Attorney-Advisor (General)

US-Dhs-Headquarter; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Homeland Security in Washington, DC, seeks an attorney to counsel the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) on information and privacy law issues. You will provide legal analysis, write briefs, and support policy decisions under time pressure.

Key responsibilities include advising on disclosure/privacy matters, representing CRCL in related litigation, and delivering well‑written opinions to guide DHS programs while coordinating with the Office of General Counsel.

Qualifications

• First professional law degree (JD, LL.B, or LL.M) required.
• Specialized professional legal experience in privacy/information disclosure law or strong ability to draft complex legal memoranda.

Responsibilities

• Advise CRCL on information and privacy law issues.
• Represent CRCL in litigation relating to federal information disclosure/privacy law.
• Provide legal support to CRCL in exercising its authorities.

Skills

Legal advisory

Privacy law

Litigation support

Education

JD/LL.B./LL.M.

Job description

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Legal Counsel Division (LCD).

The primary purpose of this position is to advise the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) on information and privacy law issues, represent CRCL in litigation relating to federal information disclosure/privacy law, and provide legal support to CRCL in the exercise of its authorities.

Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Basic Requirements

GS-13

1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
2. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two (2) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position, or two years of judicial clerkship.

GS-14 and GS-15

1. The first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND
2. Specialized professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.

Specialized Experience

Specialized experience is experience providing legal advice and support on matters related to privacy and information disclosure law, which is preferred, but not required. Candidates without experience in privacy and information disclosure law should have experience in preparing complex legal memoranda and briefs and the demonstrated ability to quickly learn a new area of the law. All candidates must have experience in providing accurate, thorough, and well written legal advice on matters of first impression while under considerable time pressure.

Service as a federal judicial clerk is preferred but not required.

Applicants should have 3 or more years of relevant post-JD experience.

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) supports the Department's mission to secure the nation while preserving individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law. CRCL builds in civil rights and civil liberties practices into all of the Department's activities by:

• Ensuring that the Department complies with Constitutional, statutory, regulatory, and other requirements relating to civil rights and civil liberties by assessing the impact of DHS policies and activities and issuing reports.
• Providing policy advice and training.
• Reviewing and investigating allegations of civil rights and civil liberties violations involving DHS policies, activities, and personnel.
• Leading the Department's equal employment opportunity program and promoting merit system principles.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

Current or Former Political Appointees

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.