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Attorney-Advisor

Department of Justice
Offices, Boards and Divisions
Office of Legal Counsel (OLC)

Summary

By delegation from the Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) provides legal advice to the President and all executive branch agencies. The Office provides written opinions and other advice in response to requests from the Attorney General, the Counsel to the President, the General Counsels of the various agencies of the Executive Branch, and other components of the Department of Justice.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted this week · Apply by 06/24/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 24, 2026
Location
many vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$121,785 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 15
Promotion potential
15
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
OLC-26-12986080-DE
Control number
872972800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is being advertised under delegated examining procedures and is open to all U.S. Citizens. Preference for eligible veterans will be applied.

Duties

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The duties and responsibilities for a GS-0905-Attorney-Advisor-13-14-15 generally include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advising the Attorney General, the Counsel to the President, the General Counsels of executive departments and agencies, and the various components of the Department of Justice on constitutional and statutory matters.
  • Resolving legal disputes within the Executive Branch through the issuance of authoritative legal opinions.
  • Reviewing for constitutionality proposed legislation.
  • Reviewing for form and legality all executive orders and substantive proclamations and memoranda proposed to be issued by the President as well as all Attorney General Orders including regulations that require the Attorney General's approval.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a United States Citizen or National.
  • You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
  • You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period. See “Additional Information” section for further details.
  • Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
  • Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) and have at least one year of post-J.D. legal experience.

OLC is highly selective in its hiring because OLC attorneys handle some of the most difficult and important legal issues confronting the Executive Branch. The ideal candidate would have exceptional academic credentials, a judicial clerkship or comparable experience, a strong background in constitutional law, outstanding legal research and writing skills, and the ability to obtain a Top-Secret security clearance.

You MUST meet all qualification requirements by 11:59pm June 24, 2026, Applications received after
11:59PM on June 24, 2026, will not be considered.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made from this announcement.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or dis-qualifi cation issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants must submit the following documents via email: 1) a resume; 2) a cover letter addressing the qualifications listed above; 3) a writing sample; 4) a law school transcript; 5) a copy of your most recent performance rating (if applicable); and 6) a copy of your most recent non-award SF-50 (if applicable). Please submit all documents to OLCRecruit@usdoj.gov.

You MUST meet all qualification requirements by 11:59pm June 24, 2026, Applications received after 11:59PM on June 24, 2026, will not be considered.

Offices, Boards and Divisions

Are you interested in a rewarding and challenging career? Join the U.S. Department of Justice!

The Department of Justice (DOJ) leads the nation in ensuring the protection of all Americans while preserving their constitutional freedoms. As a Justice employee you'll be a member of a team where you can achieve your career goals and apply your skills and talents to our important mission. Read more about the exciting opportunities available.

Mission:

DOJ is to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights.

Core Values:

  1. Independence and Impartiality. DOJ works each day to earn the public's trust by following the facts and the law wherever they may lead, without prejudice or improper influence.
  2. Honesty and Integrity. DOJ's employees adhere to the highest standards of ethical behavior, mindful that, as public servants, we must work to earn the trust of, and inspire confidence in, the public we serve.
  3. Respect. DOJ's employees value differences in people and in ideas and treat everyone with fairness, dignity, and compassion.
  4. Excellence.DOJ works every day to provide the highest levels of service to the American people and to be a responsible steward of the taxpayers' dollars.

Agency contact information

Rhonda Douglas
Email
Rhonda.D.Douglas@usdoj.gov
Address
Office of Legal Counsel
2 Constitution Square
145 N Street NE
Room 9W.300
Washington, DC 20530
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Offices, Boards and Divisions, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.justice.gov/careers

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