Summary

The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of Law & Policy (L&P) seeks attorneys to work directly in U.S. Attorney's Offices (USAO) as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSA). L&P criminal fraud attorneys investigate and prosecute criminal fraud cases that undermine SSA and other government benefits programs, are responsible for all stages of the criminal prosecution, and collaborate with SSA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and other law enforcement agencies.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to ALL U.S. Citizens. ***The selectees must relocate to the selected city or be willing to commute. These positions are not eligible for remote work, oustationing, or telework.***

Duties

Social Security touches the lives of millions, providing vital services and a social safety net through retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Join the talented and dedicated attorney team supporting these services.
L & P is a modern public service law office with a highly skilled and engaged workforce dedicated to protecting SSA's legal interests. We strategically shape a large national workload through effective collaboration and coordination.
We offer the opportunity to handle meaningful and challenging legal work in a professional, team-oriented, and flexible work environment.
Sworn in as SAUSAs, SSA criminal fraud attorneys investigate and prosecute criminal fraud cases. They are assigned to, and work in, a USAO. They work closely with the OIG and other law enforcement agencies.
Like other federal prosecutors, L & P's SAUSAs work under USAO management supervision and are responsible for all stages of the criminal case,
(cont'd) including grand jury proceedings; indictments; motion practice; plea negotiations and hearings; jury trials; and sentencing hearings.
Attorneys have significant responsibility for their own caseloads, but also receive intensive mentoring, training and support through L & P and the USAO.
Candidates should have a strong desire to serve the public; have excellent research, writing and communication skills; and have strong litigation experience or aptitude.
We encourage candidates with varied backgrounds, qualities, and experiences to apply.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

U.S. Citizenship required
Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required
Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results
Selectees are required to serve a 2-year trial period
Relocation expenses will not be paid
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement
Law School Transcript with degree and date conferred
THESE POSITIONS ARE IN THE EXCEPTED SERVICE
INCUMBENT MAY BE PROMOTED NONCOMPETITIVELY PROVIDED WORK AT THE HIGHER LEVELS CONTINUES TO EXIST, THE INCUMBENT HAS DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO PERFORM IT AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT TIME-IN-GRADE AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

Qualifications

Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.

Candidates should have a strong desire to serve the public; have excellent research, writing and communication skills; and have strong litigation experience or aptitude. We encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds, qualities, and experiences to apply.

Applicants must hold a law degree from a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association. Applicants must be a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Applicants must provide one of the following to show that they are a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

An original or copy of a Certificate of Good Standing from the clerk of the highest court (e.g., Supreme Court) of the state having authority over admission to practice law in the jurisdiction where the applicant is admitted; OR

An original or copy of a Certificate of Good Standing from the State Bar Association of the state/jurisdiction where the applicant is admitted; OR

A copy of a bar membership card or a screenshot from a state bar website with a valid date that shows a current bar membership.

An example of #1 or #2 would be the certificate of admission an applicant received upon his/her swearing-in ceremony from the clerk of the highest court of the state having authority over admission to practice law in the jurisdiction where admitted, or from the State Bar Association of the state where admitted.

For purposes of applying, we only require proof that an applicant is a member in good standing of the Bar of a State, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Once selected for the position, an applicant must provide proof of an ACTIVE bar membership before he/she can enter on duty. Holding an ACTIVE bar membership is a continuing requirement of the position. You can provide #3 above both as proof of membership in good standing, and as proof of an ACTIVE bar membership.

Applicants MUST meet all eligibility requirements on or before the closing date of the announcement to be considered for the position.

SSA has discretion to determine what grade level and salary may be offered.

For GS-13: Requires 3 years of professional legal experience working as a licensed attorney with at least one year of this experience being equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service.

For GS-14: Requires 4 years of professional legal experience working as a licensed attorney with at least one year of this experience being equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service.

Applicants MUST meet all eligibility requirements on or before the closing date of the announcement to be considered for the position.

Education

Submit a copy of your law school transcripts that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and degree award date. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. Self-prepared transcripts will not be accepted. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of the personnel action placing you into the new position.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that 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 a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

Salary:
GS-13 $90,025 -$117,034 PLUS LOCALITY PAY
GS-14 $106,382 - $138,296 PLUS LOCALITY PAY

Locality Pay Tables

Actual salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions; rates are subject to revision based on revised 2026 GS pay scales.

Other Information:

There are 5 locations but only 4 total vacancies available, only one selection will made between the Beaumont and Plano, TX lists.

The applicant must relocate to the selected city or be willing to commute. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Occasional overnight travel is required.

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.

This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. This is a permanent, excepted service position that is being filled on a full-time basis. Flextime and/or alternate work schedules may be available.

Veterans who are preference-eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of continuous service may apply. This includes veterans who were separated a few days before the full 3-year period.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.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.

