Closing Date: 27th January, 2026
Description:
Summary:This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), General Law Division (GLD).
The primary purpose of this position is to provide legal advice, counsel, recommendations, and drafting assistance to DHS officials on a variety of General Law matters.
Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.
Duties:
As an Attorney-Advisor (General), GS-0905-13/14/15, you will perform some of the following duties. The duties assigned will be determined by the needs of the Department and the specific experience of the successful applicant:
View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. (https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/common-terms-announcements)
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
Basic Requirements:
- Ensure that Administrative Law issues are properly considered in Departmental planning and policy development; conducting complex legal research and analysis and develop memoranda or present results to senior officials in a clear, precise, and persuasive manner while keeping supervisors fully informed.
- Provide written and oral advice to senior levels of the Department's leadership regarding authorities of the Department including, but not limited to: the Homeland Security Act; Federal Advisory Committee Act compliance; Federal Vacancies Reform Act compliance, Appointments Clause and Separation of Powers issues, delegations and designations of authority, orders of succession issues; review of the Department's directives and instructions, organization and structure; Administrative Procedures Act compliance; and litigation associated with challenges to the Department's authority.
- Provide legal counsel, advice, recommendations, and drafting assistance to the Committee Management Office, Components of the Department and the Department's leadership on the application of the laws Federal Advisory Committees.
- Review, investigate, and resolve Headquarters-related Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) administrative claims; resolve requests for Departmental information in third-party litigation; and manage litigation matters related to tort claims and individual capacity claims.
- Support various clients, both at Headquarters and Components, by reviewing and advising in the areas of environmental law compliance, real and personal property management; vehicle and travel issues; home-to-work policy; Memorandums of Agreement/Understanding; delegations and designations; and tribal affairs.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- You must successfully pass a background investigation.
- You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
- You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
- You must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
- Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
Qualifications:
Basic Requirements:
GS-13:
GS-14 and GS-15:
Specialized Experience:
The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.
You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal government.
Specialized experience is experience providing legal advice and representation on matters related to the legal topics listed in the "Duties" section above. A successful applicant must have experience in some, but not necessarily all, of the legal topics listed in the "Duties" section above. .
Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
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.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education:
Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. (https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/common-terms-announcements)
Additional Information:
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans (https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/#content), Peace Corps (https://www.peacecorps.gov/returned-volunteers/careers/noncompetitive-eligibility/), VISTA volunteers (https://www.vistacampus.gov/after-vista/career), and persons with disabilities (http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/) possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.
This position may be filled at the GS-13, GS-14 or GS-15 level. If selection is made at the GS-13 or 14 level, promotion to the highest level may occur without further competition.
You will be required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Form.
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this positio
- The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
- Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two (2) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position, or two years of judicial clerkship.
- The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
- Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.
Specialized Experience:
The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide specific detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.
You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the federal government. You qualify for the GS-15 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal government.
Specialized experience is experience providing legal advice and representation on matters related to the legal topics listed in the "Duties" section above. A successful applicant must have experience in some, but not necessarily all, of the legal topics listed in the "Duties" section above. .
Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.
All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
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.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education:
Applicants must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. You must submit a copy of both your law school and college transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the position.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. (https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/common-terms-announcements)
Additional Information:
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans (https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/#content), Peace Corps (https://www.peacecorps.gov/returned-volunteers/careers/noncompetitive-eligibility/), VISTA volunteers (https://www.vistacampus.gov/after-vista/career), and persons with disabilities (http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/) possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.
This position may be filled at the GS-13, GS-14 or GS-15 level. If selection is made at the GS-13 or 14 level, promotion to the highest level may occur without further competition.
You will be required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Form.
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this positio
