Attorney-Advisor (General)

Department of Energy Headquarters • Washington, DC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Inspector General (OIG), is hiring an Attorney-Advisor in its Office of Counsel. The attorney supports auditors and investigators working on performance and financial audits, inspections of management issues and administrative allegations, and investigations into alleged violations of law. Duties may be developmental when the position is filled below the full performance level.

The position is not remote. The selectee reports to an OIG duty station; limited, situational telework may be available under agency policy but is not guaranteed. The position is in the excepted service and does not confer competitive status. The employee must maintain active membership in good standing in a qualifying U.S. bar, obtain and maintain a Q security clearance, and comply with drug-testing requirements. A trial period of up to two years may be required, and financial disclosure may be required upon entry and annually.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Complete a full course of study at an American Bar Association-accredited law school and hold an LL.B. or J.D.
• Be a current, active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and maintain active membership while employed as a DOE-OIG attorney.
• Obtain and maintain a Q security clearance; be suitable for federal employment based on a background investigation.
• Be subject to preemployment and random drug testing for this Drug Testing Designated position.
• Provide proof of current active bar membership or a bar number and submit required legible transcripts if relying on education to qualify.
• For GS-12: Have one year of professional legal experience as an attorney, active membership in a state or D.C. bar, and advanced legal education indicating the ability to independently perform complex legal work, including coursework beyond the first professional degree in a directly related field.
• For GS-13: Meet the GS-12 requirements and have one additional year of professional legal experience as an attorney at a difficulty and responsibility level equivalent to GS-12 in federal service.
• For the GS-13 specialized-experience requirement, demonstrate at least three of the listed experience areas: assisting with legal research and analysis for case development or legal action; preparing oral and written opinions on basic organizational legal issues for senior-attorney review; reviewing and summarizing statutes, case law, regulations, or other legal materials; applying legal knowledge affecting an organization; or coordinating with internal and external entities on legal matters as part of a team.
• Meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements by the announcement closing date, October 22, 2026.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer Program.

Responsibilities

• Research statutes, court decisions, administrative tribunal decisions, and other legal and regulatory materials, and provide OIG leadership and staff with supporting documentation, information, and precedents concerning compliance and alleged breaches of federal laws, regulations, and directives related to DOE programs.
• Prepare complete oral and written legal opinions for supervisory review on issues affecting the OIG, including legal support concerning internal OIG operations.
• Review pending and proposed legislation, regulations, executive orders, and presidential directives, and draft comments on their potential effects on OIG programs and operations.
• Identify legal issues and propose resolutions in consultation with a senior attorney to advance the OIG's mission.
• Support ongoing litigation involving OIG legal matters, including proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Merit Systems Protection Board, under a senior attorney's direction.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Recruitment incentives may be authorized for newly appointed federal employees, subject to funding and management approval; an authorized incentive requires a service agreement of 6 months to 4 years.
• Relocation incentives may be authorized for current federal employees who must relocate to accept the position in a different geographical area, subject to funding and management approval; an authorized incentive requires a service agreement of 6 months to 4 years.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree