Clarification from the agency

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.

OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing over 3,000 attorneys nationwide. OPLA provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices and serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

Selected attorneys will fill the Counsel position and primarily serve as DHS's agency counsel by representing agency interests in civil litigation and through the adjudication of administrative tort claims. Counsel work closely with the DHS Office of the General Counsel Headquarters (OGC HQ), other DHS component legal offices, and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) entities, such as the Civil Division-including the Office of Immigration Litigation and the Torts Branch-as well as U.S. Attorney's Offices throughout the nation.

Counsel in (DCLD) manage civil litigation against ICE and cases that otherwise impact ICE equities or its personnel. This includes assisting ICE personnel, OGC HQ, and DOJ in all aspects of federal civil litigation, such as:

• Development of legal strategy and arguments
• Motion practice
• Discovery
• Settlement negotiations
• Trials and appeals in cases ranging from common-law tort suits, lawsuits under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and suits seeking injunctive or declaratory relief under the Constitution, including class actions

Counsel also adjudicate administrative claims for personal injuries and property damage pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-2680. Additional responsibilities include:

• Conducting training regarding litigation risk
• Representing ICE's interests in litigation-related discussions with other agencies and DHS components
• Responding timely and thoroughly to agency taskings
• Drafting and providing opinions and comments on legislative proposals

The selected attorney(s) will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to research and craft persuasive, legally supportable positions to address the needs of agency operational components. They will routinely provide timely oral and written guidance to ICE officers and agents, division management, and senior leadership within OPLA, ICE, and OGC HQ.

Conditions of employment

• You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug screen for federal employment.
• If you are a male born after 12/31/59, you must certify registration with the Selective Service.
• You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs).
• You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• You may be required to serve a two-year trial period, if the requirement has not been met.
• You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Qualifications

Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on 05/18/2026. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.

In light of the nature of DCLD's work, attorney assignments are fast-paced, high-profile, and must be addressed in real-time. Attorneys selected in response to this announcement will be given significant responsibilities immediately.

Selectees must possess the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:

• Ability to prioritize multiple assignments effectively
• Exercise sound legal and practical judgment
• Efficiently produce high-quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues
• Work effectively in a fast-paced environment, both independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrate initiative and the ability to work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner

Applicants should be prepared to take on challenging assignments and contribute to the mission of protecting the homeland.

Bar Membership: You must be 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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including individuals with intellectual, severe physical, or psychiatric disabilities as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

All information and documents submitted as set forth in the Required Documents section will be reviewed to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

Qualified candidates will be rated by comparing each candidate's qualifications to the skills and experience pertinent to the position to be filled. Experience, education, training, awards, and performance will be considered. An applicant need not have specific knowledge and experience regarding each item listed in the Qualifications section to qualify for the position.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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 include all required documentation, as set forth below, with your application package before the closing date. No extensions will be granted. Failure to provide all the required information as listed in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect your overall rating.

Cover Letter: Your cover letter should detail the knowledge, skills, and abilities that qualify you for the position, consistent with this announcement. It will be assessed as part of your application package. Your cover letter must also include your full name; home address; home or work e-mail address(es); phone number(s) where we may contact you; name of law school, year of graduation, and year admitted to the bar.

Résumé: Your résumé must include the announcement number (ECU- 12764702-JP), your complete contact information (physical address, phone number, email address), work experience, education, training, and any professional awards you have received. For each work experience listed, please include job title, duties, employer's name, employer's telephone number, employer's address, and starting and ending dates (MM/YY). Please indicate whether we may contact your current supervisor.

Bar Membership/Certificate of Good Standing: Submit a copy of your bar card, certificate of good standing, or other documentary evidence to prove that you are an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, a U.S. a territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

If you are a current or former federal employee: Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.

If you are 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 about your most recent political appointment: position title, type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee), agency, and beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable): You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10-point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans' information.

You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and writing sample.

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