Attorney Advisor

Summary

This position is located in the U. S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Office of Policy (OP) The Attorney Advisor serves as a member of the OP legal team performing professional legal research and analysis of cases, statutes, regulations, and other legal sources to determine proper law and legal procedure; assessing the impact on EOIR policy objectives and OP operations; and making and implementing related recommendations.

Duties

Drafting interpretive legal and policy documents, including rulemaking, training, and program related documents, and responding to questions from Federal, State and local agencies, Members of Congress, private and public interest groups, industry concerns, and members of the general public. Drafting rulemaking documents and legal memoranda, including both regulatory text and preamble language to support and justify agency policy positions, through collaboration with team members to achieve work products that are thoroughly researched and align with agency policy objectives. Conducting legal research and analysis on program authorities, fiscal and administrative law considerations, and other general law issues relevant to the planning, development, and implementation of OP projects and initiatives. Assessing program compliance with applicable legal obligations and providing guidance to relevant EOIR personnel. Conducting research and comprehensive legal reviews of draft regulations, policy directives, operational concepts, and operational activities to ensure consistency with and furtherance of EOIR's mission and policy objectives. Assessing rulemaking policies for administrative soundness, efficiency, economical operation, and consistency with agency's mission and intent of the law.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Attorney Advisor position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Education: Applicants must possess an LL.B. or a J.D. degree. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.) AND Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your first license and the State from which it was issued.) AND FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have two full years (24 months) of post Juris Doctorate legal experience. FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have three full years (36 months) of post Juris Doctorate legal experience. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your assessment questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name; position title; Federal grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

How You Will Be Evaluated

If it is determined that you meet the minimum qualification requirement, your application will be identified for referral to the hiring manager for further review and consideration. There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veteran's preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g. the DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10- point preference must submit Standard From SF-15, Application for 10- Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of the SF-15, which list the types of 10- point preferences and the required supporting document (s). Applicants should note that SF-15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of non-service connected disabilities pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch or Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retirement list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more.)In order to be rated as meeting the minimum qualifications, we must be able to determine from your application package that you have the education and experience that is required. Applicants who have qualifying experience performed on less than a full-time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.Your resume MUST contain your full name, some form of contact information (phone number, email address and/or living address), and the following employment information: Employer name and location for each position held. From and to dates (MM/YY-MM/YY or from MM/YY to "present") for each position held. The month and year is required to fully credit your time. For part-time positions, please include number of hours worked per week, positions that do not include this information will be assumed as full-time (40 hours a week). Grade/levels held for each federal position. (Ex. GS-11; IR-06; FV-G...etc.) Detailed descriptions of experience under each position held. (Applicants must provide specific supporting examples to show that they meet the qualifications of the position shown in the announcement.) Any submitted documents not required or requested for this vacancy will not be considered (i.e. training certificates, case filings, letter of recommendations, etc.). (ALL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION PRIOR TO FINAL SELECTION.)

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by the closing date of this announcement, which includes: Your Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. A complete Assessment Questionnaire. Law School Transcripts Proof of Bar membership Note: Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your Resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MMYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name, position title, grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/17/2026, the closing date of the announcement. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the assessment questionnaire, which can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13095259. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact weston.v.sperbeck@usdoj.gov. You must submit a complete application by the close of the announcement.

What to Expect Next

You will be notified of your application status during the hiring process, as applicable. You may check your application status by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking "Application Status". The process may take up to 6 weeks.The four points of notification are: Application Received or Application Incomplete Minimum Qualification Requirement Met/Not Met Eligible (Application Referred) or Eligible (Application Not referred) Selected or Not Selected If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview.

Additional Information

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must claim their status when completing their application in the online application process and attach supporting documentation. (See "Required Documents" section.) Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.

In order to qualify for the Attorney Advisor position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Education: Applicants must possess an LL.B. or a J.D. degree. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.) AND Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your first license and the State from which it was issued.) AND FOR THE GS-13 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have two full years (24 months) of post Juris Doctorate legal experience. FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have three full years (36 months) of post Juris Doctorate legal experience. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your assessment questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name; position title; Federal grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.