Attorney

The Office of Human Capital supports the Department’s mission of administering justice by developing and implementing policy and programs, providing guidance, and leading efforts to attract, develop, and retain high performing employees.

The Employment Law and Employee Relations Office (EL/ER) of the Office of Human Capital (OHC) has a department-wide policy and oversight role in Employee Relations and Employment Law. EL/ER is responsible for providing advice to component employee relations staff and General Counsels’ Offices on matters relating to performance, disciplinary and adverse actions, claims of reprisal, and the Department’s Agency Grievance Procedure. EL/ER works with and provides advice and guidance to managers and Employment Relations staff throughout the Department on drafting notices of discipline and adverse actions and responses to employee grievances. ELG provides support to the Department in petitions before the Courts of Appeals and provides legal advice on Human Resources Staff issues when requested. ELG staff also represent the Department before the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and coordinates and implements the Department’s LR/ER training programs.

This is a Non-Reimbursable Detail Opportunity for 120 days with the possibility of extension.

The incumbent will provide legal advice and guidance on the most difficult labor and employment issues faced by the Department, many of which involve novel circumstances or conflicting precedents. In this role, the incumbent interacts with a broad cross-section of Department officials, including senior Department officials; the General Counsel’s offices throughout the Department; and Labor and Employment Relations representatives in various components. The incumbent also provides advice to the Civil Division's Commercial Litigation and Appellate Branches, as well as the Office or the Solicitor General, in actions before the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) in those labor and employment cases which impact most significantly the Department's (or its components') ability to carry out its mission.

The incumbent is responsible for administering the Department's directives on subjects such as the administrative grievance procedure, employee-management relations, alternative dispute resolution, and disciplinary adverse actions. The incumbent analyzes ER policy issues for the Department and prepares comments and/or briefing materials on proposed regulations and/or legislation pertaining to these subjects.

The work will include, but is not limited to:

Represent the Department in litigation matters before the MSPB, EEOC and FLRA

Provide ER training to components, and offer guidance regarding the use of alternative dispute resolution in administrative processes

Conduct extensive legal research involving complex legal questions and develop options to the highest levels of the Department; routinely review statutory provisions, federal court decisions, and administrative agency rulings

Develop ER procedures or policies for implementation across the Department

Must possess a J.D. Degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least 3-years post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience

Must be a U.S. citizen already employed by the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. Government

Must have obtained approval from their component or agency to apply to the detail

Prior to starting the detail, selected applicants must have successfully completed a background check

Must have three years of legal advisory, legal research, and policy development experience in Employment Law

All interested applicants should submit the following documents via email to JMDOHCFrontOffice@jmd.usdoj.gov with the subject line “ATTORNEY ADVISOR – EMPLOYMENT LAW GROUP- DETAIL” by January 15, 2026.

Cover letter that highlights qualifications and interest in the detail opportunity

Resume, highlighting experience relevant to the duties and qualifications listed above

Copy of J.D., or equivalent degree (official transcript with conferred status is acceptable)

Bar Certificate – in Good Standing

Most recent SF50

A statement indicating whether you are or have been a political appointee in the past five (5) years (if applicable)

Approval statement from the component or agency to apply for detail

Once the application process is complete, a review of submitted documents will be made to determine if applicants are qualified for this assignment.

This is a non-reimbursable detail assignment open to current federal employees at the GS-15 level. The detail will be filled at the employee’s current pay grade.