Summary

This position is located in a regional civil rights office Washington, DC, Denver, CO, Seattle, WA, Atlanta, GA, Kansas City, MO. The office operates under the jurisdiction of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Acts of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

The public

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

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. citizens.

Duties

This vacancy announcement will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date.

As a General Attorney (Civil Right), GS-0905-13, you will be responsible for:

Ensuring that complaints and proactive enforcement activities are processed in accordance with the Assistant Secretary's directives, regulations, policies, case law and conform to established case‑processing procedures. Ensures that appropriate remedies are obtained.
Conducting legal research and provides legal and policy advice to team members on matters of considerable complexity relating to the investigation, negotiation, resolution of complaints, and compliance reviews
Preparing and presenting training to team members on complex issues, complex statutory and regulatory standards, changes in case law, new policy decisions, investigatory techniques, negotiation skills and other case development issues
Providing legal advice in the development of technical assistance materials (i.e., responses to recipient inquiries) and reviews such materials to ensure conformity with established legal and policy standards. Provides technical assistance to stakeholders.

As a General Attorney (Civil Right), GS-0905-12,you will be responsible for

Making civil rights compliance determinations and ensures that complaints and proactive enforcement activities are processed in accordance with the Assistant Secretary's directives, regulations, policies, case law and conform to established case‑processing procedures. Ensures that appropriate remedies are obtained.

Participating in all aspects of complaint and proactive enforcement investigations including on‑site investigations. Duties include: evaluating complaints; planning investigations; determining legal issues; determining investigation and legal strategy; conducting legal research; collecting/analyzing/interpreting investigation data/information and conducting necessary interviews; implementing approaches to organizing and conducting evaluation, planning, investigation, resolution and/or enforcement activities.

Drafting letters (e.g., dismissal letters, notification letters, administrative closures, data requests, letters of finding) and other documents (e.g., statements of the case, legal memoranda, resolution agreements).

As a General Attorney (Civil Right), GS-0905-11, you will be responsible for

Evaluating complaints; planning investigations; determining legal issues; determining investigation and legal strategy; conducting legal research; providing legal/policy advice; collecting/analyzing/interpreting investigation data/information and conducting necessary interviews;

Implementing approaches to organizing and conducting evaluation, planning, investigation, resolution and/or enforcement activities; drafting letters (e.g., dismissal letters, notification letters, administrative closures data requests, letters of finding) and other documents (e.g. statements of the case, legal memoranda, resolution agreements)

Conducting legal research and provides legal advice to team members on matters of routine complexity relating to the investigation, negotiation, resolution of complaints and compliance reviews and directed investigations and the monitoring of corrective action agreements.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Relocation will not be paid.
Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
You may be subject to serve a one to two-year trial period.
Must be a US Citizen
Must complete a background investigation and fingerprint check

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

your performance and conduct;
the needs and interests of the agency;
whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of

the agency or the Government; and

whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the

Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-11:

Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

One year of professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility at the next lower grade level or equivalent.

Specialized Experience for the GS-11

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-09 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

Experience in assisting with legal compliance or the enforcement of state or federal laws, regulations, or policies that apply to public entities including but not limited to elementary, secondary, or post-secondary education programs.

Experience conducting legal research and drafting legal documents or portions of legal opinions.

Experience communication information through written memoranda and oral briefings to staff and supervisors.

OR

EDUCATION (see Education Requirement section of the announcement)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1. Knowledge of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
2. Knowledge of basic principles of research and data gathering.
3. Ability to identify pertinent information relative to the issues.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-12:

A. Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You must be a member in good standing of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar.

AND

B. Has obtained the first professional law degree or training which is permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at the law school.

AND

Two years of professional legal experience at the level of difficulty and responsibility at the next lower grade level or equivalent.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-12

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-11 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

Experience in analyzing legal compliance or the enforcement of state or federal laws, regulations, or policies that apply to public entities including but not limited to elementary, secondary, or post-secondary education programs.

