Hiring Organization
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Hiring Office
Office of the General Counsel
Attorney Appointment Type
Attorney Permanent
Job ID
OGC_ILU_2026

Location:
Merrifield, VA
Washington, DC 20535 - United States
About the Office

The FBI's Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is seeking highly qualified and experienced attorneys to join its exciting and challenging legal practice. OGC provides legal advice to the entire FBI, including the Director, FBI Headquarters officials and agents in the 56 domestic field offices, on a wide range of substantive issues. OGC works closely with other elements of the Department of Justice, other members of the Intelligence Community, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency and the White House. OGC also assists the FBI in forming partnerships with other federal, state, local and international agencies, as well as private sector entities, in support of FBI operations.

Mission:
The mission of the FBI is to protect the American People and uphold the Constitution of the United States.
Investigative Law Unit (ILU): ILU directly supports the FBI's national priorities by providing legal and policy advice and guidance concerning criminal investigative jurisdiction, operations, and techniques to the Criminal Investigative Division, Inspection Division, Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, Directorate of Intelligence, the International Operations Division, and all FBI Field Offices and Legal Attaché Offices. The General Attorney hired for this position will provide legal advice and counsel to the assigned client group and Executive Management, and will work as part of the ILU team to address overarching legal issues affecting FBIHQ and the field. In addition, the attorney will be responsible for contributing to agency wide policy issues. These policies often have a significant impact on FBI operations.

If selected for the Merrifield location, this position will work out of the Homeland Security Task Force's (HSTF) National Coordination Center in Merrifield, Virginia directly advising HSTF and coordinating outreach to other parts of OGC as needed.
Our office places a high value on diversity of experiences and perspectives and encourages applications from all qualified men and women from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBTQ individuals, and persons with disabilities.

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

Job Description

GS-14

Consults and provides legal guidance to clients on issues related to operational and criminal law;
Provides prompt and thorough advice to the field office Chief Division Counsels on operational and criminal law issues;
Participates in the policy process to ensure all legal equities and risks are addressed; and
Drafts memos and decisional papers for executive management.

GS-15

Briefs OGC executive management on legal issues arising from operational clients.

Qualifications

Key Requirements:

• Must be a U. S. citizen
• Must be able to obtain a Top-Secret/SCI clearance
• Selectee may be required to complete form FD-887, Request for Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
• Selectee will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450 annually.

The Department of Justice will approve candidates that are selected for this position.
Please ensure work experience/requirement(s) are identifiable in the resume. The resume and supporting documentations will determine whether the candidate meets the job qualifications listed in this announcement. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements at the time of application.
Applicants deemed most competitive will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration.

All applicants are rated on the following competencies:

• Analytic Thinking
• Communication
• Governance and Legal Jurisprudence
• Leadership
• Oral/Written Communication
• Research

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

• Possess a law degree from an accredited American Bar Association law school; and
• Proof of active membership and good standing with any U. S. jurisdiction bar association

Positive Education Requirement: This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic requirement by submitting proof of J.D. degree and proof of good standing with a U. S. jurisdiction bar association. Please see the “Required Documents: section of this announcement for additional information.
Education: Applicant must possess a J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (or have a LLM degree or other graduate law school degree in additional to J.D.) and be an active member of a U.S. jurisdiction bar association.
GS-14: Applicants applying for the GS-14 must have 2.5 or more years post J.D. attorney experience.
GS-15: Applicants applying for the GS-15 must have 4 or more years of post J.D. attorney experience.

Application Process

NOTE: All FBI employees must undergo an FBI Background Investigation and receive an FBI Top Secret security clearance. For employment eligibility with the FBI, applicants must not violate any of the automatic employment disqualifiers and adhere to the FBI's pre-employment drug policy. Please ensure you meet these standards before submitting an application. All of these disqualifiers are extensively researched during the FBI Background Investigation Process. The preliminary employment requirements include a polygraph examination; a test for illegal drug use; credit and records checks; and extensive interviews with former and current colleagues, neighbors, friends, professors, etc. Before applying for this position, please make sure that the FBI Employment Disqualifiers do not apply to you. https://www.fbijobs.gov/working-at-FBI/eligibility

How to Apply:
To apply for this position, provide a complete application package which includes the following REQUIRED documents:

1. Your cover letter and resume, not to exceed 2 pages
2. A writing sample, not to exceed 10 pages
3. Proof of current and active bar association membership
4. Copy of Law School Transcripts
5. Current SF-50 (if external government employee)
6. DD 214 (proof of Veteran's Preference)

Please Note: FBI employees currently assigned to a General Attorney position do not need to provide Law School Transcripts or Proof of Bar association Membership.

