Attorney-Adviser (General)

The position is located in Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) which is responsible for reviewing and commenting on the constitutionality of pending legislation. All executive orders and substantive proclamations issued by the President are reviewed by OLC for form and legality. The Office reviews all proposed orders of the Attorney General including regulations that require the Attorney General's approval.

Duties

The Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking highly qualified attorneys to serve as Attorney-Advisers in Washington, D.C. The Office's principal function is to assist the Attorney General in fulfilling the role of legal adviser to the President and Executive Branch agencies. For more information, please visit OLC's internet website, http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/.

OLC's responsibilities include the following:

• Advising the Attorney General, the Counsel to the President, the General Counsels of executive departments and agencies, and the various components of the Department of Justice on constitutional and statutory matters.
• Resolving legal disputes within the Executive Branch through the issuance of authoritative legal opinions.
• Reviewing for constitutionality proposed legislation.
• Reviewing for form and legality all executive orders and substantive proclamations and memoranda proposed to be issued by the President as well as all Attorney General Orders including regulations that require the Attorney General's approval.

Salary

• $121,785 - $197,200/year

Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction) and have at least one year of post-J.D. legal experience.

OLC is highly selective in its hiring because OLC attorneys handle some of the most difficult and important legal issues confronting the Executive Branch. The ideal candidate would have exceptional academic credentials, a judicial clerkship or comparable experience, a strong background in constitutional law, outstanding legal research and writing skills, and the ability to obtain a security clearance.

Other Information GS-0905-13 to 15$121,785 - $197,200 (Salary includes locality pay) This position is subject to the availability of funds at the time a hiring decision is made. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy Selective Service: If you were born male, on or after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Additional information is found at: www.sss.gov. Required Documents

Applicants must submit the following documents via email: 1) a resume; 2) a cover letter addressing the qualifications listed above; 3) a writing sample; 4) a law school transcript; 5) a copy of your most recent performance rating (if applicable); and 6) a copy of your most recent non-award SF-50 (if applicable).

How to Apply

Submit all your required documents and/or questions to OLCRecruit@usdoj.gov.

Applications received after 11:59PM on February 4, 2026, will not be considered.