Attorney-Adviser (Chairman's Attorney Honors Program)

Summary

The Chairman's Attorney Honors Program offers permanent appointments for entry-level attorneys beginning with a two-year developmental program intended to promote careers in the civil service. Many selections will be made nationwide from this announcement.

If you are a third year law student, please see the linked announcement for Law Clerk opportunities.

Duties

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The Chairman's Attorney Honors Program is a program that hires law school graduates currently employed as judicial law clerks, legal fellows, or current and/or past participants of an SEC internship programs (paid or un-paid) to work as entry-level attorneys. This program is designed as a means to secure future employment with the SEC for those that are eligible as defined by the "Minimum Qualifications Requirements" below. If selected, you are assigned to a single Division or Office. The Chairman's Attorney Honors Program is a two-year long developmental program.

It is the responsibility of the Commission to interpret and enforce federal securities laws; issue new rules and amend existing rules; oversee the inspection of securities firms, brokers, investment advisers, and ratings agencies; oversee private regulatory organizations in the securities, accounting, and auditing fields; and coordinate U.S. securities regulation with federal, state, and foreign authorities. The Commission is concerned primarily with promoting the disclosure of important market-related information, maintaining fair dealing, and protecting against fraud.

The following divisions and offices are hiring for the Fall 2027 session of the Chairman's Attorney Honors Program at the SEC at the designated locations only:

• Division of Enforcement (ENF)- Chicago Regional Office (Chicago)
• Division of Enforcement (ENF)- Fort Worth Regional Office (Fort Worth)
• Division of Enforcement (ENF)- Washington, DC (HQ)
• Division of Examinations (EXAMS)- FINRA and Securities Industry Oversight (FSIO) - Washington, DC (HQ)
• Division of Examinations (EXAMS)- Office of the Chief Counsel (OCC) - Washington, DC (HQ)
• Division of Examinations (EXAMS)- Office of Clearance and Settlement (OCS) - Washington, DC (HQ), New York, NY, and Chicago, IL
• Division of Investment Management (IM) - Washington, DC (HQ)
• Division of Trading and Markets (TM) - Washington, DC (HQ)
• Office of the General Counsel (OGC) - Washington, DC (HQ)
• Office of International Affairs (OIA) - Washington, DC (HQ)

Information can be found by clicking the division/office name above.

Typical duties caninclude:

Actual duties will depend on placement within the Commission

Division of Enforcement (ENF)

• Investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws
• Gathering and analyzing evidence supporting potential Commission enforcement actions
• Conducting legal research and writing

Division of Examinations (EXAMS)

• Working as a member of a team with other staff members engaged in conducting examinations; responding to trends in the market; identifying areas of the market that merit special attention; and developing new inspection/examination procedures and processes;
• Conducting research, reviews and analysis of a variety of documents related to compliance; conducting reviews of customer trading and securities holdings; reviewing firm marketing; and developing recommendations to resolve problems in assigned areas of specialization;
• Preparing reports, correspondence, memoranda and other documents summarizing reviews, research and analysis related to registered entities' compliance with the federal securities laws

Division of Investment Management (IM)

• Investigating possible violations of the federal securities laws
• Conducting related legal research and writing
• Providing guidance to companies on SEC rules and forms
• Working on matters related to the equity, options, security-based swaps, and fixed income markets
• Reviewing disclosure filings for compliance with federal securities laws

Division of Trading and Markets (TM)

• Reviewing the market and credit risk models used by ANC broker-dealers, OTCDDs and SBSDs
• Administering Exchange Act rules applicable to brokers and dealers of securities and their dealings with investors and other market participants
• Linked and coordinated facilities and financial market infrastructure for clearance and settlement of a wide range of securities transactions and products

Office of the General Counsel (OGC)

• Providing authoritative legal advice and assistance, both orally and in writing, to other attorneys and specialists across the Commission, including analysis of complex legal issues with broad policy implications.
• Reviewing and analyzing proposals for rules and regulations drafted by the Commission's divisions and offices.
• Preparing a variety of written documents to convey information and analysis, including legal memoranda. Also conveying information and analysis orally through briefings, consultations, and other presentations.

Office of International Affairs (OIA)

• Investigating possible violations of the federal securities laws
• Conducting related legal research and writing
• Providing guidance to companies on SEC rules and forms
• Working with a rulemaking team or rule filings submitted by self-regulatory organizations
• Working on matters related to the equity, options, security-based swaps, and fixed income markets

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• CITIZENSHIP: This position is open to US Citizens.
• You must possess a J.D. or LL.B Degree
• You must be an active member of the bar in good standing
• Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in you not being considered for this position.
• Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement and may be filled from any division or office within the agency.
• This position has promotion potential to the SK-14.
• TRIAL PERIOD: Consistent with 5 U.S.C. § 7511, you will be required to serve a two-year trial period (one year for preference eligible veterans) if the position to which you have applied is not the same or similar to your current position of record.
• SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position.
• DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements.
• PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized.
• DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• This position is in the collective bargaining unit, NTEU Chapter 293.
• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

The anticipated Entrance on Duty (EOD) date is September/October 2027, or sooner.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following:

• J.D. or LL.B. degree AND
• Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Note: proof of bar membership will be required before entry on duty.) As an applicant you do not need to have been admitted to a state bar association. However, before you can start work with the SEC as an attorney, you must be an active bar member in good standing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement.

SK-11: Applicants must meet one of the following:

• Be currently employed as a judicial law clerk; or
• Be currently employed as a legal fellow; or
• Be currently and/or past participant of an SEC internship program (paid or un-paid).

SK-12: Applicants must possess at least one year of post J.D. experience as a practicing attorney, AND, meet one of the following:

• Was employed as a judicial law clerk; or
• Was employed as a legal fellow; or
• Was employed as a past participant of an SEC internship program (paid or un-paid) that has graduated within two years of closing date of the announcement.

Education

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you must submit a copy of your unofficial transcripts or equivalent by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

FOREIGN 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. For more information, click here.

Applicants may also find the following helpful:

National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an association of 19 credential evaluation services with admission standards and an enforced code of good practice.

Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) is an association of 10 credential evaluation services with a board of advisors and an enforced code of ethics.

Additional information

If you would like to learn more about the Chairman's Attorney Honor Program, please register for one of our upcoming information sessions.

Information Session Links:

Wednesday, November 18, 2026; 1:30-3:30 PM ET; Register Here

Wednesday, December 2, 2026; 11:00-1:00 PM ET; Register Here

Promotion Potential: This position has promotion potential to the SK-14 grade level.

SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: Total salary (base pay + locality) is dependent upon duty location. The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes; a selectee's initial pay will be established below the maximum rate of the range. The pay for current SEC employees will be determined according to the procedures specified in the agency's policy. Please click here for a compensation overview.

Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, click here.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be minimally qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP eligibles will be considered minimally qualified if they meet the minimum requirements for this position.

Benefits

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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 fede