Closing Date: 7th September, 2026
Description:
Summary:This position is located in the Postsecondary Education Division of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). OGC provides legal counsel and advice to the Secretary of Education.
Duties:
This is an Excepted Service position. The job will be filled by alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position are subject to a one-year trial period. Join our Team! The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is looking for the best and brightest to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation.
As a General Attorney (Grants and Litigation), GS-0905-14, you will be responsible for:
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Condition of Employment:
Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Key Requirement (trial period) - As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Key Requirements:
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy 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. We will consider all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-14:
Has obtained the first professional law degree or training which is permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at the law school
And
Is an Active Member in Good Standing in The Bar of A State, Territory of The United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
And
Has Four Years Professional Legal Experience, at Least One of The Four Years Must Be at The Level of Difficulty and Responsibility Equivalent to That of An Attorney at The Grade Immediately Below the One Being Filled,
Or
Has Three Years Professional Legal Experience, at Least One of The Three Years Must Be at The Level of Difficulty and Responsibility Equivalent to That of An Attorney at The Grade Immediately Below the One Being Filled, Plus a Second Professional Law Degree (ll.M.) Which Requires One Full Year of Graduate Study
Or
Has Three Years Professional Legal Experience, at Least One of The Three Years Must Be at The Level of Difficulty and Responsibility Equivalent to That of An Attorney at The Grade Immediately Below the One Being Filled, Plus Record Shows Superior Law Schoolwork or Activities as Demonstrated by One of The Following:
Note: For Purposes of Counting the Number of Years of Legal Experience After Graduating from Law School, Equivalent Writing and Legal Analysis Performed as A Judicial Law Clerk Will Be Considered Even if The Applicant Was Not Admitted to The Bar at The Time.
And
Specialized Experience for The Gs-14:
One Year of Experience in Either Federal or Non-Federal Service that Is Equivalent to At Least a Gs-13 Performing Two (2) out Of Three (3) of The Following Duties or Work Assignments:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (ks As) the Quality of Your Experience Will Be Measured by The Extent to Which You Possess the Following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (ks As). You Do Not Need to Provide Separate Narrative Responses to These Ks As, as They Will Be Measured by Your Responses to The Occupational Questionnaire (you May Preview the Occupational Questionnaire by Clicking the Link at The End of The Evaluations Section of This Vacancy Announcement).
1. Knowledge of Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, and The Law Relating to Federal Education Programs, Ie the Complex Provisions of The General Education Provisions Act. (more of A Ksa) and Federal Grants Management Knowledge of 2 Cfr Part 200 (uniform Guidance).
2. Skill in Managing Complex Litigation, Including Preparing Legal Briefs, Handling Administrative Records and Discovery, and Representing the Agency.
Education:
Education Cannot Be Substituted for Experience for This Position and Grade Level.
Additional Information:
Veterans' Career Counseling: If You Are a Veteran Interested in Receiving Tips on Preparing a Federal Resume And/or how To Prepare for An Interview, You May Email Careers@ed.Gov to Schedule a Session with A Career Counselor ("veterans Counseling Session" Should Be Placed in The Subject Line of The Email).
Student Loan Default: If Selected for This Positi
As a General Attorney (Grants and Litigation), GS-0905-14, you will be responsible for:
- Serving as liaison with the Department of Justice in litigation relating to those programs, and drafts and reviews briefs, memos, motions, stipulations, and other litigation- related documents.
- Providing legal advice on the administration of the Department's grant programs, including, but not limited to, grant and cooperative agreement programs authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014.
- Supporting the Department in grants related litigation, including representing the Department before the Office of Administrative Law Judges; drafting, editing, and reviewing legal briefs; managing administrative record and discovery issues; and coordinating the exchange of technical information between program offices and the Department of Justice.
- Providing legal counsel in the development and drafting of regulations for new programs related to his or her assigned education area and in redrafting existing regulations to reflect legislative changes.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Condition of Employment:
- As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a probationary period or trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Key Requirement (trial period) - As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Key Requirements:
- Must be a US Citizen.
- Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
- Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
- Relocation expenses will not be paid.
