Attorney Advisor (General)

Office of the General Counsel • Washington, DC

11h

About The Position

This position is with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the General Counsel, and provides professional legal services to major USDA components and agencies. The attorney interprets and applies complex, overlapping, or conflicting federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, and case law to advise senior officials on legally consequential matters, including unsettled legal questions. The role conducts comprehensive legal research and prepares authoritative memoranda synthesizing extensive factual records and legal authorities into defensible conclusions. It also evaluates proposed regulations, policy directives, internal guidance, and agency actions for legal sufficiency, identifies deficiencies, and develops written recommendations that may shape agency policy, regulatory posture, or litigation risk. Relevant legal work includes administrative and federal litigation, particularly in USDA Marketing and Regulatory and Food Safety mission areas. This is an open-continuous announcement with an initial cutoff date of November 14, 2026, and monthly cutoffs thereafter. The position is advertised at GS-11 through GS-14, with specialized experience requirements that increase by grade.

Requirements

• Successful completion of a full course of study at an American Bar Association-accredited law school and a first professional law degree (LLB or JD); law school transcript required.
• Current membership in good standing of the bar of a state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Demonstrated specialized experience in legal research, excellent writing and communication skills, and a strong academic record; experience must be documented in the cover letter and resume.
• Meet the specialized experience requirements for the applicable GS grade (GS-11 through GS-14), or equivalent responsibility in the private sector or elsewhere.
• U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service or exempt.
• Pass background investigation and/or fingerprint check; selected applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Successfully pass E-Verify employment verification.
• Submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of initial appointment and annually thereafter if selected.
• For GS-13 and GS-14, undergo a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and credit report.
• Federal employees must receive payments by direct deposit.
• A probationary or trial period may be required, depending on appointment type; selectees may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of administrative and federal litigation, particularly related to USDA Marketing and Regulatory and Food Safety mission areas.
• Experience advising senior officials on legally consequential matters involving unsettled legal questions.
• Experience providing legal services to major components of an agency or organization and advising management on program operations.
• Experience working independently on complex assignments and determining methodologies, milestones, and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and apply complex federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, and case law to advise senior officials.
• Conduct comprehensive legal research and draft authoritative legal memoranda based on extensive factual records and multiple legal authorities.
• Evaluate proposed regulations, policy directives, internal guidance, and agency actions for legal sufficiency.
• Identify legal deficiencies and formulate written recommendations regarding agency policy, regulatory posture, or litigation risk.
• Provide legal advice, research, analysis, and interpretation of federal, state, and local laws.
• Prepare opinions, memoranda, pleadings, briefs, motions, litigation reports, and other legal documents.
• Support agency programs and litigation, and provide legal advice to administrative officials regarding program operations.
• Represent agencies or organizations in negotiations and legal proceedings, as applicable to experience and assignment.
• Plan and prioritize assignments and independently determine methodologies, milestones, goals, and completion points for complex assignments at higher grades.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package, with benefits for employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• Incentives may be authorized.

What This Job Offers

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