Trial Attorney (FOIA Counsel)

Closing Date: 14th July, 2026

Description:

Job Description:
The OGC is seeking an experienced trial attorney to provide expert legal advice and guidance on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and related legal matters. The individual selected for this position will serve as the Program's expert in all FOIA matters and will be responsible for every aspect of the Program's FOIA practice. Responsibilities will also include providing legal advice and assistance in other areas of administrative law including the Privacy Act and Federal ethics laws.

Responsibilities and Opportunities Offered: The duties of the FOIA counsel will include the following:

• Handle the USTP's FOIA obligations by responding to and/or supervising responses to requests for records located in the EOUST and in the Program's field offices;
• Ensure that the Program's FOIA responses are timely, legally sufficient, concise and clearly written, and appropriately disclose the requested information in accordance with DOJ and Government-wide FOIA guidelines and relevant case law;
• Provide legal expertise and support to the U.S. Attorney's Office in connection with FOIA litigation matters in District Court, including case strategy and the preparation of pleadings and other related filings;
• Serve as the legal and technical expert on FOIA policy, processes, legislation and regulations;
• Prepare periodic reports as required by the DOJ or the Program, including the USTP's Chief FOIA Officer Report and Annual FOIA Report and prepare and post the USTP's Annual FOIA Log of frequently requested records;
• Provide advice and counseling to Program employees, supervisors, and senior leadership on all FOIA related inquiries, tracking such inquiries, and maintaining both an internal SharePoint portal and external FOIA library, with relevant, up-to-date resources and proactive disclosures;
• Ensure that all FOIA request and appeals related data is entered and maintained in the USTP's FOIA case management database;
• Analyze and evaluate the development of a system of information collections, storage, dissemination and retrieval to meet FOIA needs, and to support the centralized processing of FOIA requests and FOIA appeals nationwide;
• Develop policies and procedures concerning the implementation of the FOIA within the USTP, including continually evaluating the effectiveness of the FOIA program;
• Provide training and guidance to Program employees, supervisors and senior leadership on the policies, procedures and requirements of the FOIA;
• Act as the Program's representative on the government information working group, and as liaison with the DOJ's Office of Information Policy (OIP) and other federal agencies when necessary; and,
• Manage all of the above matters with minimal supervision.

Additional Responsibilities:
As a member of the OGC's General and Administrative Law Practice Group, you may also be called upon from time to time to handle other assignments that vary based on short- and long-term legal objectives, but typically involve critical policy, program or operational matters that are especially complex, controversial, or precedent-setting. These assignments may include:

• Providing legal and policy research;
• Preparing analyses and recommendations for EOUST and Program staff on certain areas of federal administrative law, such as the Administrative Procedure Act, Ethics in Government Act, or Privacy Act, and a variety of DOJ regulations, policies or procedures, as well as the regulatory and rulemaking process;
• Initiating and maintaining effective communications with EOUST management, U.S. Trustees and their staff, DOJ officials, and other federal agencies;
• Representing and presenting the position of the Program in a variety of settings including meetings, working groups, and task forces;
• Monitoring DOJ issues affecting the EOUST and the Program and providing authoritative analyses and recommendations regarding matters that impact ongoing or proposed EOUST or USTP operations, initiatives, goals and objectives; and,
• Working on other projects and priorities as assigned.

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic and professional credentials, superior oral and written communication skills, outstanding legal research, analytical, and legal reasoning skills, outstanding judgment, and the ability to function with minimal guidance in a demanding legal environment. Further, an applicant must have a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) in good standing, and have at least 4 years post-J.D. professional legal or other relevant experience advocating on behalf of clients.

Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the required qualifications listed above, the ideal candidate will have:

• A demonstrated record of analyzing complex legal problems, interpreting statutory, rule, and regulatory provisions;
• Have outstanding organizational skills and the ability to address a broad array of issues arising in a large volume of cases;
• The ability to accurately and precisely articulate the critical issues in a wide variety of cases and projects;
• The ability to set, manage, and balance diverse, evolving, and challenging projects and priorities;
• Demonstrated initiative and creativity;
• Strong information technology skills including using databases and IT systems to manage and track work;
• Experience working with or for federal agencies; and,
• A commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.

Salary:
Position is on the GS pay scale, full-time and permanent, FPL of GS-15, and possible current annual salary range is: GS-14 ($143,913–$187,093); or, GS-15 ($169,279– $197,200). Years and type of experience will determine the appropriate grade level.

Number of Positions
1

Travel:

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