Attorney-Advisor (General)

Summary

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), is seeking a highly qualified Attorney-Advisor to provide expert legal counsel on complex and sensitive matters. The incumbent will report to a Supervisory Attorney- Advisor and support OIG programs by delivering timely advice, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and advancing the OIG's mission to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

Duties

As an Attorney-Advisor, you will be responsible for: Providing authoritative guidance legal advice and services relating to audits, evaluations, investigations, and other products from SBA-OIG components. Providing expert legal advice and guidance on complex cases or legal issues in one or more fields, including civil, criminal, and administrative law and procedure; ethics law; appropriations law; procurement law; legislative affairs; information disclosure law (FOIA/Privacy Act); and employment and labor law. Serving as a principal legal advisor on a full range of SBA-OIG programs, operations, policies, and legal interpretations, ensuring legal sufficiency and consistency with applicable laws, regulations, and OIG objectives. Providing legal advice to executive and senior leadership and representing or supporting the OIG in presenting legal positions before administrative or judicial bodies, congressional staff, or other external entities, as appropriate. Resolving complex factual and legal issues by conducting comprehensive legal analysis, developing innovative legal strategies, preparing authoritative legal opinions and recommendations, and advising leadership on matters with significant organizational or government-wide impact. The incumbent is expected to work independently in formulating legal advice and work products.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must demonstrate sufficient specialized experience to perform the duties of this position. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities, as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position. Specialized Experience Statement GS-12: Applicants must possess a J.D., LL.B., and/or LL.M professional law degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction), meet the GS-11 requirements, and possess at least 1 year of professional legal experience after admission to the bar at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-11 level including activities such as: (1) conducting legal research of policies, regulations, and/or compliance questions, including researching legal precedent; (2) drafting briefs, motions, or other legal documents; and (3) making oral presentations of legal research/analysis, OR received a Scientiae Juris Doctor degree (Doctor of Juridical Science degree). GS-13: Applicants must possess at least 3 years of professional experience after admission to the bar, including at least ONE YEAR of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-12 level in the Federal service or non-Federal service in the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act; ethics, whistleblower matters or legislative affairs and experience in ONE of the following legal areas: criminal or administrative investigations and procedure, federal grants or acquisitions, audits, or appropriations law. GS-14: Applicants must possess at least 4 years of professional experience after admission to the bar, including at least ONE YEAR of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-13 level in the Federal or non-Federal service in the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act; ethics, whistleblower matters or legislative affairs and experience advising on TWO of the following legal areas: criminal, civil or administrative investigations and procedure, federal grants or acquisitions, audits, or appropriations law. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. 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; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 09/14/2026.

Education

You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney Advisor positions. Education requirements include: a professional law degree J.D., LL.B., and/or LL.M.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Applicants meeting basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on additional assessments. One of these assessment is USA Hire. Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Your USA Hire assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments. The assessments relate to the following Competencies required to do the work of this position: Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Decision Making Written Communication Technical Credibility In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. One of the required assessments for this position is an online assessment that measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method based on your assessments. You will receive a score based on the responses to the assessment questions. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. If you meet basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories: 1. Best-Qualified: highly proficient with an overall comprehensive level of knowledge, skills and abilities related to the job based on a complete review of experience, education, and training as described in an applicant's responses to the assessment questions and resume. 2. Well-Qualified: competent in the position with an overall accomplished level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job based on a complete review of experience, training, and education as applicable, as described in an applicant's responses to the assessment questions and resume. 3. Qualified: an overall basic level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job based on a complete review of experience, education, and training, as described in an applicant's responses to the assessment questions and resume. Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

Required Documents

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date/time of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJOBs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission. 1. Your Resume must not include photographs. Resume length may not exceed 2 pages and must contain the following information: Name, address, telephone number, email address; Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade); If qualifying based on related unpaid (e.g. volunteer service) experience, you must provide hours worked per week and beginning/ending dates (mm/dd/yyyy to mm/dd/yyyy); If other than full time you must provide hours worked per week. PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. You must address the specific specialized experience required for each grade level of this position on your resume or application or you will be rated "Ineligible" for that grade level. Should you submit multiple resumes, only the latest uploaded resume will be reviewed. 2. In addition to the online application (resume and responses to the occupational questionnaire), you are required to submit the following forms, if applicable. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all documents are legible: If you are using education as a substitution for experience (the announcement will state whether this is allowed), or if there is an educational requirement for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcripts (unofficial or official) that clearly describes your qualifying education. If selected, official transcripts will be required; If you are claiming Veteran status, you must submit a copy of all required documents to support your claim (e.g.: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA disability letter)--see VetGuide; Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD-214 (showing the character of service) or other proof of service to receive consideration for veterans' preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit FedsHireVets.gov. CTAP/ICTAP/RPL Applicants: Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (if applicable), your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330, and your most recent performance appraisal.

How to Apply

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions will affect your rating. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience your rating may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online assessment and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: 1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button. 2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. 3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. 4. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification. 5. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements 6. Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account. To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account at https://www.usajobs.gov/ All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/

What to Expect Next

SUITABILITY, CLEARANCE & REQUIREMENTS: A background investigation may be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. As a co...

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must demonstrate sufficient specialized experience to perform the duties of this position. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities, as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position. Specialized Experience Statement GS-12: Applicants must possess a J.D., LL.B., and/or LL.M professional law degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction), meet the GS-11 requirements, and possess at least 1 year of professional legal experience after admission to the bar at a level of difficulty comparable to the GS-11 level including activities such as: (1) conducting legal research of policies, regulations, and/or compliance questions, including researching legal precedent; (2) drafting briefs, motions, or other legal documents; and (3) making oral presentations of legal research/analysis, OR received a Scientiae Juris Doctor degree (Doctor of Juridical Science degree). GS-13: Applicants must possess at least 3 years of professional experience after admission to the bar, including at least ONE YEAR of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-12 level in the Federal service or non-Federal service in the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act; ethics, whistleblower matters or legislative affairs and experience in ONE of the following legal areas: criminal or administrative investigations and procedure, federal grants or acquisitions, audits, or appropriations law. GS-14: Applicants must possess at least 4 years of professional experience after admission to the bar, including at least ONE YEAR of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-13 level in the Federal or non-Federal service in the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act; ethics, whistleblower matters or legislative affairs and experience advising on TWO of the following legal areas: criminal, civil or administrative investigations and procedure, federal grants or acquisitions, audits, or appropriations law. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. 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; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 09/14/2026.