Attorney Adviser- GS-15- Legislative Division

The Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is currently seeking applications for an Attorney Advisor position in its Legislation Division.

Who May Apply: This vacancy announcement is open to all U.S. Citizens and may be used to fill multiple positions.

Duty Station: Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Kansas City, MO; Denver, CO.

Series & Grade: GS-0905-15

Salary Range: $147,945 -$197,331

Salary wage as shown is for the Rest of the U.S. (RUS) pay scale and does not include locality pay. Locality pay will be added according to the selectee’s location area.

Open Period: February 8, 2026 – until filled (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting February 28, 2026).

Job Summary:

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at the Department of Health and Human Services is seeking an attorney with at least three years of legal legislative drafting experience post bar admission to join its Legislation Division. The attorneys in the Legislation Division, as counsel to the Secretary and the Department, provide a range of legal services, notably the drafting of legislative language. The OGC Legislation Division represents the Department, advocating its positions before OMB and other agencies, and (to the extent authorized by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation or the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources) before congressional staff. Its lawyers also provide advice on the legislative process and on principles of statutory interpretation.

OGC is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage applications from a diverse pool of high-quality candidates.

For additional information about OGC’s mission, please visit our website at: https://www.hhs.gov/ogc/index.html

Duties:

Senior attorneys in the Legislation Division draft Federal legislation that impacts the entirety of the Department of Health and Human Services, respond to OMB clearance requests for other agencies' legislative matters (such as testimony), and respond to HHS requests for OGC clearance of HHS legislative matters (such as technical assistance).

The legislative issues are often extremely complex and present difficult legal questions that must be resolved by drafting clear and concise legislative language. Senior Attorneys are responsible for drafting legislative language that balances the policy objectives of the Department with the legal and constitutional requirements of US Federal law.

Legislation drafted by senior attorneys in the Legislation Division impacts broad segments of society. Attorneys work on novel legislation introduced by Congress as well as amendments to such comprehensive and complex laws as the Social Security Act, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Public Health Service Act, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, and all Appropriations Acts.

Senior attorneys in the Legislation Division work at the highest levels of the Department independently interacting with senior political and career officials. Senior attorneys also routinely independently interact with the Office of Management and Budget and the White House. Senior attorneys are responsible for drafting and evaluating the proposed legislation in terms of its foreseeable effect on agency programs, policies, procedures, regulations, methods of operation, and extent of operation, and on existing legislation. In addition, senior attorneys manage legislative-related requests from OMB and the White House.

We are seeking to fill the position at the GS-15 level. The main office is in Washington, D.C., and reimbursement for relocation expenses is not available.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, preference may be given to applicants with familiarity with HHS or other federal agency programs and operations. Qualified candidates will be independent self-starters with strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to produce quality work while under pressure and with tight deadlines. Candidates are expected to exhibit a positive attitude and the capability to work collaboratively with political and career officials and colleagues to complete projects in a timely and efficient manner.

Qualifications Required:

Candidates must have at least three years of legal legislative drafting experience post bar admission. Candidates must have exemplary legal writing, legal analysis, and oral advocacy abilities, possess excellent interpersonal skills, and display a capacity to work with diverse individuals and groups. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed on this announcement. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

At the GS-15: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and four years of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-14 level with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-14 level.

The following are required qualifications:

You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school.
Have at least three years after law school as a practicing attorney.
Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in the highest court of a State, U. S. commonwealth, U. S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
Candidates must also have exemplary legal writing, legal analysis, and oral advocacy abilities, possess excellent interpersonal skills, and display a capacity to work with diverse individuals and groups.
Candidates must have three years experience with legislative drafting, the legislative process, and the role of the Executive Branch in the legislative process.
It will also be a plus for the candidate to have familiarity and experience with statutes that the Department of HHS administers and statutes of general government-wide application.

Conditions of Employment:

You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school.
Have at least four (4) of experience after law school as a practicing attorney of which at least three (3) years’ shall be experience drafting and reviewing legislative language.
Must maintain active bar membership in good standing and the eligibility to practice law in the highest court of a state, territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia throughout employment in the Office of the General Counsel.
Upon final job offer from HHS OHR, the successful candidate must submit official law school transcripts.
Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.
Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Financial disclosure statement may be required.
Two-year trial period may be required.
Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.
Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. Applicants tentatively selected for this position may be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. If required to submit to urinalysis, the appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative applicant drug test result. In order to demonstrate commitment to the HHS goal of a drug-free workplace and to set an example for other Federal employees, employees not in a testing designated position may volunteer for unannounced random testing by notifying their Drug-free Federal Workplace Program Point of Contact upon hiring.

Instructions to Apply:

Please submit the following documents to OGC-LEGAttorneyVacancy@hhs.gov using the subject line “Legislation Division Attorney” in the forwarding email to receive full consideration:

Cover letter addressed to the Office of the General Counsel Hiring Official.
Resume (must include education, including names of undergraduate and law school, degree received and date graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law or the legislative process, including dates of employment (full time or part time) and supervisors' names and telephone numbers (we will not contact prior to talking with you).
Two legal writing samples demonstrating legislative drafting experience.
Proof that bar status is active, in good standing, and eligible to practice in a state, territory of the US, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Names and contact information for at least three professional references (we will not contact prior to talking with you).