Attorney-Advisor

The United States Department of Justice; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 102,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy in Washington, DC, seeks an Attorney-Advisor to adjudicate administrative FOIA appeals and provide legal guidance on FOIA and Privacy Act matters. The position requires a JD and active bar admission, with travel limited as needed.

Responsibilities include researching FOIA law, advising federal agencies, and training components on FOIA compliance, with potential for litigation work and advancement to GS-14.

Qualifications

• Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).
• Preferred qualifications: FOIA knowledge and administrative law/civil litigation experience.
• Candidates must have at least one-year FOIA processing / FOIA litigation experience to qualify at the GS-13 level.
• Promotion potential to GS-14.

Responsibilities

• Recommending proposed actions to be taken in the adjudication of administrative FOIA appeals by reviewing the administrative record and evaluating actions taken by Department of Justice components in processing initial FOIA requests;
• Conducting legal research and providing legal advice to a wide variety of federal agencies involving inquiries and assignments related to the application of FOIA and Privacy Act access laws;
• Developing a mastery of assigned area(s) of expertise and updating corresponding section(s) of the United States Department of Justice Guide to the Freedom of Information Act;
• Encouraging FOIA compliance by components of the Department of Justice;
• Providing instructional training and guidance to various federal Departments regarding compliance with the FOIA; and
• Providing written and oral legal advice to litigators or periodically serving as litigators in defending certain FOIA lawsuits.

Skills

Legal research

FOIA knowledge

Administrative law

Civil litigation

Education

J.D. degree (or equivalent)

Active bar admission

Job description

Location: 441 G Street, NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20530-0001 - United States

About the Office

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is seekingexperienced attorneys to work in the Office of Information Policy (OIP), located in Washington, DC. OIP manages the Department’s responsibilities related to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which includescoordinating and implementing policy development and compliance government-wide for the FOIA, processing FOIA requests for the senior leadership offices within the Department, adjudicating all administrative appeals from denials by any Department component under the FOIA, and assisting in the defense of certain FOIA matters in litigation. OIP attorneys may be assigned/reassigned to any one of several distinct but inter-related teams based on mission-critical office needs. Those teams include: the Administrative Appeals Staff, which adjudicates administrative appeals from Department components’ FOIA determinations; the Initial Request (IR) Staff, which processes FOIA requests on behalf of the Department’s leadership offices; the IR FOIA Litigation Staff; which handles FOIA requests subject to litigation; or the FOIA Compliance Staff, which supports the Office’s responsibilities to oversee and encourage government-wide compliance with the FOIA.

Job Description

OIP is hiring an Attorney-Advisor to be assigned to its Administrative Appeals Staff. Primary duties of this position include the adjudication of appeals from Department component FOIA determinations. The incumbent will perform varied legal work involving the interpretation and application of laws, executive orders, regulations, precedents, and agency practices relating to the FOIA.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Recommending proposed actions to be taken in the adjudication of administrative FOIA appeals by reviewing the administrative record and evaluating actions taken by Department of Justice components in processing initial FOIA requests;
• Conducting legal research and providing legal advice to a wide variety of federal agencies involving inquiries and assignments related to the application of FOIA and Privacy Act access laws;
• Developing a mastery of assigned area(s) of expertise and updating corresponding section(s) of the United States Department of Justice Guide to the Freedom of Information Act;
• Encouraging FOIA compliance by components of the Department of Justice;
• Providing instructional training and guidance to various federal Departments regarding compliance with the FOIA; and
• Providing written and oral legal advice to litigators or periodically serving as litigators in defending certain FOIA lawsuits.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).

Preferred qualifications: It is preferred that applicants have knowledge of and a demonstrated interest in the Freedom of Information Act and have administrative law and/or civil litigation experience. Candidates must have at least one-year FOIA processing / FOIA litigation experience to qualify at the GS-13 level. Promotion potential to a GS-14.

Security Requirements:

Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, tax and credit checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. Applicants willbe required to qualify for a Top Secret security clearance.

Number of Positions

One

Travel

Very limited travel may be associated with this position.

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

GS-12 - GS-13 ($102,415 - $158,322) with promotion potential to a GS-14 ($143,913 - 187,093)

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