Fresh Listing

Posted: January 30, 2026 (0 days ago)

This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.

Attorney Advisor - PUBLIC NOTICE

Transportation Security Administration

Department of Homeland Security

Fresh

Salary

$63,795 - $164,301

per year

Type

Closes

February 13, 2026More TSA jobs →

GS-11 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves providing legal advice to the Transportation Security Administration to help protect the nation's transportation systems like airports and highways from threats.

You'll research laws, write opinions, and draft documents to support security efforts.

It's a great fit for a licensed attorney with some experience in government or legal analysis who wants to contribute to public safety.

Key Requirements

  • J.D. or LL.B. from an ABA-accredited law school
  • Active membership in good standing with a state bar (or DC, Puerto Rico, or U.S. territory)
  • One year of specialized legal experience equivalent to GS-09 for SV-G band (GS-11), including legal research, statute analysis, and writing opinions or drafts
  • For higher bands (SV-H to SV-J, equivalent to GS-12 to GS-14): Progressive specialized experience in interpreting laws, drafting regulations, or handling legislative legal activities
  • Ability to provide proof of bar membership and good standing as an attorney
  • Experience in federal or state law interpretation, preferably related to transportation or security

Full Job Description

Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life.

In cities across the country, you would secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and/or public transit systems, thus protecting America's transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Basic Requirements: The first professional law degree (LL.B.

or JD) or the second professional law degree (LL.M.); AND Specialized professional legal experience that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization. This position requires that you (1) hold a first-level law degree (e.g., J.D.

or L.L.B.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; you must indicate the type and year of degree(s) conferred, law school name and year of completion, proof of Bar membership; (2) be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States, and proof of Bar membership; and (3) provide a statement that you are an attorney in good standing.

Failure to include this information may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

In addition to the Basic Requirements, to qualify for the SV-G Band (equivalent to GS-11), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-F or GS-09 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent education or experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled.

Specialized experience is defined as: Conducting legal research, analyzing statutes, writing legal opinions; Writing authoritative or advisory legal opinions involving interpretation of state or Federal laws, regulations, and orders, or the drafting of such regulations or orders; Developing drafts of letters, memoranda, and legal documents for the use by a higher graded attorney.

OR Be a graduate from an accredited law school and be an active member in good standing.

To qualify for the SV-H Band (equivalent to GS-12), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-G or GS-11 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled.

Specialized experience is defined as: Conducting legal research, analyzing statutes, writing legal opinions; Writing authoritative or advisory legal opinions involving interpretation of state or Federal laws, regulations, and orders, or the drafting of such regulations or orders; or Developing drafts of letters, memoranda, and legal documents for the use by a higher graded attorney.

To qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-H or GS-12 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled.

Specialized experience is defined as: Conducting legal research, analyzing statutes, writing legal opinions; Writing authoritative or advisory legal opinions involving interpretation of state or Federal laws, regulations, and orders, or the drafting of such regulations or orders; or Drafting, analyzing, and other legal activities with respect to bills, regulations, Executive Orders, proclamations, or statutory provisions.

To qualify for the SV-J Pay Band (equivalent to GS-14), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-I or GS-13 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled.

Specialized experience is defined as: Drafting legal documents, providing guidance and advice to clients, establishing policies and procedures; and Providing subject matter legal counsel and policy guidance to clients who manage programs related to intelligence, national security, or threats to transportation infrastructure and the traveling public.

To qualify for the SV-K Pay Band (equivalent to GS-15), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-J or GS-14 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled.

Specialized experience is defined as: Experience leading others in addressing diverse and complex legal issues; AND Primary responsibility for drafting final legal documents, providing guidance and advice to management, establishing policies and procedures; AND Providing comprehensive legal counsel and policy guidance to clients who manage programs related to intelligence, national security, or threats to transportation infrastructure and the traveling public.

Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience.

No additional credit is given for overtime.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.

If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Major Duties:

This Attorney Advisor position is located within the Office of the Chief Counsel, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

TSA is currently seeking to hire multiple entry-level and experienced attorneys at a number of offices nationwide.

TSA attorneys perform work vital to protect our nation's transportation systems and support the overall DHS mission of securing the homeland.

Depending on experience level, selectees will be hired starting at the SV G Band, equivalent to GS-11, up through the K Band, equivalent to the GS-15 equivalent level.

The position has promotion potential to the GS-15 level.

Descriptions for the position opening in TSA's Field Operations (FO) division, are detailed below: Field Operations: As Field Counsel, individuals will work directly with TSA senior executives and management at the nations' Federalized airports, providing legal counsel to support TSA activities at the airport on a wide range of issues such as civil and criminal enforcement, labor and employment law, civil rights, ethics and the interpretation of statutes, regulations and executive branch orders pertaining to transportation, homeland, and national security.

We are seeking candidates to fill one position in two different locations.

The potential locations are Atlanta, GA; Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA; or Seattle, WA; Please see below table information that includes salary plus locality by location: Locations Min w/Locality Max w/Locality Atlanta, GA $78,972 $197,200 Portland, OR $80,465 $197,200 San Francisco, CA $93,358 $197,200 Seattle, WA $83,935 $197,200 This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Attorney Advisor (GS-0905-11-15 FPL: 15) positions within the Transportation Security Administration within multiple geographical locations with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes

Browse Similar Jobs

Posted on USAJOBS: 1/30/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/31/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: HQ-CC-FO-12852029-DE