General Attorney (Trade Regulation) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. 12791704-25-BC Department Federal Trade Commission
Salary $120,579.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 11 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/8/2025 Close Date 9/25/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition is seeking attorneys interested in competition enforcement, and work in support of the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act.

Duties

The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition is seeking attorneys interested in competition enforcement and work in support of the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Opportunities are in the following areas, depending on agency need:

Enforcement divisions: Mergers I, Mergers II, Mergers, III, Mergers IV, Anticompetitive Practices I, Anticompetitive Practices II, Health Care, and Technology Enforcement.

The Bureau's Mergers I-IV Divisions primarily review HSR merger filings, investigate non-HSR transactions that raise potential competition concerns, and litigate to block deals that may substantially lessen competition in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act.

The Bureau's conduct divisions investigate and litigate a wide variety of potentially anticompetitive conduct claims, seeking to enforce the Clayton Antitrust Act, Section 5 of the FTC Act, and the Sherman Antitrust Act. These divisions collectively examine industries spread across the FTC's entire jurisdiction, with the Health Care and Technology Enforcement Divisions focusing primarily on those industries.


Attorneys in the Premerger Notification Office (PNO) are experts in HSR law and practice, and they administer the HSR program for both the FTC and the DOJ. They conduct the initial review of transactions subject to the HSR Act, and if the filings raise a competitive issue, coordinate the clearance process between the FTC and DOJ. As an attorney in PNO, you will administer all aspects of the Premerger Notification program and process, review, and analyze filings made pursuant to the HSR Act. Incumbents of this position will draft policy memos; facilitate relations with State AGs; provide clarity for the business community through public engagement; manage the clearance process for both the FTC and DOJ; and create reports for Congress about the HSR rules, statistics, and Bureau enforcement actions. In addition, incumbents coordinate with the DOJ on joint workstreams such as the HSR Annual Report.


As an enforcement attorney in Mergers I-IV, ACP I, ACP II, Health Care, and Technology Enforcement, you will have the opportunity to practice civil law enforcement across the legal spectrum from generating cases and conducting investigations to prosecuting matters in administrative and federal courts. Successful attorneys demonstrate strong initiative and the ability to immerse themselves in new industries and technologies, with excellent legal research, oral communication, and writing skills. They should also have practical business acumen and the ability to apply this knowledge within an antitrust legal and economic framework. Highly successful attorneys demonstrate the ability to work effectively with colleagues in a non-hierarchical team structure, exercise independent judgment, and exhibit a commitment to the mission and work of the Bureau of Competition and the Federal Trade Commission. More specifically, incumbents will:

  • Conduct all phases of antitrust merger or conduct investigations, including making initial determinations as to whether cases should be investigated further, identifying legal theories and plans for preliminary investigations, obtaining evidence from a variety of sources, and negotiating settlements.
  • Confer with government agencies, public authorities, attorneys, businesspersons, and other members of the public to obtain information relevant to Commission investigations and to provide them with information on matters of law, Commission procedures, and policy.
  • Prepare antitrust cases for trial by securing and preparing evidence, conferring with witnesses, participating in pretrial conferences, examining and cross-examining witnesses, and drafting legal documents needed during the various stages of litigation.
  • Prepare internal documents for review by the Commission and perform special assignments as directed.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
  • This position is subject to a background investigation.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
  • Possess a J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school.
  • Member in good standing of the Bar of a state or territory - US, PR, DC.
  • The position may be subject to completion of a two-year trial period. Trial periods are an extension of the hiring process.
  • If selected for this position, the agency will evaluate your fitness and whether continuation of employment advances the public interest before extending your appointment beyond the two-year trial period.
  • This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is represented by the National Treasury Employees Union, Local 344

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must have attained the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an accredited law school and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory. Applicants must demonstrate excellent writing skills, sound judgment, the ability to work well with others, and a strong interest in the agency's mission.



Additional Requirements

GS-11 Positions

For appointments to attorney positions: must have graduated from law school. before close of the job announcement.

To qualify for the GS-11 level: In addition to a law degree, you must have an active bar membership. (Must provide proof of bar examination.)

GS-12 Positions

For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 12 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.

To qualify for the GS-12 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 12 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 12 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-11 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-11 level include examples such as working on non-complex litigation matters and performing basic legal research, drafting, and legal analysis.

GS-13 Positions

For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 24 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.

To qualify for the GS-13 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 24 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 12 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-12 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-12 level includes work on moderately complex, novel, or broadly significant matters. This work entails solid drafting skills, original research, strong legal analyses, and effective oral communications.

GS-14 Positions

For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 42 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.

To qualify for the GS-14 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 42 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 18 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-13 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-13 level include independently planning, organizing and conducting analyses, based on preliminary background and policy information provided by your supervisor. Your written work is expected to be technically correct and not require detailed review. This work entails demanding legal research and analysis; drafting and reviewing motions, subpoenas, complaints, orders, rule proposals, and memoranda; and, where appropriate to the office, participating in investigational hearings, negotiating settlements, and trials. You contribute to the tactical and policy decisions inherent in various matters and, where appropriate, you should be able to assist in the trial of these matters. You should be able take charge of moderately complex and novel matters, and make substantial contributions to the most complex, novel, or significant matters.

GS-15 Positions

For appointments to attorney positions: active member of the bar in good standing and 60 months of legal experience after graduation from law school.

To qualify for the GS-15 level: In addition to a law degree and active bar membership, you must have 60 months of legal experience after graduation from law school. At least 18 months of your legal experience after graduation from law school must be comparable to the GS-14 level. Qualifying experience at the GS-14 level includes being an outstanding writer and highly effective oral advocate. You must also exercise sound judgment, supervise, work well with, and motivate others, and make decided contributions to the work of the office. You must function independently and your work should not require close supervision or substantive review. The supervisor must have complete confidence in your judgment. At this level, you should be recognized for your competence. You should be able to represent the agency before any group or in any setting, and to effectively manage the preparation and trial of virtually any major case, or conduct evaluation and analysis of the most complex cases of major significance for which little if any precedent exists.


Note: Legal and nonlegal experience gained in the Federal Government before completing law school does not satisfy post law school experience. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.


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.

Education


This position has an education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package; however, official transcripts will be required prior to receiving an official offer.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Additional information

This position is in the Excepted Service (Schedule A).Individuals applying for this announcement are required to complete and submit an online application and all supporting documentation through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. Traditional rating and ranking procedures do not apply.

This is a full-time, non-supervisory appointment in the expected service, subject to a two-year trial period in accordance with 5 CFR 316.304. Trial periods are an extension of the hiring process. If selected for this position, the agency will evaluate your fitness and whether continuation of employment advances the public interest before extending your appointment beyond the two-year trial period.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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 based on the overall strength of your credentials as demonstrated by your cover letter, resume, writing sample, and experience. The most qualified candidates will be selected for interviews, which will also be considered in making the final decision.

Application of Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Federal Trade Commission considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. If you are eligible for veterans' preference, you are encouraged to include that information in your cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214 or other substantiating documents) to your submission.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:

  • Cover Letter - REQUIRED
  • Writing Sample - REQUIRED
  • Graduate Transcript(s), if the position has an education requirement - REQUIRED
  • Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF- 15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
  • Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
  • Schedule A- In order to receive consideration under the Schedule A authority, you must provide a certification of job readiness printed on a medical professional's letterhead and signed. For more information, please visit USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/)

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

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

Corey Pickeral
Address
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Suite H-723
Washington, DC 20580
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Capital Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.


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


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