Experience with investigative, analytical, and evaluative techniques to support or lead compliance-driven casework.

Experience communicating complex legal information clearly and effectively through written memoranda and oral briefings to staff and supervisors.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1. Ability to apply laws and regulations of the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
2. Knowledge of investigative, analytical, negotiation, mediation, and resolution techniques.
3. Skills in oral and written communications and ability to analyze and resolve legal problem using civil rights legal research.

Minimum Qualifications Requirements for GS-13:

A. Has obtained the first professional law degree or training which is permitted in some states in lieu of attendance at the law school AND

B. Is an active member in good standing in the Bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-13

One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-12 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

Experience in leading legal compliance or the enforcement of state or federal laws, regulations, or policies that apply to public entities including but not limited to elementary, secondary, or post-secondary education programs.

Experience with serving as a technical authority or subject matter expert civil rights laws, administrative law, or some other comparatively complex body of law.

Experience providing legal advice and developing legal strategies, opinions, and guidance on complex civil rights law, administrative law, or some other comparatively complex body of law.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1. Ability to review complaints, apply regulations and case law, and determine appropriate remedies, including systemic corrective actions.
2. Ability to research complex legal issues and provide clear legal and policy guidance to support investigations, negotiations, complaint resolutions, and compliance reviews.
3. Ability to review complaints, apply regulations and case law, and determine appropriate remedies, including systemic corrective actions.

Education

You may meet the minimum qualification of this position by meeting the following education options.

GS-11

Second professional law degree (LL.M.) which requires one full year of graduate study; OR

The applicant’s record shows superior law student work or activities.

GS-12 and GS-13

Education cannot be substituted for experience for this position and grade level.

Foreign Education:

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, please click Foreign Education.

Additional information

Veterans’ Career Counseling: If you are a veteran interested in receiving tips on preparing a Federal resume and/or how to prepare for an interview, you may email careers@ed.gov to schedule a session with a career counselor (“Veterans Counseling Session” should be placed in the subject line of the email).

Student Loan Default: If selected for this position, we will verify that you have not defaulted on any loan funded or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are found to be in default, we will contact you to make arrangements for repayment prior to making an official offer of employment.

Suitability and Investigation: If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check.

Essential/Non-Essential: This position is considered non-essential for purposes of reporting to work during federal government closures.

Financial Disclosure: This position does not require financial disclosure.

Bargaining Unit: This position is included in the bargaining unit (American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 252).

Selections: Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligibles and may fill a vacancy in the competitive service by any method authorized. We may make additional selections from this vacancy announcement within 90 days from the date the selection certificates are issued, should vacancies occur. We may also share selection certificates amongst program offices across the agency.

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.

As an ED employee, you will also benefit from our family-friendly work environment. As part of our commitment to maintain a work life balance, we offer excused leave for Parent/Teacher Conferences (3 hours); excused leave for annual health screenings (4 hours); and matching leave for community volunteer service. Other flexibilities that may be available to you include alternative work schedules. You may be eligible to receive a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. You may be eligible to receive a relocation incentive for this position. To receive this incentive payment, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon. You may be eligible to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program as a recruitment incentive for this position. To receive student loan repayments, you will be required to sign a service agreement obligating you to remain with the U.S. Department of Education for a specified period as agreed upon.

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.

We will review your application and documentation submitted to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications and competencies listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the Monster Competency Based Assessment(s) required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Non-Supervisory: Oral Communications, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management

Supervisory: Oral Communications, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Customer Service, Leadership, Planning and Evaluating, Influencing/Negotiating, Strategic Thinking and Human Capital Management

We will refer the best qualified candidates to the Selecting Official of the job for further review and consideration. You will be evaluated to determine if you meet qualifications required, and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with this position as defined below. Please be sure to give examples in your resume and explain how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possessed, the level of people you interacted with, and the complexity and sensitivity of the issues you handled.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.

