Assistant General Counsel (Employment Law Branch)

Summary

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Duties

The primary mission of the Employment Law Branch (ELB) is to represent the Agency in labor and employment cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), as well as the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The attorneys in the Branch provide assistance to attorneys outside of the Bureau. In civil complaints of employment discrimination, ELB attorneys provide legal assistance to Assistant United States Attorneys in United States District Court and in the United States Court of Federal Claims. ELB attorneys also provide assistance to DOJ Civil Division attorneys in matters before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the District of Columbia Circuit. ELB staff review disciplinary letters for technical and legal sufficiency, conditions of employment reviews, and compressed work schedules. They provide legal advice to management officials on labor and employment matters. In addition to the staff in Central Office, Washington, DC, ELB has satellite offices in Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, Annapolis, MD; Kansas City, Kansas; Atlanta, Georgia; Grand Prairie, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Stockton, California. The incumbent will have the responsibility of litigating cases before administrative judges at the MSPB, EEOC, and other forums. The incumbent will have the opportunity to be directly involved in the preparation of Federal District Court trials. Locations: There are five possible locations for this vacancy (Washington, D.C.; Grand Prairie, TX; Atlanta, GA, Kansas City, KS, and Phoenix, AZ). You may apply for multiple locations at the same time by noting your interest in your cover letter. The Practice areas related to this position are: Employment Law, Employment Discrimination, Labor.

Qualifications

Applicant must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction). Preferred qualifications: Prior experience in labor and employment discrimination and/or general litigation is highly desired.

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable. ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

How You Will Be Evaluated

This position is processed under Direct Hire, veteran's preference and Category Rating procedures do not apply. Applicants will be evaluated utilizing the documentation submitted and considered for the grade level in which the resume and/or educational transcripts supports. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Resume: Resume limited to 2 pages showing relevant experience (cover letter optional). Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF-52, etc.) To receive credit for experience contained in an application, the experience must be documented: Reflecting start date and end date in month/year format (MM/YYYY) AND Include the number of hours worked per week. College transcript: includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree, and Date Awarded (if applicable). NOTE: If you are selected, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day. SF-50: for proof of prior LEO coverage, if applicable. Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit a cover letter highlighting relevant experience, resume (not to exceed two pages), preferred duty location, list of references, and a writing sample by July 24, 2026, to Douglas Goldring, Associate General Counsel, at BOP-OGC-EmploymentLawApplications@bop.gov. Please include in the subject line “ELB Attorney - July 2026." Applications must be received on or before the application deadline date below: Friday, July 24, 2026 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE REFER TO: https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/ DO NOT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON-LINE. Applicants must submit a cover letter highlighting relevant experience with preferred duty location(s). Submit a complete/detailed resume or curriculum vitae. Limit your resume to 2 pages. If the only resume(s) received is/are longer than two pages, your application is ineligible for further consideration. Resume or curriculum vitae must contain all information listed in the Qualifications Section. Submit supporting documents (i.e. list of references, writing sample, transcripts, certification, registration, and/or license, if applicable). A complete application packet (including optional questionnaire responses) MUST be submitted directly to the following email address: BOP-OGC-EmploymentLawApplications@bop.gov

What to Expect Next

Applicants must submit a cover letter highlighting relevant experience, resume (not to exceed two pages), preferred duty location, list of references, and a writing sample by July 24, 2026, to Douglas Goldring, Associate General Counsel, at BOP-OGC-EmploymentLawApplications@bop.gov. Please include in the subject line “ELB Attorney - July 2026."

Additional Information

Special Conditions of Employment Section: Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee's Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation. All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check and must pass a review of their income tax filing history. 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 disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Applicant must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction). Preferred qualifications: Prior experience in labor and employment discrimination and/or general litigation is highly desired.