General Attorney

Department of Energy Headquarters; Lemont (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Energy Headquarters seeks a General Attorney to represent site offices, including Oak Ridge, as principal counsel on procurements, ethics, and administrative matters.

You will deliver authoritative analyses, opinions, and risk assessments, while liaising with other federal agencies, Congress, and industry. Responsibilities include drafting briefs, reviewing contracts, and advising on FOIA and Privacy laws.

Qualifications

• ABA-accredited law school graduate with a JD or LL.B.
• Bar admission and bar number documentation required.
• Experience advising on procurements, ethics, and federal litigation.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal and policy counsel to agency leadership on complex matters.
• Represent the agency with external and internal stakeholders in negotiations and meetings.
• Perform in-depth legal research to craft sound solutions with precedent and agency policy.
• Review legislation, rulemaking, and regulations; draft comments to protect statutory missions.
• Manage administrative litigation, procurement, and real estate matters; draft briefs and pleadings.

Skills

Legal counsel

Policy analysis

Regulatory review

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent

Tools

Legal research databases

Job description

• Hiring Agency: Department of Energy Headquarters
• Department: Department of Energy
• Location: Multiple Locations
• Hiring Path: Public
• Number of Openings: 1
• Security Clearance: Q Access Authorization

The Office of Science, Office of Chief Counsel seeks a general attorney to represent assigned site offices, including the Oak Ridge Site Office, as principal attorney advising in numerous legal aspects, such as procurements, ethics, and administrative matters (including EEOC, MSPB, OHA, and OSC cases).

Key Responsibilities

As a full performance General Attorney you will: Provide Legal and Policy Counsel: Deliver authoritative legal analyses, formal opinions, and risk assessments to agency leadership on complex, sensitive, and high-impact program matters, statutory authorities, and policies.

Represent the Agency with External and Internal Stakeholders: Serve as a legal representative and liaison in negotiations, task forces, and high-level meetings with other federal agencies, Congress, state/local entities, foreign governments, and industry. Conduct In-Depth Legal Research and Analysis: Perform complex legal research using professional databases to develop sound legal solutions where precedent, caselaw, or agency policies are ambiguous or undefined.

Review Legislation, Rulemaking, and Regulations: Analyze and draft comments on proposed federal legislation, administrative rules, and agency directives to protect and advance statutory missions and interests.

Manage Administrative Litigation, Procurement, and significant real estate matters; draft legal briefs and pleadings for hearings, lead administrative litigation (e.g., EEOC, MSPB), review major contracts/grants for legal sufficiency, and advise on federal personnel, ethics, and information-access laws (such as FOIA and Privacy). Advise on procurements, including complex Management and Operating (M&O) and Facility contracts and subcontracts.

Requirements & Education

Attorney positions do have an education requirement. ALL Candidates must be a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree; OR Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) degree. For positions with an education requirement, you MUST submit: A copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.; AND You must provide proof of bar or your bar number.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

For further information, visit: Department of Education Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Department of Energy Headquarters, Department of Energy.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $89508 – $182790/yr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Q Access Authorization security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-04.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.