General Attorney

About the role

Join a dynamic team of attorneys providing fast-paced legal advice and guidance to clients at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Executive Communications Unit (ECU) and leverage your legal experience to protect the homeland in this ever-evolving area of law.

General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

What you will do

• OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing over 3,000 attorneys nationwide.
• In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 143 offices located within nine Regions throughout the United States.
• Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens.
• OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.
• OPLA attorneys provide legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and Bivens v.
• Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed.
• Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal and employment law.
• OPLA attorneys represent the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Contract Board of Appeals.
• OPLA attorneys support the Department of Justice in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE.
• ICE's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor's (OPLA) Executive Communications Unit (ECU) is seeking one or more attorneys for a Counsel position in Washington, D.C. ECU primarily coordinates and processes the legal advice provided to ICE program offices and other stakeholders on a wide array of legal issues and Agency matters.
• Assignments within ECU are fast-paced and involve high-profile work.
• Key responsibilities include the following: Assess and manage the assignment and workflow of tasks issued by ICE Office of the Director, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the DHS Office of the General Counsel (OGC), OPLA leadership, and OPLA management officials often within short deadlines.
• Examples of tasks include requests for legal review; executive correspondence; agency responses to congressional and media inquiries; changes to proposed policies and rulemaking; senior leadership briefing materials; requests for legal opinions, and information related to ICE's immigration enforcement and other authorities; and requests for information related to OPLA's mission and areas of responsibilities.
• Manage specific portfolios, including general audits with the ICE Audit liaison Office and audits by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
• Coordinate responses to Congressional notices and updates, Congressional private bills, and Questions for the Record (QRF).
• Recommend and develop efficiencies in document management and tasking clearance procedures to include ensuring the consistency and quality of internal and external communications.
• Other special projects and initiatives as assigned by OPLA Leadership.
• ECU's portfolio allows ECU attorneys the unique opportunity to work directly with other OPLA divisions and regional locations, a broad array of program offices within ICE, and other stakeholders both within and outside of DHS on high-profile matters.
• The work is fast-paced and requires the ability to: (1) work closely and diplomatically with attorneys and leadership in other OPLA divisions, and staff in other ICE program offices; (2) prioritize multiple assignments with competing deadlines; (3) efficiently exercise sound judgment and issue-spotting in a wide array of complex legal matters; (4) work effectively both independently and as part of a team; (5) take initiative in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner; (6) be detail-oriented, accurate, and accountable; and (7) quickly synthesize information and provide accurate and succinct summaries and briefings to OPLA management and senior leadership regarding complex taskings.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or LLM degree.

Please see Required Documents for more information. A student loan repayment incentive may be available; if such an incentive is available and is authorized, a service agreement will be required.

How you will be evaluated

To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire *** and submit the required documentation outlined under the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below. The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/24/2026 to receive consideration.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

If you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

Documents you must provide

• You must include all required documentation, as set forth below, with your application package before the closing date.
• No extensions will be granted.
• Failure to provide all of the required information as listed in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect your overall rating.
• Cover Letter: Your cover letter must discuss your interest in the position; your pertinent knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience; and your personal characteristics and competencies that qualify you for the position as detailed in the Duties and Qualifications sections of this announcement.
• Your cover letter must also include your full name; home address; home or work e-mail address(es); phone number(s) where we may contact you (cell, work, and/or home); name of law school, year of graduation, and year admitted to the bar.
• Resume: Your resume must include your complete contact information (physical address, phone number, email address), work experience and education.
• For each work experience listed, please include job title, duties, employer's name, employer's telephone number, employer's address, and starting and ending dates (MM/YY).
• Please indicate whether we may contact your current supervisor.
• Bar Membership/Certificate of Good Standing: Submit a copy of your bar card, certificate of good standing, or other documentary evidence to prove that you are an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, a U.S. a territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Transcript: If you have practiced law for fewer than five years, you must submit a copy of your law school transcript.
• Your transcript must include your grade-point average or class ranking, where available.
• If you have practiced law for five years or more, no transcript is required.
• If you are a current or former federal employee: Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
• If you are a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee: Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information about your most recent political appointment: Position title, type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee), agency and beginning and ending dates of appointment.
• Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable): You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility.
• The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable.
• If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification.
• This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
• View more veterans' information.
• You may be asked to provide a writing sample, and/or a copy of your recent performance appraisal.

What to expect next

You will receive an acknowledgement email confirmation once you have successfully submitted your application. Applications will be reviewed for completeness.

Failure to provide all required documentation as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating.

Eligible applicants will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration as vacancies become available. Highly qualified applicants may be contacted for an interview. If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer.

Upon acceptance, the drug test and the suitability/background investigation will be initiated.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and OMB plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Additional information

The salary range listed in this announcement reflects the full performance level of the position, up to GS-15, step 10 or $197,200. The starting salary range for this position is between GS-11, step 1, and GS-13, step 10, or $85,447 to $158,322. Promotion Potential: This position has promotion potential to the GS-15 level.

When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform duties at a higher level and administrative approval. Further, promotion from the GS-14 level to the GS-15 level is subject to OPLA's internal guidance.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is a non-bargaining position. E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify 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.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

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

Financial Disclosure: If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment.

Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and 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. Background Investigation: DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy.

To meet these standards, all selected applicants for this position must undergo a background investigation and successfully obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level as a condition of placement into this position.

This process may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support, and tax obligations, and a review of certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Drug Test: Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace.

All applicants tentatively selected for employment are subject to pre-employment drug testing, and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative result. OPLA will ensure that applicants with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations when appropriate.

If reasonable accommodation is required for any part of the application process, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.

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. One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement.