General Attorney

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection in San Diego, CA seeks attorneys (General Attorney or Law Clerk) who are or will be admitted to the bar. The position requires a Juris Doctor or equivalent and active bar membership in the U.S.

jurisdiction. Recent graduates may start at GS-11 with bar admission within 14 months and conversion upon admission. Applicants should meet educational requirements and be prepared for a rigorous background check and residency verification.

Qualifications

• Must possess a professional law degree (JD or equivalent) and be eligible to sit for a state bar exam.
• Recent law school graduates may be appointed at GS-11 if they meet education requirements and are admitted to the bar within 14 months.

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent degree

Active bar membership in a state, territory, DC, or Puerto Rico

Bar admission within 14 months for recent law graduates

Job description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Assistant Chief Counsel, located in San Diego, California. Applicants must be graduates of a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association, or a law school with state, regional, or other accreditation that permits the graduate to sit for a state bar examination.

Applicants appointed as General Attorneys must be active members in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Recent law school graduates who are not yet admitted to the bar may be appointed as Law Clerks at the GS-11 level if they meet the specialized education requirements described below. Recent law school graduates appointed as Law Clerks must be admitted to the bar within 14 months of appointment and then may be converted to a General Attorney upon admission.

Specialized Education:

Recent law school graduates, and attorneys with less than one year of experience as a licensed attorney, must possess a professional law degree, Juris Doctor or equivalent degree, and demonstrate superior law student work or activities to qualify at the GS-11 level.

Superior law student work or activities may be demonstrated by meeting the following additional qualifications:

• Rank in the top one-third of the graduating class;
• Work or achievement of significance on one of the applicant's law school's official law reviews or journals;
• Winning a moot court competition, membership on a moot court team that represents the applicant's law school in inter-law school competition, or service on the applicant's law school moot court board;
• Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program, as distinguished from one-time, intermittent, or casual participation;
• Significant summer law clerk experience;
• Participation in an Office of Chief Counsel or DHS externship program;
• Other evidence of clearly superior legal accomplishment or achievement.

Attorneys with less than one year of experience as a licensed attorney must meet the recent law school graduate qualifications above to qualify at the GS-11 level.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 12/29/2026.

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.

Background Investigation:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

Residency:

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government