Attorney Advisor Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. OT-DE-12761106-TTL Department Customs and Border Protection
Salary $84,601.00 to $185,234.00 Grade 11 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/9/2025 Close Date 7/22/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, Regulations and Rulings Directorate, located in Washington, DC.

These positions are headquartered at 90 K Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20229. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

The public.

Duties

The Regulations and Rulings (RR) Directorate of the Office of Trade (OT), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is seeking interested candidates to apply to Attorney-Advisor positions, at the GS-0905-11, GS-0905-12, GS-0905-13, and GS-0905-14 levels, with a full performance level (FPL) of GS-0905-14. These assignments are full-time bargaining unit positions. Current practicing lawyers or recent graduates who are already members of a bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are eligible to apply. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, and the desired candidate should have an interest in international trade law, customs law, administrative law, and intellectual property law. Candidates with significant legal experience may be hired at a higher grade level.

Although a successful candidate may be assigned to any one of RR's three headquarters divisions (Border Security and Trade Compliance (BSTC), Commercial and Trade Facilitation (CTF), or Regulations and Disclosure Law (RDL)), priority will be given to those candidates who qualify to serve as an Attorney-Advisor in either the Exclusion Order Enforcement (EOE) Branch, within BSTC, or the Disclosure Law & Judicial Actions (DLJA) Branch, within RDL. All candidates must meet the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Section below and possess a juris doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school. But additional requirements are necessary for those candidates interested in applying for positions with the EOE Branch or the DLJA Branch.

A strong candidate for the EOE Branch has qualified for the patent bar, has a master's degree or bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or physics, or has substantial experience in computer programming. The preferred EOE Branch candidate also has litigation experience, especially appearing in federal district court or before the United States International Trade Commission (ITC). However, those candidates with litigation experience before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, United States Patent and Trademark Office, will also be considered for selection to the EOE Branch.

A strong candidate for the DLJA Branch possesses relevant legal experience with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or other information disclosure statutes. The ideal candidate has experience litigating FOIA cases, such as drafting motions. Experience providing legal advice on FOIA, the Privacy Act, or Trade Secrets Act is also desired.

This position starts at a salary of $84,601.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $185,234.00 (GS-14, Step 10) with promotion potential to $185,234 (GS-14, Step 10).

Working under general supervision, the incumbent exercises a significant degree of independence in completing the types of assignments typical of the Branch to which assigned. Typical work includes:

  • Develop binding rulings (e.g., in response to protests, requests for internal advice, or requests for reconsiderations and modifications of earlier rulings) with respect to classification, valuation, marking, country of origin of imports, or with respect to legal issues relating to trade issues in entry procedures, carrier and navigation matters, penalties for violations of customs laws, duty refunds, unfair trade practices (e.g., infringement of patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc.), and similar type of cases.
  • Adjudicate and give advice on cases involving the imposition, mitigation, remission, or cancellation of fines, penalties, forfeitures, and liquidated damages for violations of customs laws, regulations, and policies. The incumbent may perform work involved in deciding to accept or reject offers in compromise, and in deciding strategies for settling cases relating to significant penalties, forfeitures, and liquidated damages claims.
  • Develop appeal decisions on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases and perform work consistent with other information disclosure statutes, such as the Trade Secrets Act and Privacy Act. The incumbent may provide informal advice in these areas to the public, CBP field personnel, including law enforcement officers, and other Branches in RR.
  • Develop new or revised regulations pertinent to the functions of the Branch to which assigned or carry out other broad responsibilities with regard to the wide range of regulations falling within the purview of CBP, including title 8 U.S.C. and title 19 U.S.C. subject matters. The incumbent prepares briefing materials and briefs senior CBP, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of the Treasury officials about proposed regulations.
  • Review and prepare comments on and consult with officials of CBP, Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Treasury, and congressional committee staff members on proposed legislation, trade agreements, and Presidential actions affecting the programs of the Branch, RR, or the Office of Trade.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
  • DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
  • Financial Disclosure is required.
  • Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU

Qualifications

Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you are an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Education Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show your completion of the first professional law degree (LL.B. or JD) from an accredited institution. If applying to a GS-12 grade level position or higher, you must satisfy the legal experience requirements set forth below.

