Federal

ATTORNEY-ADVISOR (GENERAL)

Offices, Boards and Divisions ยท Department of Justice
๐Ÿ“ Washington, District of Columbia GS-13/15 $121,785 - $197,200/yr
Posted: Jul 6, 2026 Deadline: Jul 17, 2026 (Closes in 9 days)

About This Position

This is a public notice flyer. Applications will not be accepted through USA Jobs. If you are interested in applying, please see the official announcement on the DOJs Legal Careers page by following the links below: Legal Careers | Attorney-Advisor (General), GS-15 | United States Department of Justice https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/job/attorney-advisor-general-gs-15

Qualifications

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and have at least six (6) years relevant J.D. experience.

Applicants must have demonstrated experience in handling privacy issues and working in a demanding, fast-paced environment. The successful applicant will likely also possess: Exceptional writing and oral communication skills; Strong speaking and presentation skills; Excellent interpersonal skills, and the demonstrated ability to lead a team and also collaborate with others to achieve a common goal; Creative problem-solving skills to resolve unusually complicated legal matters, often with little on-point legal authority, with the goal of supporting a client's mission while minimizing privacy-related risks; Working knowledge of privacy laws, regulations, and policies that apply to the U.S. Government, and familiarity with law enforcement and national security law and policy; Highly developed ability to recognize knowledge and abilities the applicant lacks, and to learn new skills quickly and seek help where necessary; Demonstrated ability to adapt, quickly shift priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Must be a U.S. Citizen. Must complete a Background Investigation to Include drug testing. Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable. May require completion of one-year probationary period.

This position requires the incumbent to be able to hold a security clearance at the Top Secret/SCI security level. Preferred qualifications: Relevant certification in a privacy-related field, for example, one of the International Association of Privacy Professionals Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) certifications.

Major Duties

About the Office The Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties, Office of the General Counsel, Justice Management Division, United States Department of Justice, is responsible for ensuring the Department's compliance with privacy and civil liberties-related laws, policies, and technical requirements, and appropriately minimizing related risks, particularly as to law enforcement and national security matters. OPCL also plays a central policy-making role in the Department's development and evaluation of legislative, regulatory, and other policy proposals affecting privacy, both domestically and internationally. OPCL also develops and provides Departmental privacy training; oversees responses to data breaches; and ensures the Department has adequate procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and redress complaints from individuals.

Job Description As an Attorney-Advisor (General) GS-0905-15, your typical work assignments may include the following: Provide legal advice and guidance to Department leadership and components on privacy and civil liberties matters. Provide policy advice concerning proposed legislative, regulatory, or policy proposals that impact privacy and civil liberties. Ensure the Department's compliance with privacy and civil liberties laws, regulations, and policies, and appropriately mitigate related risks.

Develop and implement training program policy and specific training sessions; Oversee the Department's responses to data breaches; Ensure the Department has adequate procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and redress complaints from individuals; Prepare privacy-related reporting to Congress and other oversight bodies; Actively engage in multiple Department-wide working groups, including the Emerging Technology Board; Assess and establish controls to minimize privacy-related risks in uses of artificial intelligence (AI); and Review the information handling practices of the Department to ensure that such practices are consistent with the protection of privacy and civil liberties, particularly in law enforcement and national security matters.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and have at least six (6) years relevant J.D. experience.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Additional Information

Salary This is a GS-13-15 position, with an annual salary range of $121,785 - $197,200 per year. Remote job No. Telework eligible Telework is available in accordance with Department policy. Number of Positions Two. Travel Minimal travel required. Relocation Expenses Relocation expenses will not be authorized.

How to Apply

The application materials are required to be submitted electronically as a pdf file by all applicants (including attorneys currently appointed to positions in the Department of Justice) and emailed to [email protected] with the subject line "OPCL Attorney Advisor Opportunity". Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Required Documents

Required Documents Interested candidates should submit all of the following: Cover letter addressing the qualifications listed above; Resume showing relevant experience, including the dates the experience was obtained (see this USAJOBS Resume Writing Tutorial); Copy of J.D.

OR

equivalent degree (official transcript with conferred status is acceptable); Proof of active bar membership; Most recent SF-50; A statement indicating whether you are or have been a political appointee in the past five (5) years (if applicable); A list of at least three professional references; Two writing samples of varying length: one demonstrating general writing skills (e.g., correspondence, published material, memorandum, talking points, policies, procedures, blog, or material written for the web) and one sample of formal legal analysis, demonstrating ability to analyze and expound on complicated, nuanced legal issues (e.g., legal brief or formal opinion, or other similar memo). Official certificate showing that the applicant is an active member in good standing of a state bar. Copy of most recent performance appraisal or rating.

Note: Writing samples and performance appraisals may be redacted, as appropriate, to protect sensitive information.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the ATTORNEY-ADVISOR (GENERAL) position at Offices, Boards and Divisions?
The salary range for this position is $121,785 - $197,200/yr. This is a GS-13/15 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the ATTORNEY-ADVISOR (GENERAL) job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and have at least six (6) years relevant J.D. experience.
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 Jul 17, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance is required.
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.