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.

Your application will be compared to the requirements for the position. It is your responsibility to include all information in your application that is needed to evaluate your qualifications and determine if you meet the requirements for the position. If there is insufficient information, your application will be found ineligible.

Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12854104

Required Documents

You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Resumes exceeding two pages will not be considered. To be considered, your resume must:

Be no longer than two pages
Clearly demonstrate your qualifications for the position
Include your contact information

We recommend using a clear, easy-to-read format and focusing on information most relevant to the job announcement.

RESUME: Include the following information: 1) personal information (full name, mailing address, work and home phone numbers); 2) education; 3) work experience (paid and unpaid, including clerkships/internships). Show job title, including series and grade if Federal employment, detailed duties and accomplishments, employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and ending dates (mm/dd/yy), hours per week, and salary; 4) other qualifications (skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses). Please note that providing the mm/dd/yy for all work experience is critical for evaluating your application. If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes. We recommend applicants build a resume using the USAJOBS Resume Builder. Please refer to How to Build a Resume for instructions.

PROOF OF EDUCATION: Submit a copy of your law school transcripts with the course title, number of credits, grade, and date of completion. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application; however, self-prepared transcripts WILL NOT be accepted. The degree must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education completed in a foreign institution must be certified as equivalent to coursework completed at a U.S. college or university. Certification of equivalency must be submitted at the time of application. For a list of Credential Evaluation Services, log on to: Credential Evaluation Services. (See Education section for specific transcript information.)

PROOF OF CURRENT BAR MEMBERSHIP: Proof of active Bar Membership (e.g., screen print of your profile from a bar web site which reflects your name and active status, a letter from the bar certifying that you are licensed and authorized to practice law, OR copy of a recent bar card.) (See Qualifications section for specific Bar Membership information.)

WRITING SAMPLE: One current substantive legal writing sample that reflects your own work and is no more than 15 pages in length. Your sample must be sanitized or redacted to prevent possible Privacy Act violations. Writing samples will be critiqued based on your ability to analyze a legal problem and clearly and concisely articulate legal rationale.

REFERENCES: List of three professional references. (Note: We will not contact references without first obtaining your permission to do so).SF-50: If applicable, all current excepted service employees and former excepted service employees eligible for reinstatement MUST submit a copy of their last SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing Excepted Service career, career-conditional, or reinstatement eligibility and showing highest grade held.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.

Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters.

For more information visit the Vet Guide.

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

Please note that this announcement is open to attorneys who are members of a bar in good standing only. If you have passed the bar but have not been sworn in or do not have proof of being sworn in, you are not eligible to apply and your application will not be considered.

A complete application consists of the following:

Occupational questionnaire

Resume (must not exceed two pages)

Law school transcript

Proof of bar membership

Legal writing sample

List of three professional references

SF-50s (if applicable)

Proof of veteran's preference (if applicable) - DD-214 with member 4 copy, this document MUST show character of service. If you are claiming 10-point preference, you MUST also submit with your DD-214 a completed SF-15 along with the required documentation specified on the reverse side of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to include all information needed to evaluate your qualifications and determine if you meet the requirements for the position. If there is insufficient information or if you do not include all of the required documents you will be found ineligible. This office will not solicit for additional information.

The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 01/20/2026.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to 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.

If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact OPE Staffing Team at ope.staffing.team@ssa.gov or 4109651234.

Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories

Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process.

To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.

Agency contact information

OPE Staffing Team

Email

ope.staffing.team@ssa.gov

Address

OGC
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
US

Next steps

Once you have successfully submitted your application materials, you can expect to receive at least two or more of the following email notifications concerning your application status: (1) Receipt of application; (2) Qualifications status and whether your application has been Referred/Not Referred to the selecting official; and (3) Selection status for the position.

Selection interviews may be conducted with one or more of the candidates, but there is no requirement that interviews be conducted. The hiring office will contact candidates directly for interviews. Interviews may be conducted via video conferencing software, if technically feasible. Applicants referred for consideration will receive a final disposition notice after selections have been made.

Overview

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

12/22/2025 to 01/20/2026

Salary

$90,025 to - $138,296 per year

2025 BASE salary range shown is from GS-13 step 1 to GS-14 step 10; see 'Additional Information' section below.

Pay scale & grade

GS 13 - 14

Locations

4 vacancies in the following locations:

San Francisco, CA

Nashville, TN

Plano, TX or

Beaumont, TX

Houston, TX

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

No

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time

Service

Excepted

Promotion potential

15

Job family (Series)

0905 Attorney

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Top Secret

Drug test

No

Position sensitivity and risk

Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process

National security

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

No

Announcement number

SH12854104

Control number

852744900

Social Security Administration

ABOUT_COMPANY

General Attorney