GAO, consistently rated one of the Federal Government's Best Places to Work, is hiring two attorneys: one for our Information Technology & Cybersecurity (ITC) team and the other for our Science, Technology Assessment & Analytics and Applied Research & Methods (STAA/ARM) teams. The attorneys will advise & assist Congress & the analysts in these areas. You may express interest in one or both positions in your cover letter; the details of each position are set forth in the Duties sections below.
Summary
GAO, consistently rated one of the Federal Government's Best Places to Work, is hiring two attorneys: one for our Information Technology & Cybersecurity (ITC) team and the other for our Science, Technology Assessment & Analytics and Applied Research & Methods (STAA/ARM) teams. The attorneys will advise & assist Congress & the analysts in these areas. You may express interest in one or both positions in your cover letter; the details of each position are set forth in the Duties sections below.
As a Senior Staff Attorney/Senior Attorney (Information Technology and Cybersecurity), PA-0905-2/3, the attorney in GAO's Office of General Counsel (OGC) for GAO's Information Technology & Cybersecurity (ITC) team will support our analysts and Congress on cybersecurity and privacy requirements, IT portfolio and investment management, CIO roles and responsibilities, and management and protection of sensitive information. Typical work responsibilities for this position may include:
Providing innovative, timely, and solution-oriented legal support to GAO leadership, GAO's ITC analyst team, and Congress on a broad range of legal and policy topics primarily involving cybersecurity, protection of sensitive information including privacy matters, IT management, and compliance with related laws, regulations, and policies;
Researching and applying the law in GAO's conduct of performance audits of agency programs and activities;
Analyzing federal agencies' interpretations of authorizing and program-related statutes;
Ensuring that positions taken by GAO are legally correct and constitute the best objective view of the law, including in circumstances of first impression and matters of national significance;
Reviewing GAO products (such as reports and testimonies) to ensure they reflect an objective, accurate understanding and application of the law as it relates to the federal program or activity under review;
Collaborating across teams within OGC and GAO to ensure high-quality products addressing cross-cutting issues affecting multiple agencies or issue areas;
Providing legal support and counsel to GAO officials testifying before Congress, often under short deadlines;
Assisting in drafting legislation and analyzing legislative proposals to determine the potential impacts and implications for federal policies and for GAO;
Drafting legal memoranda, legal opinions, and sections of audit reports; and
Providing concise oral presentations on legal issues at high-level GAO meetings and Congressional briefings.
Subject matter expertise is not required; candidates with strong legal skills and a willingness to learn the subject matter are encouraged to apply.
A current security clearance or willingness to obtain a clearance is preferred but not required.
As a Senior Staff Attorney/Senior Attorney (Science, Technology Assessment & Analytics and Applied Research & Methods), PA-0905-2/3,the attorney in GAO's Office of General Counsel (OGC) for GAO's STAA and ARM teams will support our analysts and Congress in addressing science, technology, and data policy matters in one of GAO's most dynamic, high-profile, and critically important portfolios. Typical work responsibilities for this position may include:
Providing innovative, timely, and solution-oriented legal support to GAO's STAA and ARM mission teams;
Providing legal counsel on a broad range of science, technology, and data policy topics, including emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, blockchain, augmented reality, health technology); data science, analytics, and governance; oversight of federal science, intellectual property, and engineering activities; and compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies;
Researching and applying the law to support GAO's performance audits of agency programs and activities, and performing legal analyses in areas of novel and evolving legal frameworks related to cutting-edge science and technology;
Providing legal support and creative legal solutions for GAO's Innovation Lab, a leading-edge, "sandbox" environment designed to help facilitate the use of advanced data science and emerging technologies across GAO mission teams;
Ensuring GAO products are legally accurate and reflect the best objective view of the law, including in circumstances of first impression and matters of national significance;
Reviewing GAO products for legal sufficiency before issuance, focusing on legal accuracy, legal sophistication, and readability;
Collaborating across teams within OGC and GAO to ensure high-quality products addressing cross-cutting issues affecting multiple agencies or issue areas;
Drafting legal memoranda, legal opinions, and sections of GAO reports;
Providing legal support and counsel to GAO officials testifying before Congress, often under short deadlines;
Assisting in drafting legislation and analyzing legislative proposals to determine the potential impacts and implications for federal policies and for GAO; and
Providing concise oral presentations of legal issues at high-level GAO meetings and Congressional briefings.
