Legal Careers
Attorney Advisor, GS-0905-15
The National Security Division (NSD) coordinates the Department of Justice’s efforts in carrying out its core mission of protecting national security, countering foreign and domestic terrorism, and enhancing cybersecurity and fighting cybercrime in the context of state-sponsored and other national security cyber threats. NSD is responsible for supervising the enforcement of all federal criminal laws related to counterintelligence and counterterrorism, except those specifically assigned to other divisions. NSD also serves as the Department of Justice’s liaison to the United States Intelligence Community (USIC) and represents the government and the USIC before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. NSD advises the Attorney General regarding all matters of national security policy.
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.
The National Security Division (NSD) is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as its National Security/Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC) Training Coordinator. The NSD Training Coordinator works with the Office of Legal Education to provide national security training for prosecutors in the United States Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) and attorneys in NSD. The Training Coordinator develops and facilitates an innovative and progressive training curriculum tied specifically to strategic priorities of the Division. The Training Coordinator is delegated authority to plan, schedule, and implement training programs under the general supervision of NSD’s General Counsel. Responsibilities and duties include the following:
- Plans, develops, and facilitates, in coordination with the Office of Legal Education at the National Advocacy Center, approximately five training courses conducted annually for national security prosecutors in the USAOs and NSD, including training for National Security Cyber Specialists;
- Works with NSD’s Regional Coordinators in the Counterterrorism Section (CTS) and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) to conduct Regional Meetings for national security prosecutors in the USAOs;
- Recruits and retains a core of volunteer instructors capable of offering effective national security training and ensures that instructors possess the training required to develop and deliver effective courses;
- Serves as primary spokesperson for the National Security/ATAC Coordinators in the USAOs by providing national security guidance, relevant Appellate summaries and decisions, Joint Intelligence Bulletins, orientation information for new National Security/ATAC Coordinators, and other training and personnel information;
- Assists in planning, developing, and facilitating meetings and trainings hosted by NSD and including United States Attorneys and/or national security prosecutors in the USAOs;
- Plans, develops, and facilitates on-line national security training for prosecutors in the USAOs in the form of webinars, videos for LearnDOJ, and virtual meetings on relevant national security topics;
- Plans, develops, and updates written resources for national security prosecutors including updates to the National Security Prosecutors Manual, NSD Monographs, national security checklists, and other written resources;
- Ensures NSD’s online training and USAO-focused resources are regularly updated and maintained in a user-friendly database;
- Works with the Department’s Chief Learning Officer and with other Federal agencies in order to share expertise and effective practices in training programs;
- Serves as an expert consultant in the areas of national security training and provides professional leadership and authoritative consultant services to top-level officials within the Division and the Department on the development of national security training; and
- Works with NSD’s Director of Training and Workforce Development to assist with national security training for NSD prosecutors.
Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, and have 4 or more years of post-J.D. professional experience to be qualified at the GS-15 level. Applicants with prosecution experience are preferred. Applicants with experience in training are preferred. Applicants must also have superior academic credentials, writing and analytic skills.
Applicants must also be able to qualify for the highest and most sensitive security clearances.
To apply for the position, please submit a resume, cover letter (highlighting your relevant experience), writing sample (no longer than 10 pages, which exhibits your own written advocacy skills), and copy of your most recent performance appraisal (if available), via electronic mail, using the subject line “ATTN: National Security/ATAC Coordinator Vacancy” to:
generalcounselofficevacancy@usdoj.gov
No telephone calls please.
The position may be eligible for remote work options.
GS-15: $163,964 – $191,9000 (per annum)
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Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.
Reasonable Accommodations: 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.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: 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.
Suitability and Citizenship: 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://www.usajobs.gov/Help/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. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: 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).
USAO Residency Requirement: 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.
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