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 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 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; Kansas City, MO; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL
Pay Scale & Grade: GS-11
Salary Range: $74,768 - $97,087
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.
For specific wage information, refer to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/general-schedule/
Open Period: August 14, 2026 - until filled (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis).
Job Summary:
The Office of the General Counsel is the legal team for HHS, providing quality representation and legal advice on a wide range of highly visible national issues. OGC supports the development and implementation of the Department’s programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary of HHS and the organization’s various agencies and divisions.
OGC is comprised of three principal subcomponents: the Immediate Office, Headquarters Divisions, and Regional Hubs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Division (CMSD) is one of the Headquarters Divisions with hubs in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Kansas City, and Denver.
CMSD defends policies, regulations, and guidance issued by CMS, the nation’s largest healthcare payer. The current openings present an opportunity to help develop and defend transformative changes to the healthcare system. CMSD is hiring for its Litigation, Program Review, and Program Enforcement Groups.
The incumbent will serve as a law clerk trainee with an appointment period not to exceed 14 months, pending admission to the bar. Upon admission to the bar, the incumbent may be eligible for conversion to a permanent GS-0905 Attorney Advisor position.
For additional information about OGC’s mission, please visit our website at: http://www.hhs.gov/ogc/index.html.
Duties:
- Provide legal advice, staff support, and assistance to Senior Attorneys and Division Directors, or others involved in matters for which the assigned Division is responsible, on substantive and procedural issues of limited complexity.
- Review case files, identify and analyze legal issues, and resolve legal disputes.
- Conduct legal research and prepare drafts of decisions, rulings, orders or memoranda containing legal analyses.
- Serve as the CMSD representative in dealings with the parties in an assigned case or with others.
- Schedule and participate in evidentiary hearings, oral arguments, or mediation conferences.
- Complete other assignments and special projects, as assigned.
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.
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.
- Candidates should have outstanding organizational and time management skills and a demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service.
- 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.
- 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 pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprints, 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 CMSDRecruitment@hhs.gov, to receive full consideration:
- Short cover letter addressed to the Office of the General Counsel Hiring Official, including a statement of interest indicating which CMSD group(s) you would like to join.
- Resume (must include education, including names of undergraduate and law school, degree received, and date graduated; and a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment (full time or part time)).
- Law school transcript if graduated from law school.