The DOT Honors Attorney Program is a highly competitive program, primarily available to new or recent JD graduates completing judicial clerkships or judicial fellowships, offering a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the Department's diverse legal practice. To be eligible for our next program starting in August 2026, you must be a U.S. citizen graduating from law school in Spring 2026 or completing a judicial clerkship or judicial fellowship in Summer 2026.
Summary
The DOT Honors Attorney Program is a highly competitive program, primarily available to new or recent JD graduates completing judicial clerkships or judicial fellowships, offering a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the Department's diverse legal practice. To be eligible for our next program starting in August 2026, you must be a U.S. citizen graduating from law school in Spring 2026 or completing a judicial clerkship or judicial fellowship in Summer 2026.
Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen.
This position is in the Excepted Service. For information on the Excepted Service, please visit: Excepted Service Appointing Authorities@ https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees#excepted-service
Provide legal advice and policy counsel to DOT leadership on complex areas of law affecting DOT’s duties and responsibilities, both in writing and orally.
Conduct legal research and analyses on sensitive matters.
Provide training on a variety of laws and policies affecting DOT personnel.
Engage with other Federal agencies, congressional committees, the courts, and other transportation stakeholders.
Honors Attorneys work under the close supervision of experienced attorneys.
Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, self-reliant and skilled individual willing to work in a challenging and fast-paced environment with experienced professionals committed to delivering the world’s leading transportation system, serving the American people and economy through the safe, efficient, and sustainable movement of people and goods. The ideal candidate exercises initiative and must be creative in coping with exceptionally difficult and novel legal matters.
Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period.
TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
your performance and conduct;
the needs and interests of the agency;
whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your 2 year trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To qualify, you must have experience and education equal or equivalent to the following:
GRADE 11 (series 904) - You must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a LL.B., J.D., or equivalent. A law school GPA of at least 3.0 for schools on a 4.0 scale.
GRADE 11 (series 905)- You must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a LL.B., J.D., or equivalent. Be an active member in good standing of the bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. A law school GPA of at least 3.0 for schools on a 4.0 scale.
GRADE 12 (series 905) – You must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a LL.B., J.D., or equivalent AND possess at least one (1) year of professional legal work experience OR a second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study. Be an active member in good standing of the bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. A law school GPA of at least 3.0 for schools on a 4.0 scale.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
Technical – Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the job experience to perform one’s job: works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
Communication – expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical sensitive controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
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.
Appointments:
Appointments may be made to Attorney-Advisor GS-0905-11 or 12 for applicants who meet the requirements outlined above for qualifications. OR
Appointments may be made to Law Clerk, GS-0904-11 for applicants who do not meet the requirements outlined above for qualifications for appointment as a GS-11, Attorney-Advisor.
Applicants appointed as Law Clerks may convert to an entry-level Attorney-Advisor (GS-0905) position after admittance to a State Bar and demonstration of satisfactory employment during the interim period of 14 months from the original appointment.
MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. To be eligible for our next program cycle starting in August 2026, you must be a U.S. citizen graduating from law school in Spring 2026 or completing a judicial clerkship or judicial fellowship in Summer 2026.
NOTE: If you are not yet admitted to the bar of a State, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to qualify on Education, you must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.). An applicant who has not been admitted to a state bar may be selected for a Law Clerk, GS-0904-11 position. Appointment as a Law Clerk is limited to 14 months, during which time appointee must be admitted in good standing to the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the United States. Upon admission to the bar, the position will be converted to a permanent appointment as an Attorney Advisor.
Additional information
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level.
For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements.
All applications will be referred for direct consideration by the hiring office. Review of applications and hiring decisions by the selecting official may occur on a running basis prior to the closing date of this announcement.
PLEASE NOTE: Upon successful completion of the program, depending on the agency’s needs, you may be converted without a break in service to a permanent appointment in the excepted service. The position may have a career ladder target up to the GS-15 grade level depending on the office the candidate is selected to work in. There is no guarantee of a permanent position following this program.
NOTE: If you are not yet admitted to the bar of a State, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to qualify on Education, you must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.). An applicant who has not been admitted to a state bar may be selected for a Law Clerk, GS-0904-11 position. Appointment as a Law Clerk is limited to 14 months, during which time appointee must be admitted in good standing to the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the United States. Upon admission to the bar, the position will be converted to a permanent appointment as an Attorney Advisor.
This is an Excepted Service appointment. You will be on a trial period throughout your entire two-year program. If selected, you will be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employments and to authorize a background investigation.
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.
RESUME:In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size.
Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://help.usajobs.gov//Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/build/
TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED as there is a stated education requirement for the series. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
PROOF OF BAR MEMBERSHIP (IF APPLICABLE)
WRITING SAMPLE: Writing Sample (no more than 10 double-spaced pages that is an accurate reflection of your legal writing abilities and not substantially edited by a third party). Candidates selected for second round interviews may be asked to participate in a brief writing assignment at that time.
VETERANS: If you are eligible for veterans’ preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with supporting documentation, e.g., SF15, DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation.
PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive credit, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You must submit a complete application package (including the required documents specified below) no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement by email to honors.attorney@dot.gov with the subject line "<First Name> <Last Name><Law School>"
If you are having difficulty submitting your application, please contact us via email at honors.attorney@dot.gov
The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)).While your responses will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. In your response, you must provide a self-certification that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.
If you choose to answer the below questions, please include a separate document, and email along with your resume.
Provide answers to these four (4) short answer questions.
(1) How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience
(2) In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
(3) How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. Executive Orders can be found here: https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders/donald-trump/2025
(4) How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.
DOT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States
Next steps
Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date.
You will be contacted directly if you are selected for an interview. Due to the large quantity of applications expected for these positions, we are unable to contact and provide status information to applicants that are not selected for an interview.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
RESUME:In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size.
Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://help.usajobs.gov//Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/build/
TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED as there is a stated education requirement for the series. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
PROOF OF BAR MEMBERSHIP (IF APPLICABLE)
WRITING SAMPLE: Writing Sample (no more than 10 double-spaced pages that is an accurate reflection of your legal writing abilities and not substantially edited by a third party). Candidates selected for second round interviews may be asked to participate in a brief writing assignment at that time.
VETERANS: If you are eligible for veterans’ preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with supporting documentation, e.g., SF15, DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation.
PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive credit, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
You must submit a complete application package (including the required documents specified below) no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement by email to honors.attorney@dot.gov with the subject line "<First Name> <Last Name><Law School>"
If you are having difficulty submitting your application, please contact us via email at honors.attorney@dot.gov
The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)).While your responses will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. In your response, you must provide a self-certification that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.
If you choose to answer the below questions, please include a separate document, and email along with your resume.
Provide answers to these four (4) short answer questions.
(1) How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience
(2) In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
(3) How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. Executive Orders can be found here: https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders/donald-trump/2025
(4) How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.
DOT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States
Next steps
Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date.
You will be contacted directly if you are selected for an interview. Due to the large quantity of applications expected for these positions, we are unable to contact and provide status information to applicants that are not selected for an interview.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
