Closing Date: 12th December, 2025
Description:
Summary:Launch a prestigious career as an Attorney with ICE's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA)! Join a legal team dedicated to defending the nation's immigration laws and safeguarding the United States with expertise and integrity.
This role offers up to $50,000 in signing and retention bonuses. If you're a passionate legal professional and ready to serve your country, join OPLA and become a vital part of homeland security!
Duties:
ICE's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor's (OPLA) Executive Communications Unit (ECU) is seeking one or more attorneys for an Associate Legal Advisor position in Washington, D.C. ECU primarily coordinates and processes the legal advice provided to ICE program offices and other stakeholders on a wide array of legal issues and Agency matters. Assignments within ECU are fast-paced and involve high-profile work. Key responsibilities include the following:
- Assess and manage the assignment and workflow of tasks issued by ICE Office of the Director, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the DHS Office of the General Counsel (OGC), OPLA leadership, and OPLA management officials often within short deadlines. Examples of tasks include requests for legal review; executive correspondence; agency responses to congressional and media inquiries; changes to proposed policies and rulemaking; senior leadership briefing materials; requests for legal opinions, and information related to ICE's immigration enforcement and other authorities; and requests for information related to OPLA's mission and areas of responsibilities.
- Manage specific portfolios, including general audits with the ICE Audit liaison Office and audits by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
- Coordinate responses to Congressional notices and updates, Congressional private bills, and Questions for the Record (QRF).
- Recommend and develop efficiencies in document management and tasking clearance procedures to include ensuring the consistency and quality of internal and external communications.
- Other special projects and initiatives as assigned by OPLA Leadership.
OPLA is the largest legal program in DHS OGC, employing nearly 3,000 attorneys nationwide. In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 24 OPLA Field Locations in more than 90 cities throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.
OPLA provides legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal and employment law. OPLA represents the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Civilian Board of contract Appeals. OPLA attorneys support DOJ in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE.
OPLA will ensure that applicants with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations when appropriate. If reasonable accommodation is required for any part of the application process, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.
One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement.
General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages. (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/)
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug test for federal employment.
- Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
- You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs).
- You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- You may be required to serve a two-year trial period if the requirement has not been met.
- Current OPLA attorneys must have completed two years of service with OPLA by the announcement closeout to be considered for this position.
- You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
Qualifications:
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Applicants should be able to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, synthesize information from a broad array of sources, prioritize competing assignments, and work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units. Applicants should be detail-oriented and have a strong interest in supporting and providing stellar client services to diverse program offices, including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership, and must be able to tailor communications to a particular audience. Applicants should be able to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner. Applicants should possess the following characteristics and competencies: integrity, sound professional judgment, organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, stellar client services, the ability to function independently and cooperatively, and strong written and oral communication skills.
Bar Membership: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
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 five 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.
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 C.F.R. 213.3102(u), and Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. 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.
Education:
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or LLM degree.
A student loan repayment incentive may be available; if such an incentive is available and is authorized, a service agreement will be required.
Additional Information:
E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify (http://www.e-verify.gov/) including your rights and responsibilities.
Bargaining Unit Status: This is a non-bargaining position.
Promotion Potential: This position has promotion potential to the GS-15 level. When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform duties at a higher level and administrative approval.
