Clarification from the agency

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

The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) is the largest legal program within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing over 3,000 attorneys nationwide to provide a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.

OPLA's Enforcement, General Law, and Litigation (EG&L) divisions play a critical role in advancing ICE's homeland security and public safety mission. Through close client engagement, EG&L divisions provide expert legal advice and guidance to ICE personnel responsible for enforcing the nation's immigration, customs, and criminal laws and policies.

Counsel in EG&L defend the operational authorities and decisions of ICE officers and agents in federal courts and support the advocacy of ICE attorneys before immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals. Special emphasis is placed on cases involving criminal aliens, human rights violators, and individuals who threaten national security.

Additionally, EG&L divisions advise and provide legal and prudential counsel to a wide range of operational and policy clients within ICE on matters related to contracts, fiscal and information law, as well as ethics and regulatory issues.

The Commercial and Administrative Law Division (CALD) portfolio generally encompasses two primary practice areas: procurement and administrative law, based in Washington, D.C., and revenue recovery, based in Williston, Vermont.

CALD attorneys directly support the mission of the ICE Office of Acquisition Management, the ICE Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and OPLA oversight of major procurements and fiscal obligations. They are responsible for advising and assisting ICE officials-including the Head of Contracting Activity-in carrying out ICE responsibilities related to acquisition programs and operations.

In addition to procurement and fiscal matters, CALD attorneys provide legal counsel and representation in a variety of practice areas, including general administrative law, environmental law, and intellectual property law.

CALD also advises the ICE Health Service Corps on issues such as the portability of professional licenses for contract medical service providers, expenditure of appropriations for health care services, Collaborative Practice Agreements with Advanced Practice Providers, and matters involving contract service providers.

Procurement and Administrative Law Attorneys:

• Advise and assist ICE officials in carrying out ICE responsibilities related to acquisition programs and inquiries involving fiscal and appropriations law.
• Provide oral and written legal advice on all stages of the acquisition process, including acquisition planning, solicitation, award, and contract administration.
• Litigate bid protests before the Government Accountability Office and claims before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.
• Assist Department of Justice counsel in all aspects of bid protest and claims litigation before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
• Provide legal counsel and representation in a variety of practice areas, including federal procurement law, fiscal law, appropriations law, suspension and debarment, general administrative law, and intellectual property law.

Revenue Recovery Attorneys:

Revenue recovery attorneys provide comprehensive legal advice on all matters related to collections on delinquent immigration bond and civil enforcement debts, real estate acquisition and leasing, environmental law, and damages to government-owned vehicles. In this capacity, they:

• Review breaches of immigration bonds and prepare records of proceedings for demand letters to delinquent bond companies.
• Represent ICE in hearings before Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) on employee debts.
• Provide advice and legal reviews on National Environmental Policy Act analyses, historic preservation requirements, and compliance with the Endangered Species Act.
• Draft purchase and sale agreements and review title and deeds for real estate purchases.
• Assist Department of Justice attorneys by drafting pleadings, assembling administrative records, and preparing declarations for immigration bond, environmental, and real estate litigation.

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 05/20/2026. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Applicants should be able to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, and prioritize competing assignments. They should be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, as well as across work units.

Applicants should be detail-oriented and demonstrate a strong interest in supporting and providing exceptional client services to program offices, including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership. The ability to tailor communications to specific audiences is essential.

Additionally, applicants should be able to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner.

Applicants should possess the following characteristics and competencies: integrity, sound professional judgment, strong organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, exceptional client service skills, the ability to function both independently and cooperatively, and superior written and oral advocacy skills.

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, to include persons 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.

To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12954276 and submit the required documentation outlined under the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below.
The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/20/2026 to receive consideration.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

If you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.

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 of 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 must discuss your interest in the position; your pertinent knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience; and your personal characteristics and competencies that qualify you for the position as detailed in the Duties and Qualifications sections of this announcement. 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 (cell, work, and/or home); name of law school, year of graduation, and year admitted to the bar. If you apply for positions in one or more locations, you should indicate your order of preference in your cover letter.

Resume: Your resume must include your complete contact information (physical address, phone number, email address), work experience and education. 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.

Writing Sample: A writing sample demonstrating your legal analytical abilities must be submitted as part of your application package, for which you must be the principal author. It should not exceed 10 double-spaced pages.

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 writing sample, and/or a copy of your recent performance appraisal.

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