Attorney Adviser

About the role

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent office whose mission is to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability throughout the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In our dynamic environment, the OIG conducts investigations, audits, evaluations, and inspections to enhance program effectiveness and efficiency and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and mismanagement in DHS programs and operations.

What you will do

• This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT, applications will be accepted until January 25, 2027 or until vacancies are filled.
• Attorney Advisors (General) in the Office of Counsel (OC) provide legal advice, services, and policy recommendations to the Inspector General and a nationwide staff of auditors, information technology experts, investigators, and program analysts.
• Typical work assignments include representing the OIG before administrative bodies, conducting investigations into suspected violations of laws of the United States and rules and regulations relating to programs and operations of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), providing legal advice and policy recommendations to the Inspector General and OIG program offices on civil, criminal, and administrative law matters, including program fraud, ethics, contracting, and procurement.
• The range of legal duties include: GENERAL LAW DIVISION Advising OIG leaders and program offices on matters associated with immigration law, administrative law, civil and criminal procedure, investigative techniques, law enforcement, and - of particular current interest - intelligence, national security, classification, acquisitions, ethics, fiscal law, and federal criminal prosecution.
• Conducting legal sufficiency reviews of DHS OIG audits, inspections, investigations, subpoenas, law enforcement/ investigative policy, Giglio determinations, consistent with the Inspector General Act of 1978 and other applicable authorities.
• Providing advice concerning the conduct of criminal investigations, inspections, and evaluations.
• Serving as Agency Counsel to the DOJ and USAOs for federal litigation involving DHS OIG matters.
• Providing training to various DHS OIG audiences regarding issues within the General Law Division's portfolio.
• Advising clients on the proper handling, safeguarding, and dissemination of classified information.
• INFORMATION LAW AND DISCLOSURE DIVISION Providing legal advice to internal and external stakeholders on issues impacting the entire breadth of the DHS OIG's portfolio, including Touhy regulations, information disclosure, Privacy Act (PA), and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
• Serving as an attorney advisor researching, interpreting, and opining on novel and complex information law issues, including laws, statutes, and regulations pertaining to the FOIA and PA.
• Serving as agency counsel in FOIA/PA litigation.
• Providing training to various DHS OIG audiences on various disclosure related topics.
• PERSONNEL LAW DIVISION Providing advice to managers on various personnel issues to include, but not limited to, misconduct, discipline, performance, leave issues, and Equal Employment Opportunity matters.
• Providing advice to the Human Resource Division on personnel issues, drafting, and providing legal sufficiency reviews for directives, policies, and guidance.
• Providing training to managers and employees on various personnel related topics.
• Representing DHS OIG before various administrative bodies including the Office of Special Counsel, Merit Systems Protection Board, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Serving as Agency Counsel to the DOJ and USAOs for federal litigation involving personnel matters.
• WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION DIVISION - INVESTIGATIVE COUNSEL Conducting investigations, drafting and preparing the investigative case, which includes: identifying the primary nature of the allegations, specifying the potential violations of law, rule or regulation, specifying the focus of the investigations, considering coordination of investigative efforts with other authorities, projecting the type of evidence that will be required and the investigative steps and strategies that should be employed, and conducting interviews and reviewing and analyzing of documentary evidence during the course of the investigation.
• Analyzing the record, evaluating facts, determining questions of law, and either recommend adoption of a decision prepared by another attorney/investigator or draft a thorough decision with well-reasoned analysis and recommendation for consideration and adoption by agency officials who exercise final authority in such matters.
• Conducting complaint intake to determine whether complaints, supplemented when necessary by complainant interviews, constitute complaints of reprisal warranting investigation.
• Serving as experts in the area of federal whistleblower law and policy, advising the Inspector General and Counsel on updates and developments in the law.

Education

Education requirements include: Unofficial Transcripts must be submitted with your application packages. A professional law degree, J.D., LL.B., and /or LL.M.

You must be a graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and be a current active member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar. for an attorney position.

All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

Special Instructions For 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.

How you will be evaluated

Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process.

Basis for evaluation: If eligible and meeting basic qualifications, your application package will be evaluated in conjunction with your résumé and supporting documents for the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to successfully perform the duties of this position: Knowledge of research strategies and techniques sufficient to research the most complex legal issues.

The issues researched are almost always factually complex and are in areas of the law which are often in a continual state of evolution, thus requiring atypical and innovative research strategies.

Ability to communicate effectively with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics in writing clearly, concisely and persuasively, with particular emphasis on the ability to analyze and explain complex legal issues.

Ability to communicate effectively orally with diverse clients and constituencies on varied and complex topics and independently present legal conclusions to adjudicatory authorities. Ability to maintain effective working and reporting relationships with professional peers, support staff and management officials.

Ability to organize work effectively to meet established deadlines and priorities related to legal cases and matters. Please be advised that DHS-OIG Attorney positions are in the Excepted Service. As such, these positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications stated herein. We will perform an initial review of applications to determine basic eligibility and minimum qualifications for the position, and numeric scores will not be assigned.

Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the EEOC considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.

Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their application submission documentation.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.

In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

Documents you must provide

• Your Resume (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES) showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
• Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified.
• If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of your qualifications, you will not receive consideration for the position.
• This position has a basic education requirement; you must submit a copy of your official or unofficial law school Transcripts for further consideration.
• An official transcript is required before being appointed.
• Proof of current and active BAR Membership in good standing.
• During the initial review of applications, the Agency will accept photocopies of BAR Membership Cards or screenshots providing proof of active membership in a BAR Association that reflects the bar's jurisdiction or territory, the attorney's full name, bar number, date of admission, and bar status (i.e. active, inactive, retired, etc.).
• Copy of one recent Legal Writing Sample, not to exceed 10 pages.
• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable.
• Current or Former Federal Employees (if applicable) - please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" which preferably shows your current title, series and grade (do not submit an Award SF-50).
• If your current grade is not your highest permanent grade held, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing your highest grade held.
• Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (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 letter.) Current or Former Political Appointees (if applicable) - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.
• If you are currently or have been a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch within the last 5 years, you must disclose this in your application package.
• Failure to submit documents required may result in loss of consideration.

What to expect next

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process.

To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment. Interview (If applicable): Interviews are required for this position.

Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act.

Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to ***.

Additional information

This position is in the excepted service. It is filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. If you are a current Federal Career/Career-Conditional employee, you will be placed on an Excepted appointment.

This appointment does not confer eligibility to be non-competitively converted to an appointment in the competitive service.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.

Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select Benefits.

Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty.

False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. Additional identical positions may be filled from this announcement at a later date. Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy.

To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Top Secret/SCI as a condition of placement into this position. DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707.

Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.

To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.