Attorney Advisor (General)

Office of the General Counsel (U.S. Department of Agriculture); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of the General Counsel (USDA) seeks attorneys to advise on diverse issues including FOIA, Privacy Act, federal tort claims, fiscal law, procurement, and advisory committees. These open-continuous positions require a JD from an ABA-accredited law school and active bar membership in a U.S.

jurisdiction. Candidates will provide legal services aligned with USDA goals, prepare complex opinions, and support litigation and regulatory activities.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a full course of study in a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the first professional degree (JD/LLB).
• Currently a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, DC, or Puerto Rico.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice in major USDA program areas and related litigation support.
• Analyze complex legal issues and draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and litigation documents.
• Conduct substantial legal research to support agency programs and policy.
• Prepare complex opinions and guidance for management and external stakeholders.
• Represent the Department in negotiations and external interactions.

Skills

Legal analysis

Statutes & regulations

Legal writing

Oral communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Summary

The incumbent serves as an attorney in legal areas that may include the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, Federal Tort Claims Act, fiscal law, procurement, federal financial assistance, homeland security, governmentwide confidentiality laws, and federal advisory committees.

This is an open-continuous announcement with an initial cut-off date of 11/02/2026 and then every month thereafter.

Duties

• Possess knowledge of statues, regulations, and precedents related to major USDA program areas or relevant subject matter expertise to provide legal advice in regard to the assigned program area.
• Possess knowledge of a large and complex body of law in which precedents are frequently conflicting or non-existent in order to make determinations and reach conclusions which guide the Department or the Agency in resolving subsequent problems.
• Possess knowledge of principles and techniques of legal analysis and practice in order to prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, litigation reports and related documents.
• Provide legal services in support of USDA programs and activities that are consistent with the strategic goals of USDA and the priorities of the Secretary of Agriculture.
• Possess knowledge of principles and techniques of written and oral communication to provide guidance on complex legal issues, secure acceptance of recommendations, prepare complex legal opinions, and effectively represent the Department.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• If selected, you may be required to serve a probationary or trial period as applicable to appointment type.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

For consideration, all applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for attorney positions:

• Successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the America Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD) (Law School transcript required) and
• Currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

NOTE: This experience must be demonstrated in your resume/supporting documents.

GS-11:

Qualifying experience for the GS-11 Attorney Advisor (General) position includes the successful completion of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (J.D. or equivalent degree) (Law School transcript required); and currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

GS-12:

Qualifying experience for GS-12 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-11 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position as an Attorney Advisor (General). Examples of such experience include: Providing legal advice, research, analysis and interpretation of federal, state, and local laws; Writing opinions, memoranda, pleadings, briefs, and legal support of agency/organization programs and litigation; Performing other legal services as assigned; Rendering of legal advice, oral or written, to administrative officials in connection with the day-to-day operations of programs; preparing various kinds of legal documents, both for specific case use and for general use; Ability to conduct substantial research to handle cases involving the Department's programs; Ability to apply creative legal analysis and sound legal judgment to find appropriate precedent or distinguish applicable law or facts to support or justify legal positions.

GS-13:

Qualifying experience for GS-13 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-12 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position as an Attorney Advisor (General). Examples of such experience include: Providing professional legal services to major components of an agency or organization; Knowledge of the principles and techniques of legal analysis and practice in order to (1) prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, litigation reports, and related documents (2) determine nature of legal issues involved; and (3) effectively represent agencies or organizations; Thorough knowledge of activities and program initiatives of agencies or organizations to provide timely and relevant legal advice regarding program operations to management officials and to expertly represent clients in negotiations and legal proceedings.

Duties

• Mastery of statues, regulations, and legal precedents related to major USDA program areas or relevant subject matter expertise to provide expert legal advice in regard to the assigned program area, develop or recommend litigation strategies and procedures, aid the Department of Justice in the trial of important or precedent-setting cases, and negotiate or participate in negotiating settlements on behalf of the Department.
• Mastery of a large and complex body of law in which precedents are frequently conflicting or non-existent to make determinations and reach conclusions which guide the Department or the Agency in resolving subsequent, similar problems; provide legal advice toheads of programs and Agencies on complex and difficult legal questions or factual issues; and write opinions and case assessment memoranda after conducting detailed factual and legal research.
• Mastery of the principles and techniques of legal analysis and practice in order to prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, litigation reports, and related documents in connection with suits by and against the Government and determine in each case the nature of action or defense, the legal issues involved, the most effective course of action, and optimal strategies and tactics to be employed.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of missions and functions of the USDA and its agencies or relevant subject matter expertise, as appropriate in order to provide legal services in support of USDA programs and activities that are consistent with the strategic goals of USDA and the priorities of the Secretary of Agriculture.
• Mastery of the principles and techniques of written and oral communication to speak and write with clarity and tact to provide guidance on complex legal issues, secure acceptance of recommendations, prepare complex legal opinions, and effectively represent the Department in a variety of external interactions.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP):
Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.
If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
Incentives may be authorized.
This position is a bargaining unit designated position. This position is represented by AFGE, Local 1106.
Direct Hire Authority: This announcement is issued under the direct-hire authority to recruit for positions for which there is acritical need. Selectee(s) will receive a career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service and may be required to serve a one-year probationary period. Category rating, veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this public notice.

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.