Legal Careers
Attorney-Adviser
The Office of Adjudication, Recruitment, and Management (OARM) oversees the employment and general administration of attorneys and law students at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). OARM sets policy and advises DOJ officials within the components, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and at the highest levels of DOJ on issues regarding the recruitment, appointment, and separation of attorneys and legal interns. The Director of OARM also has the authority to decide FBI whistleblower reprisal claims brought pursuant to 28 C.F.R. Part 27.
OARM seeks one full-time attorney to support the adjudication of FBI whistleblower reprisal claims brought pursuant to 28 C.F.R. Part 27. These regulations provide protections to FBI whistleblowers and authorize the Director of OARM to decide the merits of a case and order appropriate corrective action, as warranted. Additionally, the attorney will assist in developing, implementing, and administering procedures necessary for the efficient resolution of FBI whistleblower reprisal claims.
The whistleblower team consists of two attorneys who work with the Director, draft orders and opinions, and participate in status conferences and hearings with the parties. The attorney will research and analyze complex legal issues that arise in the course of these matters. The position requires interaction with Department officials, the FBI’s Office of General Counsel, and FBI whistleblower complainants and their representatives, if any. The role entails significant program management and administrative responsibilities associated with the adjudication of FBI whistleblower matters. Duties will include docket and records management, responding to inquiries from external stakeholders, and meeting data collection and reporting requirements.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree (or equivalent), be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least four years of post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience.
Successful candidates are adept at legal research, analyzing complex and often voluminous records, identifying relevant issues, and producing clear and concise written decisions. In addition, candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills, demonstrated ability to work with officials at various seniority levels, and be organized, focused, and able to manage a significant caseload and prioritize case assignments. Exemplary judgment and discretion are also required. Strong relationship-building experience, the ability to efficiently produce high-quality work under tight time constraints, and the desire to be part of a collaborative team are essential. Judicial clerkship experience, civil litigation experience and experience handling employment reprisal cases are highly valued but not required.
Applicants must submit a resume (no more than two pages), writing sample (no more than 15 pages), and a detailed cover letter that highlights the applicant's interest in the position and relevant experience and qualifications.
Applicants must submit their cover letter, resume, and writing sample in one combined pdf, titled Last name, First Name – FBI WB Application via email to OARM.WB@usdoj.gov. On the subject line, please reference “OARM FBI WB Attorney”.
No telephone calls, please. This position will be open until filled, but applications must be received by September 1, 2026.
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.
Current salary and years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level within the GS-15 grade, $169,279 - $197,200, which includes locality pay.
Department Policies
The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and treating employees with fairness, dignity and compassion. We must ensure that no applicant for employment or employee of our Department is denied equal opportunity because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex – including pregnancy – or because of age, physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor and that all have the freedom to compete on a fair and level playing field. To learn more, please view the Department’s full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.
Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.
It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/non-citizens). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.