Clarification from the agency

This announcement opens December 19, 2025. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the closing date. Early applications are strongly encouraged and will receive first consideration. This is a term position Not to Exceed 2 years but may be extended.

Attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) "first chair" litigation before administrative agencies in a broad range of employment and labor matters including adverse actions, reductions in force, suitability, labor relations, and discrimination.

• Serving as lead counsel in important and sensitive litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).
• Preparing cases for litigation, including writing motions, briefs, and other papers, conducting discovery, and participating in administrative hearings.
• Making recommendations regarding settlement of litigation and appeal of adverse decisions, including the exercise of OPM's special statutory authority to obtain review of adverse MSPB decisions with a substantial impact on the civil service.
• Other duties as assigned

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.
• Must be a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Appointments made from this announcement are exempt from competitive service.

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.

At the GS-11 level: Applicants with less than one year of post 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;
• Academic standing in the upper third of the attorney's law school graduating class (to the extent an applicant's law school has class rank); and
• Advanced educational attainment that indicates the ability to independently perform legal work, such as work or achievement of significance on a law school's official law reviews or journals; special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school (e.g., membership in the Order of the Coif or winning a moot court competition); full-time or continuous participation in a legal clinic program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation; significant summer clerk experience; or other evidence of clearly superior accomplishment or achievement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience "first chairing" MSPB, EEO, or Federal litigation;
• 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.

We will review your application package to ensure you meet the job requirements.

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