You must submit (REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS):

A resume demonstrating your education, experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiating your responses to the occupational questionnaire. Please limit your resume to 2 pages with the font size no smaller than 10 points. If your resume is more than 2 pages, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed and considered for the qualifications determination..

Cover letter if applicable. You are not required to submit bar card or transcripts to apply to the vacancy announcement, but you will be required to submit them upon request from hiring panel or the HR Specialist. Writing sample and/or list of references may be required of selected applicants at later stages in the selection process.

If you are claiming Veterans’ Preference you must submit: •A copy of your DD-214 that shows active service and character of discharge, member copy 4 (Separated Members only); OR •A certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days from the date of application (Current Active Duty Members only); AND/OR •The Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (SF-15) AND all documents indicated on the form as proof of type of preference; AND/OR •Proof of Sole Survivorship Preference (e.g., certificate of death or 100% disability as a result of serving in the armed forces). Veteran's Preference: Department of the Education attorney positions are in the excepted service, not the competitive civil service. There is no formal system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the Education considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor consideration in the attorney hiring process. If you are eligible for veterans' preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with the supporting documentation, e.g., SF-15, DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation.

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

Step 1: Create a USAJOBS account (if you do not already have one) at www.usajobs.gov.

Step 2: Create a resume using the USAJOBS resume builder or upload a resume into your USAJOBS account. Ensure that your resume demonstrates your education, experience, training, and accomplishments as it relates to the qualifications for this position and substantiates your responses to the occupational questionnaire.

Step 3: Upload any required documents into your USAJOBS account (must be less than 3MB and in one of the following document formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, PDF, or Word (DOC or DOCX)).

Step 4: Click "Apply Online" and follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire and attach any required documents. Verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the agency's hiring system. You will have the opportunity to upload any additional required documents in the agency's hiring system. Click “Finish” to submit your application.

NOTE: You may update your application or required documents at any time while the announcement is open by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking on "Application Status," clicking on the position title, clicking "Update Application,” and following the prompts.

In order to receive consideration for this position, you must submit your complete application, including all required documents, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of the vacancy announcement. If the vacancy announcement has an application limit, we recommend that you submit your complete application at the time of initial application. We will not accept any required documentation after the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

If you have any questions regarding submitting your application, please contact the HR Specialist listed under the Agency Contact Information.

Agency contact information

Office of Human Resources

Phone

202-987-1313

Fax

202-401-0520

Email

corey.anderson@ed.gov

Address

EDUCATION-OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
400 Maryland Ave. S.W.
Attn: Human Resources Services
Washington, District of Columbia 20202
United States

Next steps

As an applicant, you may check your application status through your USAJOBS account at any time. We will also notify you via email of your application status at three key stages in the recruitment process.
1. Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will inform you that your application has been received.
2. After we review your submitted resume and supporting documentation, we will inform you if you are eligible and qualified, if your application was referred to a subject matter expert or panel of subject matter experts for further evaluation, and if you were amongst the most highly qualified candidates referred to the selecting official.
3. Finally, we will inform you of your final disposition for this announcement (e.g., if/when a selection is made, if/when the announcement is cancelled).

Overview

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

04/27/2026 to 05/11/2026

Salary

$75,897 - $158,322 per year

Pay scale & grade

GS 11 - 13

Locations

many vacancies in the following locations:

Denver, CO

District of Columbia, DC

Atlanta, GA

Kansas City, MO

Show morefewer locations (1)

Seattle, WA

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

Yes—according to agency policy.

Travel Required

Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time

Service

Excepted

Promotion potential

13

Job family (Series)

0905 Attorney

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Other

Drug test

No

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

Credentialing
Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

Yes

Announcement number

OCR-HQ-2026-0002

Control number

866874600

US Office for Civil Rights

About Company

General Attorney (Civil Rights), GS-0905-11/12/13 FPL GS-13