Closing Date: 25th September, 2026
Description:
Summary:The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is looking for an experienced attorney to serve in the new Information Law Unit (ILU). This attorney has the opportunity to assist in the development of the programs they will be implementing, including FOIA, the Privacy Act, and records management.
Duties:
Why Join OSC?
OSC is a mission-driven agency with incredibly dedicated employees.
Unit Overview
The Information Law Unit (ILU) is a new unit that is responsible for running OSC's information-law programs and providing agency-wide expertise and training on information law topics, including FOIA, the Privacy Act, and records management. The ILU is part of OSC's Office of General Counsel.
Duties:
Under the supervision or mentorship of experienced attorneys, you may be responsible for:
Ideal Candidate:
We are looking for candidates who bring enthusiasm to information law and dedication to the privilege of public service, think big picture and pay attention to detail, and work well within a team setting. The ideal candidate will have experience in FOIA, Privacy Act, or records (such as retention, CUI practices, or NARA regulations or systems). Flexibility and a strong commitment to OSC's statutory mission are essential.
Positions may be filled at any GS grade level (11 through 14) depending on applicant experience.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
Education Qualifications for all positions: A professional law degree (L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
In addition to Education, applicants must meet the minimum Experience Requirements outlined below:
Your resume must explicitly outline your qualifications. We will not make assumptions about your experience.
Note: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0905 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards
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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above.
Annual Leave Accrual Credit
Selectees for their first Federal position may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credited will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant resume and documentation submitted.
Additional Information:
Active-Duty Service Members: In accordance with VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-56), current military members may apply by submitting a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain: (1) your rank; (2) dates of active duty service; (3) type of discharge and projected character of service (i.e. honorable); (4) projected Veteran's preference, if applicable; (5) date terminal leave begins, if applicable; (6) date of expected discharge or release that is within 120 days of your employment application submission; and (7) signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. If selected, your qualifying separation, veteran's preference, and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active-duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found to have an incomplete application. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if on terminal leave.
Selective Service: Individuals born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. You can find more information on Who Must Register and Exemptions here (https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register). In addition, you can find more information on what to do if you failed to register here. (https://www.sss.gov/verify/sil/)
Developmental Position: This position can be filled at any grade level for which the applicant is qualified. If filled at the lower grade level, noncompetitive promotion to the next grade level is authorized but not guaranteed. It is dependent upon meeting time-in-grade requirements, specialized experience, required training and any other management requirements to demonstrate ability to perform the next higher/target grade level.
These are not Bargaining Unit positions.
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:
OSC is a mission-driven agency with incredibly dedicated employees.
Unit Overview
The Information Law Unit (ILU) is a new unit that is responsible for running OSC's information-law programs and providing agency-wide expertise and training on information law topics, including FOIA, the Privacy Act, and records management. The ILU is part of OSC's Office of General Counsel.
Duties:
Under the supervision or mentorship of experienced attorneys, you may be responsible for:
- Providing legal review, analysis, and advice regarding the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act (PA);
- Processing FOIA and PA requests (includes developing searches, review of documents, assessment of exclusions and exemptions, and applicability of relevant laws);
- Independently analyzing data about withholdings and releases and preparing accurate and timely reporting;
- Providing legal advice and guidance on issues pertaining to privacy, FOIA, records management, and other relevant areas of law;
- Preparing draft correspondence and documentation, including justifications for denials and exemptions and expedited processing determinations;
- Other related information-law duties.
Ideal Candidate:
We are looking for candidates who bring enthusiasm to information law and dedication to the privilege of public service, think big picture and pay attention to detail, and work well within a team setting. The ideal candidate will have experience in FOIA, Privacy Act, or records (such as retention, CUI practices, or NARA regulations or systems). Flexibility and a strong commitment to OSC's statutory mission are essential.
Positions may be filled at any GS grade level (11 through 14) depending on applicant experience.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- U.S. Citizenship or National authorized to work in the U.S.
- E-Verify will be used to confirm employment eligibility on new employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
- May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
- May be eligible for incentive pay.
- May be eligible for superior qualifications/special needs pay setting.
- Direct Deposit of pay is required.
- Suitable for Federal employment as determined by appropriate background investigation.
- Individuals born after 12-31-1959 and required to register for Selective Service under the Military Selective Service Act of 50 USC App. 453, must be registered or otherwise exempt from Selective Service. See "Additional Information" section below.
Qualifications:
Education Qualifications for all positions: A professional law degree (L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
In addition to Education, applicants must meet the minimum Experience Requirements outlined below:
- Position Title Bar Membership Legal Experience Requirements
- GS-11, Attorney-Adviser Required ** None
- GS-11, Law Clerk N/A Law school graduates who have not yet been admitted to the bar and who have not served in a judicial clerkship may be temporarily employed at the GS-11 level, not to exceed 14 months as law clerk trainees
- GS-12, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 1 year of professional legal experience post bar admission.
- GS-12, Law Clerk N/A Law school graduates who have not yet been admitted to the bar and who have served one year in a judicial clerkship may be temporarily employed at the GS-12 level, not to exceed 14 months as law clerk trainees
- GS-13, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 2 years of professional legal experience post bar admission, with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level
- GS-14, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 3 years of professional legal experience post bar admission with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 level
Your resume must explicitly outline your qualifications. We will not make assumptions about your experience.
Note: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0905 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards
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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above.
Annual Leave Accrual Credit
Selectees for their first Federal position may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credited will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant resume and documentation submitted.
Additional Information:
Active-Duty Service Members: In accordance with VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-56), current military members may apply by submitting a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain: (1) your rank; (2) dates of active duty service; (3) type of discharge and projected character of service (i.e. honorable); (4) projected Veteran's preference, if applicable; (5) date terminal leave begins, if applicable; (6) date of expected discharge or release that is within 120 days of your employment application submission; and (7) signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. If selected, your qualifying separation, veteran's preference, and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active-duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found to have an incomplete application. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if on terminal leave.
Selective Service: Individuals born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. You can find more information on Who Must Register and Exemptions here (https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register). In addition, you can find more information on what to do if you failed to register here. (https://www.sss.gov/verify/sil/)
Developmental Position: This position can be filled at any grade level for which the applicant is qualified. If filled at the lower grade level, noncompetitive promotion to the next grade level is authorized but not guaranteed. It is dependent upon meeting time-in-grade requirements, specialized experience, required training and any other management requirements to demonstrate ability to perform the next higher/target grade level.
These are not Bargaining Unit positions.
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:
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. (https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits?_gl=1*j16v3x*_ga*NjQ0MjQ5MzQ5LjE3MjU1OTI5OTA.*_ga_CLZB1LJ1VZ*czE3ODg1NzgyMzYkbzI2JGcxJHQxNzg4NTc4MjQ2JGo1MCRsMCRoMA..)
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will b
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will b
