Clarification from the agency

This is a reimbursable detail assignment for a period of one year. Applications will not be accepted through USA Jobs. If you are interested in applying, please see the official announcement on the DOJs Internal Detail Opportunities page.

About the Division:

This is a reimbursable detail assignment for a period of one year. Applicants must be current Federal Employees who live in the Washington DC area. The detail may be extended. Applicants should receive the approval of their supervisor before applying.

The mission of the National Security Division (NSD) is to coordinate the Department's efforts in carrying out its top priority of preventing and combating terrorism and protecting the national security. NSD provides legal and policy advice on national security matters, litigates counterterrorism, counterespionage, and foreign intelligence surveillance matters, represents the Government before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) and other federal trial and appellate courts, and conducts oversight of the activities of various Intelligence Community agencies.

Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered:

The Office of Intelligence (OI) of the National Security Division is seeking one or more experienced attorneys for its Operations Section. Attorneys in the Operations Section handle NSD's intelligence operations workload, including representing the Government before the FISC. At the direction of the Office of Assistant Attorney General (OAAG) for National Security, the Operations Section is responsible for preparing and filing all applications for Court orders pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and works on a wide range of complex and highly sensitive operational legal matters involving counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cyber. The mission of the Operations Section is to ensure that the FBI and other Intelligence Community agencies have the legal tools necessary to conduct intelligence operations in adherence with the requirements and safeguards of the law. The Operations Section also works with OI's Oversight Section on various matters, including overseeing compliance with FISC orders and jointly working on modifications to authorities governing the acquisition, retention, and dissemination of FISA-related information. In addition, the Operations Section closely coordinates with the FBI and other Intelligence Community agencies on intelligence operational matters and provides legal advice to other government agencies on matters relating to FISA and other national security laws and governing authorities.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You must successfully pass a security/background investigation and a drug screening.
• You must be a current permanent Department of Justice employee with competitive status or a CTAP/RPL eligible candidate.
• You must meet all applicable time-in-grade requirements by the closing of this announcement.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Attorney Advisor, at GS-0905-13/14/15, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below.

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree with at least three years of post J.D. experience and be an active member of a bar (any jurisdiction). Applicants must have superior academic credentials, possess excellent analytical and writing skills, and have the dedication and capacity to work independently in a very demanding environment. Past experience in the national security or intelligence field is not required.

Candidates selected for an attorney position with NSD are expected to make a three-year commitment to NSD.

Candidates must personally volunteer for Department-wide initiatives, special projects, Division-initiatives and perform other duties as assigned.

Must be able to meet JMD and NSD suitability criteria for this position.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance. Failure to obtain or retain this level of security clearance and access will be grounds for reassignment, demotion, or removal from the Federal Service. Employee must successfully pass a urinalysis screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment and subsequent periodic drug screening thereafter.

This position is MISSION ESSENTIAL. Most, if not all, essential job functions must be performed in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF). The incumbent is required to report for duty, in person, as necessary, in an emergency (regardless of holidays, weekends, nights, furloughs) or conditions such as weather in which non-essential personnel are not expected to report.

Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the National Security Division.


You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by 05/15/2026 of this announcement.

Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Application Process and Deadline Date:

All interested applicants should submit a resume and cover lettering highlighting experience relevant to the duties and qualifications listed above, a copy of your most recent performance appraisal (if available), and a copy of your most recent SF-50 via email to: nsd.detail.team@usdoj.gov with the subject line "OI Detail for Attorney Advisor Vacancy 2026." This detail will remain open until it is filled.