Subject matter expertise is not required; candidates with strong legal skills and a willingness to learn the subject matter are encouraged to apply.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation
Completion of a two-year probationary period unless you previously completed a trial period at GAO after October 1, 1980.
Completion of a financial disclosure statement is required.
Qualifications
You must meet the minimum qualification requirements by the closing date of this job opportunity announcement
1. Must have a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
2. Must be an active member in good standing of a bar of a state, a territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
3. Band II Senior Staff Attorney candidates must have a minimum of two years (104 weeks) of legal experience working with and applying the laws, policies, and regulations related to the duties of the position.
4. Band III Senior Attorney candidates must have a minimum of four years (208 weeks) of legal experience working with and applying the laws, policies, and regulations related to the duties of the position.
Education
See Qualification section.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. Most foreign education is not accredited by an accrediting body that is recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Based on the staffing needs, additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, GAO considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15 which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s)). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more.
TRAVEL & RELOCATION EXPENSES: Travel and relocation expenses related to this hiring process will not be paid.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
If your submission demonstrates that you meet the criteria listed in the Qualifications section and includes the documents as listed under the Required Documents section, your application will be further evaluated based on:
- Your years and level of experience researching and analyzing complex legal issues and working with applying the law, regulations, and policies relevant to the issues and responsibilities described above under "Summary" and "Duties."
- Experience and expertise that demonstrates superior legal research, analytical skills, and the ability to write about complex legal issues.
- Experience that demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills, interpersonal skills, and sound judgement.
We may invite you to an interview. If we invite you to interview, we may ask you to provide references and provide a writing sample, which we will consider in the selection process. We may invite you to more than one round of interviews.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
Cover letter, which indicates whether you wish to be considered for the position in ITC, STAA/ARM, or both
Resume.
A statement that you are U.S. citizen.
Information sufficient to establish that you have a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
Information sufficient to establish you are an active member in good standing of one of the bars listed in the Qualifications section.
Information addressing the factors on which your application will be further evaluated as set forth in the Qualifications and How You Will Be Evaluated sections.
Your application materials will not be returned. Do not submit original documents that you may need in the future.
Reference "Attorney (ITC/STAA)" in the email subject line.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. Please refer to the "Required Document" section for a list of documents to be submitted for a complete application package.
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US
Next steps
Applicants will be grouped and evaluated by prospective level (Band II or Band III). Band III attorneys (PA-3) will be expected to possess a higher degree of professional knowledge, expertise, and experience than Band II (PA-2) attorneys, and will perform their duties with greater independence.
Applicants may be invited to interview for the position based on the evaluation of their application package.
If you are invited to interview, you may be asked to provide references and a writing sample, which will be considered in the selection process. Applicants may be invited to more than one round of interviews.
The successful applicant will be hired at the grade level commensurate with their qualifications.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
Cover letter, which indicates whether you wish to be considered for the position in ITC, STAA/ARM, or both
Resume.
A statement that you are U.S. citizen.
Information sufficient to establish that you have a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
Information sufficient to establish you are an active member in good standing of one of the bars listed in the Qualifications section.
Information addressing the factors on which your application will be further evaluated as set forth in the Qualifications and How You Will Be Evaluated sections.
Your application materials will not be returned. Do not submit original documents that you may need in the future.
Reference "Attorney (ITC/STAA)" in the email subject line.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. Please refer to the "Required Document" section for a list of documents to be submitted for a complete application package.
Government Accountability Office
Human Capital Office
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548
US
Next steps
Applicants will be grouped and evaluated by prospective level (Band II or Band III). Band III attorneys (PA-3) will be expected to possess a higher degree of professional knowledge, expertise, and experience than Band II (PA-2) attorneys, and will perform their duties with greater independence.
Applicants may be invited to interview for the position based on the evaluation of their application package.
If you are invited to interview, you may be asked to provide references and a writing sample, which will be considered in the selection process. Applicants may be invited to more than one round of interviews.
The successful applicant will be hired at the grade level commensurate with their qualifications.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
