Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be registered with the Selective Service if applicable.
- You must be an active member in good standing of the bar in any United States jurisdiction. You must maintain this licensure while in this position.
- You must undergo and complete a favorable background investigation.
- You will be required to submit a financial disclosure report. If you work more than 60 days a year, your financial disclosure report is subject to public inspection.
- You will be required to provide an official law school transcript.
- You will be required to provide proof of Bar membership.
- If selected and you occupy a civilian office or position (including a temporary, part-time, flex-time, or intermittent position), appointive or elective, in the legislative, executive, or judicial branch of the government of the United States (including a Government corporation and a nonappropriated fund instrumentality under the jurisdiction of the armed forces) or in the government of the District of Columbia, you will be subject to the provisions of the Dual Compensation Act which prohibits an individual from receiving pay from more than one position for more than an aggregate of forty (40) hours of work in one calendar week.
- If you are a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) annuitant, you may be eligible for a salary offset waiver.
Qualifications
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Required:
You must have at least 7 years of experience as a licensed attorney doing one of the following:
- Adjudicating and/or arbitrating employment and/or labor law matters at the federal, state, or local level.
- Independently handling litigation, including preparing for, participating in (as lead counsel), and/or conducting formal hearings or trials on employment and/or labor law matters at the federal, state, or local level.
- Adjudicating and/or arbitrating matters at the federal, state, or local level, but the matters did not involve employment or labor law issues.
- Independently handling litigation, including preparing for, participating in (as lead counsel), and/or conducting formal hearings or trials at the federal, state, or local level, but the matters did not involve employment or labor law.
You must demonstrate a capacity and willingness to devote sufficient time to timely dispose of cases.
Desired:
Our ideal candidate will have experience with federal employment law bodies like the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB); the Office of Special Counsel (OSC); the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); or the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).
Non-qualifying Experience:
Experience handling non-adversarial legal matters as an attorney is not qualifying. Examples include corporate law, trust and estate matters, and tax law.
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
You must have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Additional information
- Option for additional selections: We may fill more than one position from this announcement.
- When you can expect to start: Selections made from this announcement will fill Board Member positions as their current terms expire. If you are selected, you will begin your term either March 2027 or July 2027.
- Equal employment opportunity: The U.S. Government Accountability Office's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.
- Reasonable accommodation: GAO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please email ReasonableAccommodations@gao.gov.
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.
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.
You will be ineligible for 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.
Required Documents
All applicants must submit:
- Cover letter
- Highlight your qualifications and explain why you are interested in this position.
- Upload under "Cover Letter" document type.
- Resume
- Emphasize your years and level of experience and responsibility for researching, analyzing, and/or resolving complex legal issues; your experience preparing briefs or formal written decisions or opinions; and your ability to demonstrate appropriate judicial temperament.
- Include start and end dates for each position (e.g., month and year; month, day, and year).
Starting on September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the
Merit Hiring Plan. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying to a job.
- What is required in the resume?
Resumes submitted for federal jobs are required to have:
- Contact Information-your name and the best way to contact you.
- Relevant work experience-Job experience should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how your previous work experience relates to and helps you meet the required qualifications in the GAO job announcement to which you are applying.
- Education, certifications or licensures-If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure you include the required information on the resume.
- For more information on the how to check the resume for the new 2-page requirement, please go to the Help Center or click the link: USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements
- Online questionnaire
- Proof of Bar membership
- Upload under "Proof of Licensure" document type.
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.