Federal
Attorney-Adviser (General)
Office of Special Counsel · Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
About This Position
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is seeking recent law school graduates, early-career attorneys, and experienced attorneys for positions in our Washington, D.C. office. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to OSC's mission of promoting accountability, integrity and fairness in the federal workplace.
Qualifications
Education Qualifications for all positions: A professional law degree (L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. In addition to Education, applicants must meet the minimum Experience Requirements outlined below: Position Title Bar Membership Legal Experience Requirements GS-11, Attorney-Adviser Required ** None GS-11, Law Clerk N/A Law school graduates who have not yet been admitted to the bar and who have not served in a judicial clerkship may be temporarily employed at the GS-11 level, not to exceed 14 months as law clerk trainees GS-12, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 1 year of professional legal experience post bar admission. GS-12, Law Clerk N/A Law school graduates who have not yet been admitted to the bar and who have served one year in a judicial clerkship may be temporarily employed at the GS-12 level, not to exceed 14 months as law clerk trainees GS-13, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 2 years of professional legal experience post bar admission, with at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 GS-14, Attorney-Adviser Required ** 3 years of professional legal experience post bar admission with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 level **An active membership in good standing in a bar of a state, U.S. Territory, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth or Puerto Rico. Your resume must explicitly outline your qualifications. We will not make assumptions about your experience. NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0905 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined above. Applicants qualifying through education, but who have not yet graduated or received final grades, may apply using their current grades at time of application. If selected, you will be required to verify final grades and/or provide additional documentation. Annual Leave Accrual Credit Selectees for their first Federal position may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credited will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant resume and documentation submitted.
Major Duties
Why Join OSC? OSC consistently ranks high in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) for workplace satisfaction! Division Overview Selected candidates will gain hands-on legal experience working in one of OSC's many program areas, which may include: Case Review Division (CRD) Disclosure Unit (DU) Hatch Act Unit (HAU) Investigation and Prosecution Division (IPD) Outreach, Training and Compliance Unit (OTC) Retaliation and Disclosure Unit (RDU) You can find additional information about our program units here. Duties Under the supervision or mentorship of experienced attorneys, you may: Conduct legal research and draft memoranda; Investigate claims and interview witnesses; Prepare pleadings and litigate before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB); Participate in mediation and settlement efforts; Appear as amicus in federal court; Advise agency leadership on legal and policy matters involving federal personnel law, administrative law, constitutional law, and civil procedure. Ideal Candidate We are looking for candidates who embrace the privilege of public service, bring enthusiasm and dedication to such service, and work well within a team setting. Flexibility and a strong commitment to OSC's statutory mission are essential. Positions may be filled at any GS grade level (11 through 14) depending on applicant experience. This announcement may be used to fill multiple open positions within the US Office of Special Counsel. This is an open, continuous announcement that will close March 31, 2026, but may be extended at agency discretion. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with the first review no earlier than 10 business days after the date this announcement posts. Additional reviews of applications will be conducted periodically, after the initial review, as needed to fill vacant positions.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Management will consider any Federal performance appraisals and/or awards you submit with your application as an indication of your experience and work history. These documents will not be scored as part of the assessment process. In accordance with 5 C.F.R. Section 302.101(c), these positions are in the Excepted service and not subject to the provisions of Veteran's Preference. However, candidates who list and provide verification of their Veteran's Preference will have their Preference status identified to the selecting official for consideration as part of their application package.
Additional Information
ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: In accordance with VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-56),Current military members may apply by submitting a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain: (1) your rank; (2) dates of active duty service; (3) type of discharge and projected character of service (i.e. honorable); (4) projected Veteran's preference, if applicable; (5) date terminal leave begins, if applicable; (6) date of expected discharge or release that is within 120 days of your employment application submission; and (7) signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. If selected, your qualifying separation, veteran's preference, and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active-duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found to have an incomplete application. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if on terminal leave. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Individuals born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. You can find more information on Who Must Register and Exemptions here. In addition, you can find more information on what to do if you failed to register here. DEVELOPMENTAL POSITIONS: This position can be filled at the GS-11, GS-12, GS-13, or full performance GS-14 grade level depending on applicant experience and management needs. If filled at the lower grade level, noncompetitive promotion to the next grade level is authorized but not implied. It is dependent upon meeting time-in-grade requirements, specialized experience, required training and any other management requirements to demonstrate ability to perform the next higher/target grade level. These are not Bargaining Unit positions.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. Your application and supporting documents must be submitted and received through the online application process by 11:59 pm EST on the closing date of this announcement. To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account if you do not have one. You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume, including a) personal information such as name, address, contact information; b) education; c) detailed work experience related to this position including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment (month/year), title and Grade level for any Federal service, i.e. GS-9); d) scope and complexity of the functions, activities and services you managed and your level of contacts; and any other qualifications. Your resume cannot exceed two (2) pages, as only the first two (2) pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications, or you may be disqualified for an incorrect application; Cover Letter, required; Writing Sample, dated within the last five (5) years; Other required supporting documents: Law school transcript(s) to confirm your education; Verification an active membership in good standing in a bar of a state, U.S. Territory, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth or Puerto Rico, if applicable; Current or Previous Federal (whether Excepted or Competitive Service) employees: Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) with highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade; AND Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan, without a rating, is not an acceptable substitute. DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty for consideration of Veteran status. If you submit multiple copies of the same document, only your most recent uploaded document (by date & time stamp) will be considered. If your resume or supporting documents are illegible or unreadable, or if you fail to include any of the above-mentioned required documents, you may lose consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be considered further. If your application materials contain sensitive or inappropriate information, including but not limited to: photographs; classified or government sensitive information; copied and pasted portions of this job announcement; obscene information, etc., you may not be considered. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for non-selection, disqualification from further consideration or withdrawal of tentative or final job offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Attorney-Adviser (General) position at Office of Special Counsel?
The salary range for this position is $85,447 - $187,093/yr. This is a GS-11/14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Attorney-Adviser (General) job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Education Qualifications for all positions: A professional law degree (L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. In addition to Education, applicants must meet the minimum Experience Requirements outlined below: Position Title Bar Membership Legal Experience Requirements GS-11, Attorney-Adviser Required ...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 31, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-11/14 mean?
GS-11/14 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.