General Attorney (Information and Privacy Law)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement • Greenwood Village, CO

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The General Attorney (Information and Privacy Law) joins the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), Government Information Law Division (GILD), within the Enforcement, General Law, and Litigation (EG&L) divisions. The position provides fast-paced legal advice and guidance to ICE programs and operational components on information and privacy law. It is an in-person position. One or more positions may be filled.

GILD attorneys advise ICE on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act, E-Government Act, Federal Records Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, information disclosure, confidentiality statutes, and related policies. They defend ICE in civil litigation, including FOIA, Privacy Act, and other Administrative Procedure Act-related cases in federal courts. Attorneys also assist with responses to Congress, media outlets, and other entities; handle third-party requests for agency information; review domestic and international information-sharing agreements; and coordinate with legal counterparts in DHS, the Department of Justice, and state and local partners.

Selected attorneys receive significant responsibilities immediately. They are expected to develop persuasive, legally supportable positions and routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, division management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and DHS. They also provide training to ICE operational programs and other stakeholders on information sharing, FOIA, the Privacy Act, confidentiality statutes, and related disclosure matters.

Applicants must be active members in good standing of an eligible U.S. bar and graduates of an accredited law school with a J.D. or LL.M. Relevant experience is required, though the announcement does not specify a number of years. The position has promotion potential to GS-14. A student loan repayment incentive may be available, subject to a service agreement. Federal employment is conditional on applicable background investigation, security clearance, and drug-screen requirements.

Requirements

• Be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• Graduate from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or LL.M. degree.
• Have relevant experience; the announcement does not specify a minimum number of years.
• Be able to produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, and prioritize competing assignments.
• Work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units.
• Be detail-oriented, take initiative, and work reliably, decisively, and professionally.
• Demonstrate integrity, organizational skills, sound professional judgment, strong client-service abilities, and superior written and oral advocacy skills.
• Tailor communications to clients and audiences, including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership.
• Successfully pass a federal background investigation and drug screening; selected applicants must obtain and maintain a Secret-level security clearance.
• Meet all requirements by the announcement's closing date.
• If male and born after December 31, 1959, certify registration with the Selective Service.
• Disclose current or recent political appointment service to the Human Resources Office if applicable.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support to ICE programs on FOIA, the Privacy Act, the E-Government Act, the Federal Records Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, and general information disclosure matters.
• Defend ICE in civil litigation, including FOIA, Privacy Act, and other APA-related lawsuits in U.S. federal courts.
• Assist in responding to Members of Congress, media outlets, and other entities.
• Handle third-party requests for agency information.
• Review domestic and international information-sharing agreements, including Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties and Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on confidentiality-related statutes, regulations, and policies.
• Liaise with DHS Office of General Counsel Headquarters, OPLA legal counterparts in other DHS components, the Department of Justice, and local and state partners on information law issues.
• Provide training to ICE operational programs and other stakeholders on information sharing, FOIA, the Privacy Act, confidentiality statutes, and other information disclosure matters.
• Craft persuasive, legally supportable positions addressing operational components' needs.
• Provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, division management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and DHS.

Benefits

• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• A student loan repayment incentive may be available, with a required service agreement if offered.
• Veterans' preference eligibility is considered a positive factor in attorney hiring.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level