Attorney Advisor - GS-11/12/13/14 - 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 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.

Series and Grade: GS-0905-11/12/13/14

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: 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 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: http://www.hhs.gov/ogc/index.html

Duties:

The attorney will provide legal advice and services to a variety of HHS components and may draft any bill language in those areas, 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).

We are seeking to fill the position at the GS-11, 12, 13, or 14 level) depending on experience and qualifications. The candidate must have at least one year of legal experience post bar admission.

The main office is in Washington, D.C., and reimbursement for relocation expenses is not available.

Preferred Qualifications: Prefer applicants with some experience drafting or reviewing legislative language, 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 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-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.

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.

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 one (1) year (s) 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 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 be familiar with 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.
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.

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 OGC-LEGAttorneyVacancy@hhs.gov using the subject line “Legislation Division Attorney” in the forwarding email. To receive full consideration, submit all materials by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement:

Cover letter addressed to the Office of the General Counsel Hiring Official.
Resume (must include education, including name 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 number(s) (we will not contact prior to talking with you).
Two legal writing samples demonstrating your ability to analyze, draft legislative language or legal analysis, and/or seek agreement of conflict. (prefer fewer than 10 pages).
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).