Public Notice for Attorney Advisor (Direct Hire)

TSA (Transportation Security Administration); Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

TSA, based in Springfield, VA, seeks a Chief Counsel for the Regulations Division to provide legal counsel on regulatory law, security standards, compliance matters, and the interpretation and application of statutes, regulations, policies, and agency requirements. The ideal candidate will hold a J.D.

from an ABA-accredited law school, be an active member in good standing of a state bar, and have one year of specialized federal experience or equivalent private-sector experience, including strong

Qualifications

• Law degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active bar admission in good standing with the highest court of a U.S. state or territory.

Responsibilities

• Provide regulatory legal counsel on laws, regulations, policies, and agency requirements.
• Develop and review letters, memoranda, or other legal documents for senior review, ensuring clarity and compliance.
• Review legal precedents and prepare written recommendations for supervisory review.

Skills

Legal research

Legal analysis

Drafting legal documents

Regulatory compliance

Oral and written communication

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Active bar membership in good standing

Job description

Chief Counsel, Regulations Division:

Responsible for providing legal counsel on regulatory law, security standards, compliance matters, and the interpretation and application of statutes, regulations, policies, and agency requirements.

Basic requirements for all grade levels:

• Applicants must have a Law Degree (e.g., J.D., LL.B.) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
• Must be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, territory of the United states, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11)

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-F or GS-09 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent education or experience in the private sector. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Researching laws and regulations, analyzing legal issues, and writing legal opinions, memoranda, or recommendations; AND
• Developing draft letters, memoranda, legal analyses, pleadings, or other legal documents for review and use by a senior or higher-graded attorney, ensuring the drafts are clear, accurate, well-organized, and consistent with applicable legal requirements, policies, and procedures.

OR Be a graduate from an accredited law school and be an active member in good standing.

To qualify for the SV-H Pay Band (equivalent to GS-12)

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-G or GS-11 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience MUST include all the following:

• Researching laws and regulations, analyzing legal issues, and writing legal opinions, memoranda, or recommendations; AND
• Developing draft letters, memoranda, legal analyses, pleadings, or other legal documents for review and use by a senior or higher-graded attorney, ensuring the drafts are clear, accurate, well-organized, and consistent with applicable legal requirements, policies, and procedures; AND
• Reviewing legal precedents and preparing written recommendations for supervisory review.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13)

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-H or GS-12 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience MUST include all the following:

• Conducting complex legal research and factual investigation, analyzing legal and factual issues, identifying additional facts needed, and determining applicable legal sources; AND
• Writing complex legal opinions or guidance that interpret state or Federal laws, regulations, or orders, and assisting with drafting regulations and/or orders; AND
• Advising program offices, agency leadership, or other stakeholders on compliance with regulatory requirements.

To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14)

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-I or GS-13 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience MUST include all the following:

• Providing regulatory legal counsel and policy guidance on the interpretation, implementation, and application of laws, regulations, policies, and requirements; AND
• Assessing regulatory legal risks and recommending legally supportable courses of action based on applicable statutes, regulations, policies, and agency requirements; AND
• Handling regulatory enforcement matters, administrative litigation, hearings, or appeals involving the application or interpretation of statutes, regulations, and agency requirements.

To qualify for the SV-K Pay Band (equivalent to GS-15)

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-J or GS-14 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience MUST include all the following:

• Providing regulatory legal counsel and policy guidance on laws, regulations, policies, and requirements related to intelligence, national security or transportation infrastructure, or threats to the traveling public; AND
• Assessing regulatory legal risks and recommending legally supportable courses of action based on applicable statutes, regulations, policies, and agency requirements; AND
• Handling regulatory enforcement matters, administrative litigation, hearings, or appeals involving the application or interpretation of statutes, regulations, and agency requirements; AND
• Training, mentoring, or providing guidance to junior attorneys on legal research, analysis, writing, case strategy, regulatory requirements, and professional practice.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of legal training, subject-matter knowledge, and practical experience with rulemaking, compliance, enforcement, and administrative procedures. Familiarity with the Administrative Procedure Act, Federal Register process, and agency rulemaking procedures is highly desired. Effective communication skills in advising clients across all levels of an organizational structure. Extensive experience with the regulatory drafting and review process in a federal agency, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and implementing administration priorities is highly valued.