Attorney-Advisor (General)

About the Office

The Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties, Office of the General Counsel, Justice Management Division, United States Department of Justice, is responsible for ensuring the Department's compliance with privacy and civil liberties-related laws, policies, and technical requirements, and appropriately minimizing related risks, particularly as to law enforcement and national security matters. OPCL also plays a central policy-making role in the Department's development and evaluation of legislative, regulatory, and other policy proposals affecting privacy, both domestically and internationally. OPCL also develops and provides Departmental privacy training; oversees responses to data breaches; and ensures the Department has adequate procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and redress complaints from individuals.

As an Attorney-Advisor (General) GS-0905-15, your typical work assignments may include the following:

• Provide legal advice and guidance to Department leadership and components on privacy and civil liberties matters.
• Provide policy advice concerning proposed legislative, regulatory, or policy proposals that impact privacy and civil liberties.
• Ensure the Department's compliance with privacy and civil liberties laws, regulations, and policies, and appropriately mitigate related risks.
• Develop and implement training program policy and specific training sessions;
• Oversee the Department's responses to data breaches;
• Ensure the Department has adequate procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and redress complaints from individuals;
• Prepare privacy-related reporting to Congress and other oversight bodies;
• Actively engage in multiple Department-wide working groups, including the Emerging Technology Board;
• Assess and establish controls to minimize privacy-related risks in uses of artificial intelligence (AI); and
• Review the information handling practices of the Department to ensure that such practices are consistent with the protection of privacy and civil liberties, particularly in law enforcement and national security matters.

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period. See “Additional Information” section for further details.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be an active member of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and have at least six (6) years relevant J.D. experience. Applicants must have demonstrated experience in handling privacy issues and working in a demanding, fast-paced environment.

The successful applicant will likely also possess:

• Exceptional writing and oral communication skills;
• Strong speaking and presentation skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and the demonstrated ability to lead a team and also collaborate with others to achieve a common goal;
• Creative problem-solving skills to resolve unusually complicated legal matters, often with little on-point legal authority, with the goal of supporting a client's mission while minimizing privacy-related risks;
• Working knowledge of privacy laws, regulations, and policies that apply to the U.S. Government, and familiarity with law enforcement and national security law and policy;
• Highly developed ability to recognize knowledge and abilities the applicant lacks, and to learn new skills quickly and seek help where necessary;
• Demonstrated ability to adapt, quickly shift priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must complete a Background Investigation to Include drug testing.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
• May require completion of one-year probationary period.

• This position requires the incumbent to be able to hold a security clearance at the Top Secret/SCI security level.

  Preferred qualifications: Relevant certification in a privacy-related field, for example, one of the International Association of Privacy Professionals Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) certifications.