The Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is currently seeking applications for General Attorney position in its Children, Families, and Aging Division (CFAD).
Who May Apply: This vacancy announcement is open to all US Citizens and may be used to fill multiple positions.
Duty Station: Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Kansas City, MO; Denver, CO
Salary Range: $74,678 - $163,514
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: March 5, 2026 – until filled (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting March 9, 2026).
Job Summary:
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is the legal team for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), providing quality representation and legal advice on a wide range of highly visible national issues. OGC supports developing and implementing the Department's programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary of HHS and the Department's various agencies and divisions. OGC is comprised of three principal subcomponents: the Immediate Office, Headquarters Divisions, and Regional Offices. Each Headquarters Division is led by an Associate General Counsel.
This position is for a General Attorney in the Children, Families, and Aging Division (CFAD). CFAD attorneys provide legal counsel and litigation support to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within HHS. CFAD maintains a national practice that involves over $70 billion in mandatory and discretionary grant programs. CFAD attorneys deliver a broad range of legal services that require creative legal thinking and strong communication skills and involve direct client contact and interaction with colleagues throughout OGC and other government offices. This position offers significant responsibility and intellectually engaging work affecting the lives of millions of Americans.
For additional information about OGC's mission, please visit our website at: http://www.hhs.gov/ogc/index.html.
Duties:
The attorney will primarily provide advice and litigation support to ACF on issues related to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Unaccompanied Alien Children's Program and/or HHS early childhood development programs. The attorney may also work on other matters involving ACF and ACL, including advice and counsel on the administration of grants and cooperative agreements, administrative law, and other applicable legal authorities. The attorney will represent ACF and ACL in appeal proceedings before the Departmental Appeals Board and coordinate with the Department of Justice on Federal court litigation.
We are seeking to fill the positions at the GS-11/12/13/14 level ($74,678 - $163,514) depending on experience and qualifications.
Preferred Qualifications:
CFAD seeks attorneys with superior academic credentials and exceptional research, writing, and interpersonal skills. Applicants should 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. Applicants should also show a commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service.
Applicants should have a demonstrated interest and/or experience in human services programs affecting the lives of children, families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. We encourage applicants to review the programs administered by ACF and ACL to understand the breadth of CFAD's portfolio.
We seek applicants with Federal litigation and/or administrative litigation experience. Knowledge of immigration law and the laws affecting unaccompanied alien immigrant children and victims of trafficking in persons also is helpful. Knowledge of or experience with Federal grant law, Federal administrative law, and other legal issues presented by ACF or ACL human services programs is helpful. Current law student applicants will not be considered.
The position will be located in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, Philadelphia, PA, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, Kansas City, MO, or Denver, CO. Reimbursement for relocation expenses is not available.
Qualifications Required:
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-11: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school and possess active bar status in good standing.
- At the GS-12: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and one year of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-11 level.
- At the GS-13: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and two years of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-12 level with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level.
- At the GS-14: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and three years of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-13 level with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 level.
The following are required qualifications:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school.
- Have at least two years of experience 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, analysis and oral advocacy abilities, and possess excellent interpersonal skills.
- 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.
- This position is not in a bargaining unit.
- 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.
Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
Instructions to Apply:
Please submit the following documents to CFADRecruitment@hhs.gov to receive full consideration:
- Short cover letter addressed to Marie Scott, Associate General Counsel-Children, Families, and Aging Division. The cover letter should explain experience and/or interest in providing legal advice on human services-related matters. Note: CFAD does not advise health programs.
- Resume (must include education, including name of undergraduate and law schools, degrees received, and dates graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; and a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law)
- One legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages)
- Law school transcript, if graduated from law school within the past five years
- Proof of active bar status in good standing and eligibility to practice law in a state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- Names and contact information for at least three professional references