Step 1: Create a new email and attach all required electronic documents. Include contact information (phone number) and a brief introduction (2-3) sentences in the body of the email.
Step 2: Title the subject of the email using the following format, indicating whether you are an internal or external candidate. (Example: OGC_ILU_2026_External/Internal)
Step 3: Submit the completed application email to OGC-JOBS@fbi.gov

What to Expect Next
Once your complete application is received, the FBI will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. You will be notified of your status throughout the application process.

Internal Applicants Additional Information

• Management may select any grade for which this position is announced.
• Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties.
• Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI.
• Candidates will not be considered if currently on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP); a Letter of Requirement (LOR); or failed a PIP or LOR and are currently awaiting the final action by HRD.

1. A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a 90-day written developmental plan for an employee whose performance on one or more critical elements is rated “Unacceptable.”
2. A Letter of Requirement (LOR) is issued when a supervisor identified leave abuse and/or when frequent absences negatively impact operations of the office.

• Limited Movement: Policy has been implemented wherein support employees entering a position through competitive OR non-competitive action may be precluded from moving to another position within the Bureau by means of reassignment or change to lower grade for a minimum of 12 months.
• Relocation expenses will be borne by the selectee, except FBI employees returning from LEGAT assignment. Employees returning from LEGAT assignments must advise the Staffing Unit, Administrative Unit, and the International Operations Unit of their application to apply.
• On December 22, 2017, the Presidential Administrative signed into law the Tax cuts and Jobs Act. This law may impact your transfer.

o This legislation may previously non-taxed moving expenses reimbursement taxable as of January 1, 2018. Please see HR Link for the list of FBI's current understanding of the applicable tax changes. However, this may change upon receipt of official guidance from GSA and DOJ.
o Current law provides the FBI with the authority to compensate employees for much of the tax burden caused by a transfer through the Relocation Income Tax

Allowance (RITA) possess, in an effort to identify way to minimize the additional tax burden on transferring employees.

• Candidates receiving a transfer of physical location , whether at the expense of the FBI or not, will be required to complete a one-year commitment to the assignment, prior to moving to a new position at the FBI. The 12-month waiting period begins the day an employee reports for duty at the new location.
• Employees selected for positions at the GS-14 level or higher, as well as employees selected for positions where a transfer of location is required, will be processed through the name check program prior to being notified of their selection.
• Memorandum of Understanding: Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on a SF-50, ie back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished, no credit will be given for the time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation (Memorandum of Understanding):

Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties)
The month/year work began
Frequency worked (ie daily, monthly, etc.)
Specific duties performed

Attach the Memorandum of Understanding to your application in the “Cover Letters and Attachments” section of My Career Tools on the Careers Home page. Please upload the attachment as type “Other.”

External Applicants Additional Information

• The FBI is in the Executive Branch if the federal government. It is one of the components of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The FBI is the principle investigative arm of the DOJ. All FBI positions are in the excepted service.
• Applicants must be a U. S. citizen and consent to a complete background investigation, urinalysis, and polygraph. You must be suitable for Federal employment; as determined by a background investigation.
• Failure to provide necessary and relevant information required by this vacancy announcement may disqualify you from consideration. Additional information will not be requested if your application is incomplete. Your application will be evaluated solely on the basis of information you have submitted.
• Management may select any grade for which this position is announced.
• Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties.
• If you are hired, you will be required to serve a two-year probationary period. Probationary employees are precluded from being considered for all job opportunities until 12-months of their 24-month probationary period has concluded. Probationary Employees may be considered for competitive vacancies that are advertised within their respective division or field office after serving 90 days within the FBI. The probationary periods will be served concurrently.
• Memorandum of Understanding: Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on a SF-50, ie back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished, no credit will be given for the time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation (Memorandum of Understanding):

Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties)
The month/year work began
Frequency worked (i.e. daily, monthly, etc.)
Specific duties performed

Veterans Preference
If you are entitled to Veterans' Preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume and application. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

Relocation Expenses:
Internal (FBI): Selected candidates will be offered a 20% relocation incentive, will be required to sign a one-year service agreement, and will need to provide proof of residency that verifies their new geographic area relocation. In addition to relocation expenses, cost transfer expenses, determined by the HRD Transfer Unit, may be borne by the FBI. To be eligible, the candidate must move 50 miles or more to the location. Proof of change in residency will be required.
External: FBI may authorize up to a 25% recruitment incentive for non-government candidates. Candidates will be required to sign a one-year commitment agreement to the assignment prior to moving to the new position.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Salary

GS-14: 143,913.00, - $187,093.00; GS -15: $169,279.00 - $197,200.00