Duties

Summary

The FBI seeks experienced and highly qualified attorneys to join the Office of General Counsel (OGC). The OGC provides legal advice to the entire FBI on a wide range of substantive issues. It works closely with other offices of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other members of the Intelligence Community. OGC also assists the FBI in forming partnerships with other federal, state, local and international agencies, as well as private-sector entities, in support of FBI operations.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

As an OGC Attorney, you will serve as legal counsel to the FBI in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits brought in federal court; state open-records lawsuits brought in state courts; affirmative injunction litigation brought in federal courts to prevent disclosure of FBI information and records by state and local agencies; and Privacy Act litigation regarding access or amendment requests.

Specialized Experience:

• Litigation experience preferred.
• Experience working with the FOIA preferred.
• Experience prioritizing, planning, organizing and scheduling projects and assignments to accomplish objectives, particularly under tight deadlines and in light of competing priorities.
• Experience reviewing others' written work products in order to ensure clarity of message, particularly in legal filings.
• Experience conducting legal research and researching internal agency policy, procedures and methods.
• Experience writing analytical work products, declarations or legal documents/pleadings.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel is dependent on position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
15

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

To be eligible for this position, you:

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be able to obtain a Secret Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance.
• Must complete form FD-887, Request for Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
• Must complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450 annually.
• Must pass an FBI polygraph examination.
• Must pass an FBI-administered urinalysis drug test.
• Must be in compliance with the FBI Employment Drug Policy:
  • No use of marijuana within the last three years.
  • No use of any other illegal drug in the past 10 years.
  • No selling, distributing, manufacturing or transporting of any illegal drugs.
  • No use of a prescription drug or a legally obtainable substance in a manner for which it was not intended within the last three years.

In addition, you:

• Must never have been convicted of a felony.
• Must not be in default on a student loan insured by the U.S. government.
• Must be registered with the Selective Service System (males only, exceptions apply).

Please be advised, candidates selected for this position must be DOJ-approved.

Qualifications

Employment Attorney: As a member of the Employment Law Unit (ELU), you will defend the FBI throughout all phases of employment litigation, including class actions pending nationwide before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) and in ensuing appeals. ELU attorneys defend the FBI in whistleblower retaliation cases and assist in representing the FBI in personnel-related litigation in federal U.S. courts. ELU attorneys also provide legal advice and guidance to the highest levels of FBI management on all aspects of personnel-related issues.

Litigation Attorney: As a member of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Litigation Unit (FLU), you will serve as agency counsel defending the FBI in FOIA lawsuits brought by private parties and public interest groups seeking records of FBI operations and activities, including its efforts to fight terrorism, conduct counterintelligence activities, combat public corruption, protect civil liberties and prosecute cybercrimes, as well as high technology, white-collar and violent crimes. Attorneys in FLU also serve as subject matter experts and provide legal and policy guidance to officials at all levels within the FBI about areas of vulnerability and liability with regard to its FOIA program and other issues of public access to FBI information and records.

Fiscal Attorney: As a Fiscal Attorney, you will handle all aspects of the federal procurement process, including acquisition planning, award determinations, protests, contract administration and claims resolution. You will also provide comprehensive fiscal law advice, including issues related to bona fide need requirements, augmentation, interagency financing arrangements, authorization concerns and drafting of legislation. Fiscal Attorneys also advise on facilities/real estate issues, including the acquisition of a new FBI Headquarters and environmental concerns, as well as many other areas of federal regulatory practice.

Education

Applicants must possess a JD degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (or have an LLM degree or other graduate law degree in addition to a JD) and be an active member of the bar (in any U.S. jurisdiction).

GS-14: Applicants applying for the GS-14 must also have two and a half or more years post-JD attorney experience.
GS-15: Applicants applying for the GS-15 must also have four or more years of post-JD attorney experience.

Additional information

The FBI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for this vacancy. Except where otherwise provided by law, selection will be made without regard to, and there will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, parental status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age, sex, sexual orientation, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism, or any other nonmerit factors.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Please read the "Next steps" section for more information.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

To apply for any of these positions, you must provide a complete application package that includes the following REQUIRED documents:

• Your resume and cover letter.
• A writing sample, not to exceed 10 pages.
• Proof of current and active bar association membership.*
• Photocopy of law school transcripts.*
• Current SF-50 (if external government employee).

*FBI employees currently assigned to a Fiscal and Contract Attorney position do not need to provide law school transcripts or proof of bar association membership.

NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED FOR REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.