GS-11 Qualifications: Recent law school graduates with superior law student work or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:
  • Academic standing in the upper third of the attorney's law school graduating class;
  • Work or achievement of significance on one of the attorney's law school's official law reviews or journals;
  • Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school (e.g., membership in the Order of the Coif, winning a moot court competition, or membership on the moot court team that represents the attorney's law school in competition with other law schools);
  • Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation;
  • Significant summer law office clerk experience; or
  • Other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Preparing comprehensive and succinct administrative rulings, decisions, and interpretations of laws that address matters involving legal or factual questions and novel issues where the precedents which should apply are highly arguable and/or the facts are so complex that different possible constructions or interpretations can be placed on the laws, the facts, and/or the precedent involved.
  • Participating in meetings and briefings with representatives and legal counsel for private companies and industries, and staff members of federal agencies.
  • Working under the general supervision and guidance of the branch chief (or the supervisory equivalent) when adjudicating and giving advice on cases involving the imposition, mitigation, remission or cancellation of fines, penalties, seizures and forfeitures and liquidated damages for violations of customs laws, regulations, and policies.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 2 years of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Preparing comprehensive and succinct administrative rulings, decisions, and interpretations of laws that address matters involving difficult legal or factual questions and novel issues where the precedents which should apply are highly arguable and/or the facts are so complex that different possible constructions or interpretations can be placed on the laws, the facts, and/or the precedent involved.
  • Participating in meetings and briefings with representatives and legal counsel for private companies and industries, and high-level members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies.
  • Working under the general supervision of a branch chief (or the supervisory equivalent), with minimal guidance, when adjudicating and giving advice on cases involving the imposition, mitigation, remission or cancellation of fines, penalties, seizures and forfeitures and liquidated damages for violations of customs laws, regulations, and policies.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 3 years of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Preparing comprehensive and succinct administrative rulings, decisions, and interpretations of laws that address matters involving difficult legal or factual questions and novel issues where the precedents which should apply are highly arguable and/or the facts are so complex that different possible constructions or interpretations can be placed on the laws, the facts, and/or the precedent involved.
  • Participating in meetings and briefings with representatives and legal counsel for private companies and industries, and high-level members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies.
  • Working under the general supervision of a branch chief (or the supervisory equivalent), with minimal guidance, when adjudicating and giving advice on cases involving the imposition, mitigation, remission or cancellation of fines, penalties, seizures and forfeitures and liquidated damages for violations of customs laws, regulations, and policies.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 07/22/2025.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

This position is a designated position in the excepted service and is being filled by an alternative hiring process. Assignment into this position does not confer competitive status. You will remain in the excepted service for as long as you occupy this position.

Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.

Trial Period: You will be required to serve a trial period of 2 years.

Travel: The incumbent may be required to travel less than 10% of time.

Relocation: Relocation will not be paid.

Other Requirements: The incumbent must be flexible with his or her schedule and may be required to work long hours or adjust work schedule.

Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however the Office of Trade considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in the hiring process.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination. Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process, which may include personal interview(s).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for the Position:

  • Skill in efficiently producing high-quality analyses of complex and novel legal issues.
  • Knowledge in exercising sound legal judgment, prioritizing competing assignments, working effectively both independently and as part of a team.
  • Ability to collaborate across work units, including policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership.
  • Strong writing and oral communication skills.
  • Ability in representing the office in high-level meetings and providing legal analysis to senior executives.
If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager.

Required Documents

You must include the following information (in addition to specific information requested elsewhere in the vacancy announcement) to receive consideration for this position:

  • Cover Letter: A cover letter is required which states your interest in CBP.
  • Writing Samples: A writing sample, for which the applicant is the primary or only author, is required as part of the application package and may not exceed five pages.
  • Reference: At least three references.
  • Resume: A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining grade setting. A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, announcement number, veteran's preference, address, phone number, email, the last four digits of your Social Security Number, complete work history including a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade, and salary (if applicable). For additional required items, see the link. *Note: It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality. Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, to include Office 365 passwords. USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume?
  • Transcript: All applicants are required to submit a copy of your law school transcript (unofficial is acceptable at this time; however, official conferred copies will be required prior to entrance on duty) from an accredited law school or equivalent is required. If you are a current CBP employee within the position series announced, transcripts will not be required at the time of application; however, education will be verified if you are selected and you may be required to submit transcripts at that time. Education must be from an accredited institution. Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials. Note: If submitting documentation of an evaluation, transcripts are still required. For a listing of some accrediting agencies, please see www.naces.org. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
  • Law License: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you are an active member in good standing of the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory, or possession of the United States.
  • Are you a current or former federal employee? ALL CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT THE MOST RECENT COPY OF THEIR SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing competitive status: Tenure 1 or 2 in Block 24 and Position Occupied 1 in Block 34. Additionally, applicants should also submit a SF-50 reflecting the highest grade held on a permanent basis in the competitive service or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher, AND a SF-50 to support having met the time-in-grade requirement of having served 52 weeks at the grade level (or equivalent) below the grade level(s) for this position. Current CBP Employees are encouraged, but not required, to submit an SF-50(s) for CBP experience; however, additional SF-50(s) are required when using federal experience outside of CBP to receive credit towards the requirements above. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases, and accessions.
  • Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
    • Position title
    • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee)
    • Agency
    • Beginning and ending dates of appointment
It is your responsibility to verify that information submitted (i.e., resume, veterans documentation, and SF-50's) is received and accurate and must be in English.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

All interested candidates should submit a completed application package to Hiring Coordinator at rrhiring@cbp.dhs.gov, and the email subject line must read: Job Opportunity Announcement OT-DE-12761106-TTL- RR Attorney-Advisor, no later than 07/22/2025.

Questions regarding this announcement may be directed to rrhiring@cbp.dhs.gov.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information visit this link. Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to hc-recordsmgmt@cbp.dhs.gov.

Agency contact information

CBP Hiring Center
Address
Office of Trade
Please read entire announcement
Please apply online
Washington, DC 20229
US

Next steps

GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table.

The open period for this job opportunity announcement may be extended to allow for a sufficient applicant pool.

After review of the application packages, highly qualified applicants may be contacted for interviews.

Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement. Further selections may also be made for additional organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306 (Declaration for Federal Employment), and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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