attorney positions. You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below. Applicants who meet the qualifications will be referred on a certificate for further consideration.
Please see Benefits at https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.
Flexible Spending Accounts - https://www.fsafeds.com/
- Health Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp
- Leave - http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp
- Life Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp
- Long Term Care Insurance - http://www.ltcfeds.com
- Retirement Program - https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply to attorney positions. You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below. Applicants who meet the qualifications will be referred on a certificate for further consideration.
- Knowledge of federal court and administrative litigation, including federal employment discrimination claims, federal tort claims, breach of contract claims, property, procurement, bid protest matters, and other federal laws affecting the Smithsonian.
- Ability to simultaneously manage multiple matters and navigate a wide range of client interests and to apply sound legal judgment to complex issues as demonstrated by past professional experience.
- Knowledge of federal court and administrative litigation, including federal employment discrimination, federal tort, breach of contract, property, procurement, bid protest, and other federal law claims affecting the Smithsonian.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of personnel, including Smithsonian executive and program officers, officials from other federal and state agencies and legal organizations and businesses, as demonstrated by past professional experience.
- Knowledge to gather and conduct research using legal and non-legal sources, formulate alternatives and to clearly communicate recommendations based on findings, as demonstrated by past professional experience.