Closing Date: 2nd November, 2026

Description:

Summary:
This position is located in the U.S Merit Systems Protection Board, Office of General Counsel, Washington, DC. MSPB oversees federal merit systems and enforces compliance with merit systems principles, statutes, and regulations, primarily through adjudicating appeals of certain agency personnel actions. As relevant to this position, OGC provides legal advice on a broad range of internal agency matters, drafts certain Board decisions, and defends the Board's decisions before the federal courts.

Duties:
The below description of duties represents the position of a non- supervisory attorney in the Office of General Counsel who is, at the full performance level, working on a mix of cases that spans the range of levels of complexity and difficulty.

The duties may include, but are not limited to:
  • Represents the Board in proceeding before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, other appellate courts, the district courts, and administrative tribunals; monitors cases litigated by the Department of Justice.
  • Prepares draft opinions and orders on petitions for enforcement, regulation review requests, and other cases assigned by the Board.
  • Prepares legal opinions of specific points of law upon request by the Board or program offices.
  • Provides legal advice on one or more of the following areas: Internal labor relations and employment matters; the Freedom of Information Act; the Privacy Act; the Sunshine Act; the MSPB's Touhy regulations; contracts, procurement and appropriations law; and the Administrative Procedure Act.
  • Supports legislative activity functions by responding to Congressional correspondence, providing briefings for Congressional staff members, and conducting analysis of bills relating to MSPB.
  • Supports the regulatory function by drafting and coordinating the issuance of Board regulations.
  • Supports the Inspector General function by conducting investigations and drafting decisions and letters.

Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
  • You must be a US Citizen.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • May be subject to satisfactory completion of a trial period.
  • Direct Deposit : Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • This position is designated a public trust position and is subject to satisfactory completion and favorable adjudication of initial background investigation as a condition of employment.

Qualifications:
To qualify, you must be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a state, Territory, or the District of Columbia and meet the following requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

GS-905-12: The first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) plus one of the following:
  • One year of professional legal experience at the level of difficulty comparable to the GS-905-11; or two years of professional legal experience, one of which must be at the level of difficulty comparable to the GS-905-11; or
  • Second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus one year of professional legal experience at the level of difficulty comparable to the GS-905-11; or
  • One year of professional experience; plus superior law student work (i.e, academic standing in the upper 1/3 of an accredited law school graduating class; work or achievement of significance on the law school's official law review or moot court board; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school-such as, election to Order of the Coif; winning of a moot court team which represents the law school in competition with other law schools, full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program-as opposed to intermittent or prior to "casual participation"; significant summer law clerk experience; or other evidence of clearly superior achievement).

GS-905-13: The first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) plus one of the following:
  • Superior law student work plus two years of professional legal experience in employment law applicable to federal employees and agencies, one of which must be at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-905-12; or
  • Three years of professional legal experience in employment law applicable to federal employees and agencies, one of which must be at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-905-12; or
  • Second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus two years of professional legal experience in employment law applicable to federal employees and agencies, one of which must be at the level of difficulty comparable to the GS-905-12.

GS-905-14: The first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) plus one of the following:
  • Superior law student work plus three years of professional legal experience in employment law applicable to federal employees and agencies, one of which must be at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-905-13; or
  • Four years of professional legal experience in employment law applicable to federal employees and agencies, one of which must be at level of difficulty comparable to the GS-905-13; or
  • Second professional law degree (LL.M.) plus three years of professional legal experience in employment law applicable to federal employees and agencies, one of which must be at the level of difficulty comparable to the GS-905-13.

Education:
Please see educational qualification requirement information above.

Transcripts are required.

Additional Information:
  • Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: 1-800-877-8339.
  • MSPB IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER and employment decisions are based on merit factors only. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in an employment decision by this agency, you have the right to seek counseling to resolve your complaint. You must do so within 45 days of the alleged discrimination action. If you desire to seek counseling, call the MSPB Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at 202 653-6772, Ext 4405.
  • Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
  • Worksite Information: This position may be eligible to telework or flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Additional information regarding ad hoc, occasional, or reoccurring telework may be obtained at a later time from the hiring manager or program during the hiring process.

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://usajobshelp.opm.gov/hc/en-us/articles/52684371945747-Benefits)

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.

Your application and assessment responses will be used to determine if you meet minimum qualification requirements. Applications will be reviewed based on the qualifications listed above as well as an applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the fo