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Legal Jobs

Attorney-Adviser

U.S. Department of Justice

  • Washington, DC
  • 8 days ago
  • $143,913–$187,093 Per Year

Highlights

Specific responsibilities may include: Recommending proposed actions to be taken in the adjudication of administrative FOIA appeals by reviewing the administrative record and evaluating actions taken by Department of Justice components in processing initial FOIA requests; Conducting legal research and providing legal advice to a wide variety of federal agencies involving inquiries and assignments related to the application of FOIA and Privacy Act access laws; Developing a mastery of assigned area(s) of expertise and updating corresponding section(s) of the United States Department of Justice Guide to the Freedom of Information Act; Encouraging FOIA compliance by components of the Department of Justice; Providing instructional training and guidance to various federal Departments regarding compliance with the FOIA; and. Those teams include: the Administrative Appeals Staff, which adjudicates administrative appeals from Department components FOIA determinations; the Initial Request (IR) Staff, which processes FOIA requests on behalf of the Departments leadership offices; the IR FOIA Litigation Staff; which handles FOIA requests subject to litigation; or the FOIA Compliance Staff, which supports the Offices responsibilities to oversee and encourage government-wide compliance with the FOIA.

Numbers & Facts

LocationWashington, DC
Salary$143,913–$187,093 Per Year

Description

Summary

This is a public notice flyer. Applications will not be accepted through USA Jobs. If you are interested in applying, please see the official announcement on the DOJs Legal Careers page by following the links below:

Learn more about this agency

Summary

This is a public notice flyer. Applications will not be accepted through USA Jobs. If you are interested in applying, please see the official announcement on the DOJs Legal Careers page by following the links below:

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Washington, DC

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $143,913 - $187,093 per year Pay scale & grade

GS 12 - 14

Promotion potential 14

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule Full-time Travel Required 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Appointment type Permanent

Occupations and job series

  • 0905 Attorney

Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a union No

Drug test Yes Security clearance Top Secret Position sensitivity and risk Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

  • Credentialing
  • National security

Financial disclosure required No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number OIP-26-13076165-DE Control number 886373100

This job is open to

Help

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

This is a public notice flyer. Applications will not be accepted through USA Jobs. If you are interested in applying, please see the official announcement on the DOJs Legal Careers page.

Duties

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About the Office

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking experienced attorneys to work in the Office of Information Policy (OIP), located in Washington, DC. OIP manages the Departments responsibilities related to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which includes coordinating and implementing policy development and compliance government-wide for the FOIA, processing FOIA requests for the senior leadership offices within the Department, adjudicating all administrative appeals from denials by any Department component under the FOIA, and assisting in the defense of certain FOIA matters in litigation. OIP attorneys may be assigned/reassigned to any one of several distinct but inter-related teams based on mission-critical office needs. Those teams include: the Administrative Appeals Staff, which adjudicates administrative appeals from Department components FOIA determinations; the Initial Request (IR) Staff, which processes FOIA requests on behalf of the Departments leadership offices; the IR FOIA Litigation Staff; which handles FOIA requests subject to litigation; or the FOIA Compliance Staff, which supports the Offices responsibilities to oversee and encourage government-wide compliance with the FOIA.

Job Description

OIP is hiring an Attorney-Advisor to be assigned to its Administrative Appeals Staff. Primary duties of this position include the adjudication of appeals from Department component FOIA determinations. The incumbent will perform varied legal work involving the interpretation and application of laws, executive orders, regulations, precedents, and agency practices relating to the FOIA.

Specific responsibilities may include:

  • Recommending proposed actions to be taken in the adjudication of administrative FOIA appeals by reviewing the administrative record and evaluating actions taken by Department of Justice components in processing initial FOIA requests;
  • Conducting legal research and providing legal advice to a wide variety of federal agencies involving inquiries and assignments related to the application of FOIA and Privacy Act access laws;
  • Developing a mastery of assigned area(s) of expertise and updating corresponding section(s) of the United States Department of Justice Guide to the Freedom of Information Act;
  • Encouraging FOIA compliance by components of the Department of Justice;
  • Providing instructional training and guidance to various federal Departments regarding compliance with the FOIA; and
  • Providing written and oral legal advice to litigators or periodically serving as litigators in defending certain FOIA lawsuits.

Requirements

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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.
  • 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.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction).

Preferred qualifications: It is preferred that applicants have knowledge of and a demonstrated interest in the Freedom of Information Act and have administrative law and/or civil litigation experience. Candidates must have at least one-year FOIA processing / FOIA litigation experience to qualify at the GS-13 level. Promotion potential to a GS-14.

Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, tax and credit checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation. Applicants will be required to qualify for a Top Secret security clearance.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent).

Additional information

Salary

GS-12 - GS-13 ($102,415 - $158,322) with promotion potential to a GS-14 ($143,913 - 187,093)

See: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2025/DCB.pdf

Number of Positions

One

Travel

Very limited travel may be associated with this position.

Relocation Expenses

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

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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.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required documents

Required Documents

Help

Listed under the How to Apply section.

How to Apply

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Application Process

Applicants are required to submit a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience and justifying interest in the position), resume (not to exceed two pages), and a writing sample containing a brief or comparable analytic legal exposition that is your work. Resumes should include a detailed description of employment history, to include dates of employment (month/year). Materials should be submitted as one combined PDF file.

Applicants are encouraged to email application to: Laurie Day at Laurie.Day@usdoj.gov.

No telephone calls please. Please reference AP-2026-3 in your cover letter and put your name in the subject of the email. Applications must be received no later than 11:59 PM (ET) September 30, 2026.

Otherwise, please send to:

ATTN: Laurie Day

Office of Information Policy

441 G Street, NW

6th Floor

Washington, D.C. 20530

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Agency contact information

Laurie Day

Phone 202-514-4386 Email Laurie.Day@usdoj.gov Address Office of Information Policy

441 G Street, NW

6th Floor

Washington, DC 20530

US

Next steps

This is a public notice flyer. Applications will not be accepted through USA Jobs. If you are interested in applying, please see the official announcement on the DOJs Legal Careers page by following the links below:

This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Required Documents

Help

Listed under the How to Apply section.

How to Apply

Help

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit a cover letter (highlighting relevant experience and justifying interest in the position), resume (not to exceed two pages), and a writing sample containing a brief or comparable analytic legal exposition that is your work. Resumes should include a detailed description of employment history, to include dates of employment (month/year). Materials should be submitted as one combined PDF file.

Applicants are encouraged to email application to: Laurie Day at Laurie.Day@usdoj.gov.

No telephone calls please. Please reference AP-2026-3 in your cover letter and put your name in the subject of the email. Applications must be received no later than 11:59 PM (ET) September 30, 2026.

Otherwise, please send to:

ATTN: Laurie Day

Office of Information Policy

441 G Street, NW

6th Floor

Washington, D.C. 20530

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Expand Hide how to apply

Agency contact information

Laurie Day

Phone 202-514-4386 Email Laurie.Day@usdoj.gov Address Office of Information Policy

441 G Street, NW

6th Floor

Washington, DC 20530

US

Next steps

This is a public notice flyer. Applications will not be accepted through USA Jobs. If you are interested in applying, please see the official announcement on the DOJs Legal Careers page by following the links below:

This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships.

Expand Hide next steps

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

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