The Department of Justice is seeking experienced attorneys for the Office of Information Policy (OIP). OIP manages the responsibilities related to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), to include coordinating and implementing policy development and compliance for the FOIA, processing FOIA requests for senior leadership, adjudicating administrative appeals from denials by any Department component under the FOIA, and assisting in the defense of certain FOIA matters in litigation.
Summary
The Department of Justice is seeking experienced attorneys for the Office of Information Policy (OIP). OIP manages the responsibilities related to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), to include coordinating and implementing policy development and compliance for the FOIA, processing FOIA requests for senior leadership, adjudicating administrative appeals from denials by any Department component under the FOIA, and assisting in the defense of certain FOIA matters in litigation.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
OIP is hiring an Attorney-Advisor GS-0905-12/13/14, to work on its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Compliance Staff. The attorney will perform legal, policy, and technical work to support the Office's responsibilities to oversee and encourage government-wide compliance with FOIA. The responsibilities will include interpreting and applying laws, executive orders, regulations, precedents, and agency practices relating to FOIA. The responsibilities will include interpreting and applying laws, executive orders, regulations, precedents, and agency practices relating to FOIA. Specific responsibilities may include:
Supporting OIP's work on FOIA and open government efforts, including policy guidance, projects related to FOIA.gov, the Chief FOIA Officers Council, and other initiatives.
Working directly with agencies to ensure compliance with the FOIA's statutory reporting obligations.
Assisting in the completion of the Department of Justice (DOJ) specific FOIA reporting obligations, which include drafting an Annual FOIA report, Chief FOIA Officers Report, and Litigation and Compliance Report.
Reviewing and synthesizing agencies' final Annual and Chief FOIA Officer Reports to draft annual summaries and assessments of agencies' FOIA administration.
Reviewing compliance inquiries submitted by the public concerning agencies' FOIA implementation and working directly with the agencies and requesters to resolve issues and provide appropriate guidance.
Assisting in managing the Office's websites and social media, including developing and posting web content.
Providing instructional training and guidance to various federal agencies regarding compliance with the FOIA.
Conducting legal research and providing legal advice involving inquiries and assignments related to the FOIA.
Developing a mastery of assigned area(s) of expertise and updating corresponding section(s) of the United States DOJ Guide to the Freedom of Information Act.
Maintaining awareness of developments in FOIA and Privacy Act law, regulation, and policy.
Must complete a Background Investigation to include drug testing
Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable
May require completion of one year probationary period
COVID vaccination status may be requested for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
GS-12: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar in good standing in any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia and have at least one year post J.D. experience.
GS-13: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar in good standing in any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia and have at least 1 1/2 years of post J.D. experience.
GS-14: Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bare in good standing in any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia and have at least 2 1/2 years of post J.D. experience.
NOTE: No exceptions can be made regarding the required one year of experience.
Examples of specialized experience include preparing agencies' FOIA reports and other congressional reports; making policy recommendations; independently performing legal analysis; analyzing cases, requests, or policies for legal sufficiency; and providing expert legal advice and consultations.
Preferred qualifications: A knowledge of, and a demonstrated interest in FOIA law and policy. Experience with technology use to support FOIA administration such as FOIA case management systems and e-discovery platforms is also desirable. Applicants should also be detail oriented, have excellent writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills, and have the ability to manage a complex and multifaceted workload.
Applicants must be able to qualify for a Top Secret security clearance. You must also be a U.S. Citizen.
Additional information
Salary and grade level determinations are made based on the number of years of qualifying experience and current salary level. The salary ranges for this position are GS-12 through GS-14 which is $99,200 - $181, 216.
Please note that the location is negotiable with a preference for DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality based applicants. If you are within the DC locality area, you are required to report to the official worksite a minimum of twice per pay period.
OIP attorneys may be assigned/reassigned to any one of several distinct but inter-related teams based on mission-critical office needs. Those teams include the Administrative Appeals Staff, which adjudicates administrative appeals from Department components' FOIA determinations; the Initial Request (IR) Staff, which processes FOIA requests on behalf of the Department's leadership offices; the IR FOIA Litigation Staff, which handles FOIA requests subject to litigations; or the FOIA Compliance Staff, which supports the Office's responsibilities to oversee and encourage government-wide compliance with the FOIA.
Please note that the time from selection of an applicant to the start date is typically about 3 months.
COVID-19 Vaccination:
1. To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement Safer Federal Workforce Task Force 2 pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
2. Due to COVID-19, if selected, you may be expected to telework for an undefined period under the Department's evacuation authority, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Employees in this status may be notified of a requirement to report in person to the component workplace with an advance notice of not less than 30 days. Prior to a requirement to report to the workplace, employees may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the component's telework policy.
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.
Applicants are required to submit a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience and justifying interest in the position), resume, unofficial transcript, and a writing sample containing a brief or comparable analytic legal exposition that is your work.
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.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
The application materials are required to be submitted electronically as a pdf file by all applicants (including attorneys currently appointed to positions in the Department of Justice) and emailed to Laurie.Day@usdoj.gov.
No telephone calls please. Please reference OIP-ATTY-0224 in your cover letter and put your name in the subject of the email. Applications must be received no later than midnight EST February 19, 2024. Otherwise, please send to: Attn: Laurie A. Day, Office of Information Policy, 441 G Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20530.
Office of Information Policy
441 G Street, NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships.
For more information about OPR, please visit our Web page at: https://www.justice.gov/opr
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
The application materials are required to be submitted electronically as a pdf file by all applicants (including attorneys currently appointed to positions in the Department of Justice) and emailed to Laurie.Day@usdoj.gov.
No telephone calls please. Please reference OIP-ATTY-0224 in your cover letter and put your name in the subject of the email. Applications must be received no later than midnight EST February 19, 2024. Otherwise, please send to: Attn: Laurie A. Day, Office of Information Policy, 441 G Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20530.
Office of Information Policy
441 G Street, NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships.
For more information about OPR, please visit our Web page at: https://www.justice.gov/opr
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
