Federal
Attorney Advisor(International) (Public Notice Flyer)
Office of the Secretary · Department of Commerce
About This Position
The Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the Office of General Counsel, U.S. Department of Commerce, is seeking an individual with exceptional analytical, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills to join our team of international technical assistance Attorney-Advisors to partner with countries and counterparts to advance shared prosperity, diversify energy critical minerals supply chains, and advance energy and mineral governance partnerships.
Qualifications
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Must be a law school graduate with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. AND Must be able to verify ACTIVE BAR MEMBERSHIP in good standing in one of the 50 United States, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To qualify for GS-13, applicants must possess a JD, active bar membership, and a minimum of 4 years of specialized and relevant professional experience as listed below. To qualify for a GS-14, applicants must possess a JD, active bar membership, and a minimum of 6 years of specialized and relevant professional experience as listed below. For this position, the candidate should meet the following criteria: Prior legal experience in the energy and/or minerals sector, including mining, energy, and/or related infrastructure and supply chains, or other related industrial sectors. In this position, the Attorney-Advisor will be expected to be able to converse with a variety of stakeholders on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the full life cycle of energy investments or the lifecycle of minerals, including investment and project finance, exploration, exploitation, mining operations, tailings management, mine closure, brownfield development, transportation, and processing. Prior legal experience in natural resource extraction relating to enforcement, permitting/licensing, insolvency, arbitration, project finance, and/or energy and minerals taxation. Prior legal experience with the administration, drafting, interpretation, and/or enforcement of legal, regulatory, and/or transactional documents in the energy and mining sector, such as: hydrocarbons laws, mining codes, oil / gas / mining regulations, energy and/or mining investment agreements and other government instruments, energy and/or mineral concessions and contracts, or energy and/or mining project finance documents. Prior experience and/or familiarity with working with foreign governments and/or development finance institutions is strongly preferred.
Major Duties
The CLDP team consists of highly skilled lawyers, trade experts, and international program specialists with deep knowledge of commercial law, international trade and business, and economic development. With fluency in over 35 languages, CLDP staff work directly with foreign governments to advance U.S. interests abroad while helping host countries achieve their economic development objectives. CLDP partners with various offices within the U.S. Department of Commerce, other federal agencies, the U.S. judiciary, and international organizations to help countries draft laws and regulations, strengthen legal institutions, and train officials to ensure fair and predictable environments for business. CLDP's Energy and Minerals Team provides legal technical support in partnership with host governments developing their minerals and energy resources. Specifically, this Attorney-Advisor will: Consult with senior foreign government officials; Assess development needs and barriers to investment; Design, implement legal reform technical assistance programs that meet the host countries' economic development needs and are in line with U.S. foreign policy goals in energy and minerals. To implement the technical assistance programs, the Attorney Advisor will: Organize and deliver expert legal advice on the policies, laws, regulations, contracts, and standards for host countries to increase energy and/or mineral production, including those in critical minerals and materials supply chains. Collaborate across U.S. government agencies in the power, energy, and minerals spaces, work with outside experts in mining, minerals, and energy/power law, and support the global efforts of the U.S. State Department. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Attorney Advisor(International) (Public Notice Flyer) GS-0905-13/14 FPL-GS-14 positions within the Office of the Secretary in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
Conditions of Employment
You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs. Must be able to obtain a Secret level security clearance. A trial period may be required. Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/) If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing. Drug Test Required: Yes License required: Yes, Active Good Standing Bar Membership Bargaining Unit Position: No Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will Not be paid.
Education
Must be a law school graduate with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. See Qualifications Above.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process. There are no numerical rating systems through which to apply veterans preference; however, the Office of the General Counsel favorably considers veterans preference eligibility in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume. If selected, additional information may be required.
Additional Information
This position does not confer non-competitive conversion to the competitive service. Acceptance of an excepted service appointment from applicants in the competitive service will require a written statement of understanding when voluntarily leaving the competitive service. Regular international travel will be required, averaging around 6-8 trips per year, to global and occasionally domestic destinations. CLDP Attorney-Advisors in this position carry out many of their programs in the host countries around the world, and also bring delegations to the U.S. for study tours. Knowledge of another language is not required but is preferred.
How to Apply
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING RESUMES AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION Submit required documents email to [email protected] with the subject line OS- OGC-PNF-26-12876095 for GS-13/GS-14, and including at least the following information in the email's body: [PERSON'S NAME] [PERSONS' ADDRESS] [PERSON'S PHONE NUMBER] [PERSON'S EMAIL ADDRESS]
Required Documents
A complete application consists of the following: Cover letter. Address demonstrated interests and qualifications as it relates to the position. Resume no more than 2 pages showing relevant experience. Your resume should list your educational and work experience, including the dates (mm/dd/yyyy) and provide the hours per week, if less than 40. For work in the Federal Service, please include the pay plan and grade level for the position(s). Copy of law school transcript. (Unofficial copy is sufficient, but official copy must be submitted before appointment). You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. Certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing. Prior to receiving an offer, you will be asked to provide a certificate of bar membership and proof of good standing. Failure to provide documents, if selected, may result in lost consideration. Please DO NOT put your SSN on pages within your application package. Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Attorney Advisor(International) (Public Notice Flyer) position at Office of the Secretary?
The salary range for this position is $121,785 - $187,093/yr. This is a GS-13/14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Attorney Advisor(International) (Public Notice Flyer) job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualif...
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 5, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Secret clearance is required.
What does GS-13/14 mean?
GS-13/14 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.