Clarification from the agency

This announcement opens January 26, 2026. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until this vacancy is filled, or February 20, 2026, whichever is later. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM (EST) ON January 30, 2026, WILL RECEIVE FIRST CONSIDERATION.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is seeking attorneys to join its dynamic, high-performing team. Attorneys at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) work on a diverse and engaging portfolio, providing legal advice and counsel to agency leadership responsible for governmentwide leadership and direction in the strategic management of the Federal workforce.
OGC Attorneys perform a wide range of legal duties in support of OPM's mission. Ideal candidates will have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Federal employee benefits, compensation, leave, and retirement, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, other Federal health and insurance programs, and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
• Internal and governmentwide labor relations matters, including advising human resources offices and agency management on collective bargaining issues
• Contract and procurement matters, including government contracts, interagency and intergovernmental agreements, and acquisitions, and representing the agency before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA)
• Fiscal law issues such as appropriations, bona fide need requirements, augmentation, interagency financing arrangements, authorization concerns, and legislative drafting
• Government ethics matters, including conflicts of interest, standards of conduct, post-government employment restrictions, outside employment, gifts, external engagements, and financial disclosure requirements and reviews, employee counseling, and ethics training
• Managing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) programs, including making determinations on FOIA requests and exemptions and developing and implementing policies and procedures for the agency's FOIA program
• Supporting the Department of Justice in Federal court litigation

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
• This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications: At the GS-12 level and above: Applicants with one or more years of post Juris Doctorate (J.D.) legal work experience as a practicing attorney, such as a judicial clerkship or in general law practice, must have:

• A J.D. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association;
• Active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia; and
• At least one year of experience to qualify at the GS-12 level; at least two years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; and at least three years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-14 level; and at least four years of progressively responsible experience to qualify at the GS-15 level.

Preferred Qualifications

• The ability to provide excellent customer service and to exercise sound judgment and decision making in challenging situations;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• High competence in legal research and analysis, including the ability to effectively integrate and synthesize facts and law to make legally sound decisions, including in compressed timeframes;
• The ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment;
• Willingness to consider diverse perspectives and ability to navigate changing circumstances;
• Ability to effectively manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently;
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships, both within and outside OGC;

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume;
2. A Cover Letter, which includes an identification of the GS level(s) for which you are applying;
3. Proof of active membership, in good standing, of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia;
4. Other supporting documents, as applicable:
   • Transcript: If you are applying at the GS-11 level, you will be required to submit your transcript before your application will be considered complete. If you are applying at the GS-12 level or above, you may be required to submit a transcript if you advance in the selection process.
   • Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, OPM considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.
   • Performance Appraisals: Current Federal employees must submit their last three performance appraisals, or explain why three are not available (e.g. employed in the government for fewer than three years).

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Please do not submit any other documentation.

Next steps