- You may be subject to serve a one-year trial period.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-14:
Has obtained the first professional law degree or training which is permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at the law school
And
Is an Active Member in Good Standing in The Bar of A State, Territory of The United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
And
Has Four Years Professional Legal Experience, at Least One of The Four Years Must Be at The Level of Difficulty and Responsibility Equivalent to That of An Attorney at The Grade Immediately Below the One Being Filled,
Or
Has Three Years Professional Legal Experience, at Least One of The Three Years Must Be at The Level of Difficulty and Responsibility Equivalent to That of An Attorney at The Grade Immediately Below the One Being Filled, Plus a Second Professional Law Degree (ll.M.) Which Requires One Full Year of Graduate Study
Or
Has Three Years Professional Legal Experience, at Least One of The Three Years Must Be at The Level of Difficulty and Responsibility Equivalent to That of An Attorney at The Grade Immediately Below the One Being Filled, Plus Record Shows Superior Law Schoolwork or Activities as Demonstrated by One of The Following:
- Academic Standing in The Upper Third of The Law School Graduating Class.
- Work or Achievement of Significance on His/her Law School's Official Law Review.
- Special High-Level Honors for Academic Excellence in Law School, Such as Election to The Order of The Coif.
- Winning of A Moot Court Competition or Membership on The Moot Court Team that Represents the Law School in Competition with Other Law Schools.
- Full-Time or Continuous Participation, for One Year or Two Semesters of Law School, in A Legal Aid Program (as Opposed to One-Time, Intermittent, or Casual Participation).
- Significant Summer Law Office Clerk Experience After Beginning Law School.
- Other Equivalent Evidence of Clearly Superior Achievement.
Note: For Purposes of Counting the Number of Years of Legal Experience After Graduating from Law School, Equivalent Writing and Legal Analysis Performed as A Judicial Law Clerk Will Be Considered Even if The Applicant Was Not Admitted to The Bar at The Time.
And
Specialized Experience for The Gs-14:
One Year of Experience in Either Federal or Non-Federal Service that Is Equivalent to At Least a Gs-13 Performing Two (2) out Of Three (3) of The Following Duties or Work Assignments:
- Experience Conducting Litigation and Program Counseling by Independently Drafting Briefs, Motions, and Legal Opinions; Managing Administrative Records; Coordinating with A Federal Law Enforcement Agency or Equivalent (i.E. the Department of Justice); and Providing Day-To-Day Legal Advice on Grant Program Operations without Supervisory Review.
- Experience Developing, Drafting, and Revising Regulations, Guidance, and Program Documents to Ensure Alignment with Statutory Requirements and Agency Policy Goals; Meeting Directly with Program Staff to Formulate Regulatory Text and Resolve Legal Issues Involving Education Grant Programs.
- Experience Performing Transactional and Negotiation Work for Federal Education Grants or Equivalent, Including Reviewing Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms for Legal Sufficiency, Advising on Compliance Under 2 Cfr Part 200, and Negotiating Resolutions with Internal Offices, Other Agencies, and External Stakeholders to Address Complex Programmatic or Legal Issues.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (ks As) the Quality of Your Experience Will Be Measured by The Extent to Which You Possess the Following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (ks As). You Do Not Need to Provide Separate Narrative Responses to These Ks As, as They Will Be Measured by Your Responses to The Occupational Questionnaire (you May Preview the Occupational Questionnaire by Clicking the Link at The End of The Evaluations Section of This Vacancy Announcement).
1. Knowledge of Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, and The Law Relating to Federal Education Programs, Ie the Complex Provisions of The General Education Provisions Act. (more of A Ksa) and Federal Grants Management Knowledge of 2 Cfr Part 200 (uniform Guidance).
2. Skill in Managing Complex Litigation, Including Preparing Legal Briefs, Handling Administrative Records and Discovery, and Representing the Agency.
Education:
Education Cannot Be Substituted for Experience for This Position and Grade Level.
Additional Information:
Veterans' Career Counseling: If You Are a Veteran Interested in Receiving Tips on Preparing a Federal Resume And/or how To Prepare for An Interview, You May Email Careers@ed.Gov to Schedule a Session with A Career Counselor ("veterans Counseling Session" Should Be Placed in The Subject Line of The Email).
Student Loan Default: If Selected for This Positi
