Attorney Adviser (General).

Offices-to-go; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 144,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of the Inspector General’s partner, the Department of Justice – Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), is seeking experienced attorneys to conduct high‑stakes professional misconduct investigations involving DOJ attorneys and agents in Washington, D.C. OPR attorneys work independently on complex matters, reviewing records, conducting interviews, and drafting concise memoranda and reports.

The role requires sound judgment, strong writing skills, and the ability to manage multiple

Qualifications

• Must have a J.D. degree and active bar membership in good standing in any state or DC.
• Significant post-J.D. litigation or investigative experience required for GS-14/GS-15 levels.

Responsibilities

• Developing investigative plans.
• Locating and reviewing relevant records and physical evidence.
• Conducting in-depth interviews of witnesses and subjects.
• Researching complex and novel ethical issues.
• Identifying applicable standards and applying facts to reach conclusions.
• Drafting memoranda and reports summarizing facts, analysis, and findings.
• Making recommendations for action to OPR and DOJ leadership.

Skills

Litigation experience

Investigations

Interviewing

Legal research

Written advocacy

Education

J.D. degree and bar admission

Job description

About The Office

The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of professional misconduct involving Department of Justice attorneys and law enforcement agents that relate to the exercise of an attorney's authority to investigate, litigate, or provide legal advice. OPR attorneys conduct sensitive investigations involving all levels and components of the Department and relating to a wide range of challenging and topical ethical issues, including grand jury abuse, discovery violations, and lack of candor. OPR also has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of whistleblower retaliation made by current, former, and prospective employees of the FBI. Because professional misconduct and whistleblower retaliation allegations may involve highly publicized or sensitive cases, matters with complex legal or factual issues, and those with novel ethical questions, the office seeks experienced, detail-oriented attorneys with discretion, good judgment, and excellent analytical and writing skills.

OPR attorneys and administrative staff are public-service oriented and dedicated to OPR's mission to ensure that Department attorneys perform their duties with integrity in accordance with the high professional standards expected of the nation's principal law enforcement agency. OPR's small size fosters collegiality and collaboration. OPR's offices are in the historic RFK Main Justice Building in Washington, D.C., with convenient access to parking, public transportation, and downtown attractions. This is an in-office position. For more information about OPR, please visit our website at https://www.justice.gov/opr

Job Description

OPR attorneys enjoy a challenging mix of responsibilities that require investigative, analytical, and oral and written communication skills. OPR attorneys are expected to work independently and to effectively manage multiple concurrent assignments. Duties include the following:

• Developing investigative plans.
• Locating and reviewing relevant records and other physical evidence.
• Conducting in-depth interviews of witnesses and subjects.
• Researching complex and novel ethical issues.
• Identifying the relevant standards of conduct and applying the facts to reach well-supported conclusions.
• Drafting memoranda and reports that concisely summarize the facts developed during the investigation, discuss the legal analysis, and explain the investigative findings.
• Making recommendations for appropriate action to OPR and Department leadership.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• You may be required to complete a two-year probationary period. See "Additional Information" section for further details.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
• This position requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a Sensitive Compartmented Information (Top Secret SCI) Security clearance.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Applicants Must Possess a J.D. Degree And Be An Active Member Of The Bar In Good Standing In Any State, Territory Of The United States, Or The District Of Columbia. Applicants Must Have The Years Of Post J.D. (or Equivalent) Legal Experience For The Specific Grade Level Requirements Listed Below:

• At least 2.5 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-14 grade level.
• At least 4 years of post J.D. litigation and/or judicial experience to qualify for the GS-15 grade level.

Meeting the minimum post-law degree legal experience requirements does not guarantee selection at that grade level. The individual selected for this position must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance as a condition of employment.

OPR seeks experienced attorneys with an interest in professional responsibility, who possess the legal skills and sound judgment necessary to evaluate the sensitive issues that arise during attorney misconduct investigations. Candidates should have experience in and be accomplished at investigating factual disputes, resolving challenging legal questions, and crafting polished written work products. The ability to articulate critical issues accurately and precisely in written and oral communication is essential. A successful applicant will have significant expertise in conducting depositions or case-related interviews; handling trials at the federal, state, or local level; appellate advocacy; or similar litigation or investigative experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of and familiarity with the rules and obligations imposed on prosecutors and other government attorneys by the Constitution, federal statutes, court decisions, orders, rules, regulations, Department policies, and applicable state bar rules.
• Possess the legal skills and sound judgment necessary to identify ethical issues and to evaluate the sensitive issues and complex legal problems that arise in the course of conducting attorney misconduct investigations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop positive working relationships in a wide variety of situations.
• A demonstrated ability to work independently in a demanding environment.
• Demonstrated initiative, outstanding organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple diverse, evolving, and challenging projects and priorities.
• At least five years post-J.D. experience.

Education

See Qualification section above for education requirement. Education must be reviewed and certified by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in order for it to be creditable towards your qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from accredited institution.

FOREIGN EDUCATION

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

Salary

Current salary and years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level (GS-14, $143,913 - $187,093) or (GS-15, $169,279 - $197,200).

Travel

Occasional travel may be required.

Relocation Expenses

Not authorized.

Number Of Positions

One

EEO Statement/Policy

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: Selective Service: If you were born male, on or after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: The Fair Chance Act prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOJ employee or Federal contractor acting on its behalf has violated your rights under this Act, you may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement. Note: In accordance with 5 U.S. Code 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R 920.201(b) certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.