Attorney Advisor

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Office of Policy (OP), Public Resources and Communications Division (PRCD). This Attorney Advisor serves in an OP legal team composed of attorneys, judicial law clerks, paralegals, and other professional and support staff. As assigned by the Assistant Director, the Attorney Advisor works at the direction of the Deputy Assistant Director and the PRCD Chief. This positions is in-person.

Duties

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. Monitoring and assessing program compliance with applicable legal obligations and provides guidance to program management teams. Drafting interpretive legal and policy documents, including program related documents, and responses on questions from Federal, State and local agencies, Members of Congress, private and public interest groups, industry concerns, and members of the general public. Providing guidance on complex legal questions or factual, immigration issues for use in the review, interpretation and application of immigration law, to facilitate EOIR's public resource and communication portfolio. Conducting 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.

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 professional legal experience that includes the following: Analyzing complex legal questions and factual immigration issues for use in the review, interpretation, and application of immigration law; Drafting policies, procedures, training, or other highly complex legal work products involving the analysis and application of existing, new, or amended regulations, legislation, and other changes in law; AND Using effective oral and written communication and negotiation skills to communicate assessments to administrative adjudicators or other subject matter experts, understanding and acting upon detailed oral and written instructions, and demonstrating a commitment to personal and organizational success. FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have three full years (36 months) of professional legal experience that includes the following: Evaluating and identifying potential rulemaking or other large-scale policy initiatives that promote agency policy objectives and address operational concerns, legal cases or other impacts to the activities of the agency; Conducting comprehensive legal reviews of draft regulations, policy directives, and operational concepts in order to provide substantive and procedural advice that will resolve impediments to the agency's ability to lawfully execute its mission; AND Providing sound recommendations in response to a wide range of questions of immigration law and policy involved in the operations of the Agency and the effect of such operations on other activities, Government agencies, industry, and the general public 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.

Evaluations

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.)

How to apply You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/04/2026, 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/13006154. 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.

Other 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.