ATTORNEY- ADVISER (GENERAL)

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia.

This is an Open Continuous announcement used to fill multiple vacancies. This announcement will remain open until the closing date. Applicant lists will be generated every two weeks with the first cut-off date of 10/15/2026. Additional cut-off dates will occur every two weeks thereafter. Applicants who apply after a cut-off date will be considered for the next referral.

Duties

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WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING DAY TO DAYDUTIES FOR OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL: The level of responsibility and complexity of assignments will vary by grade and may include:

• Researching, analyzing, and interpreting statutes, regulations, case law, administrative decisions, and legal precedents to resolve legal issues and develop recommendations supporting Department programs and operations.
• Providing legal advice, guidance, and recommendations on matters involving immigrant children, including unaccompanied children, program officials, managers, and other stakeholders regarding the interpretation and application of laws, regulations, policies, and agency authorities to support program operations and decision-making.
• Preparing and reviewing legal opinions, memoranda, regulations, notices, policy guidance, correspondence, briefs, motions, and other legal documents to ensure legal sufficiency and compliance with applicable laws and Department policies.
• Assisting with or providing legal support for administrative proceedings and litigation by preparing legal research, pleadings, briefs, affidavits, memoranda, and other litigation documents, and by coordinating with the Department of Justice and agency officials, as appropriate.
• Collaborating with Department leadership, program officials, attorneys, and external stakeholders to resolve legal issues, provide regulatory guidance, support negotiations, and advance agency priorities.
• Participating in the development, implementation, and evaluation of legal, regulatory, and policy initiatives by providing legal analysis, identifying legal risks, and recommending solutions that support Department objectives and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

DUTIES FOR OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT: The level of responsibility and complexity of assignments will vary by grade and may include:

• Provides legal representation to unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in complex immigration matters and proceedings.
• Managing complex immigration cases involving UAC, including conducting client interviews; researching and analyzing immigration statutes, regulations, case law, and administrative precedent.
• Providing authoritative legal advice and guidance on matters affecting UAC and other ORR-served populations, and coordinates with ORR officials, Federal agencies, legal service providers, and other stakeholders to address complex legal issues involving immigration proceedings, access to legal services, and the care and custody of unaccompanied children.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service - http://www.sss.gov
• Suitable for federal employment
• Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required.
• Probationary (or trial) period may be required.

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR HHS - Wide Attorney Qualifications Requirements:

1. Education: Must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association. (Must provide transcripts prior to selection).

2. Bar Membership: Must possess a current active bar membership in good standing. Admission to the bar of any State, territory, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, or Federal Court is acceptable. Active bar membership is verified prior to appointment. Employees must maintain active bar membership while employed as an attorney with HHS. (Must provide a copy of active bar membership prior to selection).

3. License to Practice Law. A current, valid license with eligibility to practice law in a state, the District of Columbia, or any United States territory or commonwealth is a continuing condition of employment for Federal attorneys.

Additional experience may be required depending on starting grade level*:

GS-11: Requires a J.D. or LL.B. and active bar membership. No prior professional legal experience is required.

GS-12: Requires a J.D. or LL.B., active bar membership, and one year of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-11 level.

GS-13: Requires a J.D. or LL.B., active bar membership, and two years of professional legal experience post bar admission, including one year equivalent to the GS-12 level.

GS-14: Requires a J.D. or LL.B., active bar membership, and three years of professional legal experience post bar admission, including one year equivalent to the GS-13 level.

Documenting experience: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational application questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employee's supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employee's official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.

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; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

OPM Qualification General Policies Website

Education

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov.

Additional information

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Incentives may be authorized; however, this is contingent upon multiple factors, including funds availability. If authorized, certain incentives may require you to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a period of up to 3 years. Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid. Incentives may include the following: moving expenses, recruitment or relocation incentive; student loan repayment, superior qualifications appointment, creditable service for annual leave for prior non-federal work experience or prior uniformed military service, etc.

Bargaining Unit Position: NO

Research position: NO

Drug Screening Required: NO

Applicants selected for this position will be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring.

Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

USA Hire Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?

Priority Reemployment List (PRL): To receive selection priority for this position, individuals on the PRL must meet the qualification requirements, complete all required assessments and be rated as qualified. PRL candidates are ranked using Category Rating procedures.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this announcement. Evaluation will be based on your application materials (such as your resume and supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and the results of all required assessments.

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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.

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 federal benefits.

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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.