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Posted: March 6, 2026 (0 days ago)

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General Attorney (Public Notice Flyer)

Office of the Secretary

Department of Commerce

Fresh

Location

Salary

$85,447 - $197,200

per year

Type

Closes

July 6, 2026

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 is for an attorney in the Department of Commerce who will handle legal matters related to enforcing export controls and industry security, such as investigating and addressing violations of rules on selling sensitive goods abroad.

It involves providing advice on complex cases that protect national interests.

A good fit would be a licensed lawyer with experience in corporate enforcement or international trade law, who enjoys working on high-stakes government issues.

Key Requirements

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school (or equivalent, with possible waiver for certain bar admissions)
  • Active membership in the bar of one of the 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
  • For GS-11: Basic J.D. and bar membership
  • For GS-12: GS-11 qualifications plus one year of legal experience or superior academic credentials
  • For GS-13 to GS-15: Increasing years of post-bar legal experience (2-4 years), preferably in litigating corporate enforcement actions or export control matters
  • Ability to perform specialized duties in export control enforcement and related legal issues

Full Job Description

This vacancy is for a General Attorney (Public Notice Flyer) in the Office of the Secretary, Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Chief Counsel for Industry and Security (OCC/IS) within the Department of Commerce.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards.

This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ 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.

Basic requirement for all grade levels: You must be a graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school; AND You must have bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico or the US.

Virgin Islands. Minimum Qualifications: GS-11: J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

(The requirement that an applicant possess a J.D.

may be waived if his or her bar membership is in a state that allows individuals to "read for the law" rather than pursue a formal academic degree.) GS-12: GS-11 qualifications plus one-year legal experience, or additional relevant experience that distinguishes an entry-level attorney from the GS-11.

This may include: a superior academic record; specific course work or an internship in the relevant legal area; or another graduate or doctoral degree.

Individuals hired into Legal Intern positions at the GS-11 may be reassigned to GS-12 attorney positions upon admission to the bar, irrespective of time-in-grade.

GS-13: Applicants applying at the GS-13 grade level must have two years of experience in either the private or public sectors, with a preference for experience litigating corporate enforcement actions and working on export control-related matters.

GS-14: Applicants applying at the GS-14 grade level must have three years of experience in either the private or public sectors, with a preference for experience litigating corporate enforcement actions and working on export control-related matters.

GS-15: Applicants applying at the GS-15 grade level must have four years of experience in either the private or public sectors, with a preference for experience litigating corporate enforcement actions and working on export control-related matters.

Note: The General Counsel or designee retains the discretion to waive minimum qualifications as described above.

Specialized Experience Requirements: Applicants must meet the General Professional Experience requirements set forth above and the below specialized experience by the closing date of the announcement.

Specialized experience equips applicants with particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

Applicants may be hired at any of the grades shown in this announcement, commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications.

You are encouraged to identify the grade level(s) or salary for which you wish to be considered. Major Duties:

The U.S.

Department of Commerce, Office of the General Counsel, is seeking an Attorney Advisor to join the Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security (OCC/IS) to focus on cutting-edge and impactful export control enforcement and related matters.

Such enforcement-related duties are expected to include significant involvement in: Representing BIS in administrative enforcement cases before Administrative Law Judges; drafting and reviewing enforcement-related proposed BIS rules and policies; and developing various enforcement program initiatives.

Assisting U.S. Attorneys' Offices across the country and the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in the criminal prosecution of export control cases.

Providing legal advice to federal law enforcement agents, including special agents of the BIS Office of Export Enforcement, on a variety of routine enforcement activities and specialized topics, such as detentions, searches, seizures and forfeitures.

Working with the U.S. Department of Justice in defending challenges in federal court to BIS programs and enforcement actions.

Investigating and pursuing administrative enforcement actions pertaining to violations of the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018.

Depending on the needs of the Office, additional duties may include: Providing legal counsel to BIS on implementation of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C.

§§ 4801-4852) and the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. §§ 730- 774).

Advising on proposed rules, pending legislation, export license applications, draft advisory opinions, responses to Congressional inquiries, and national security-related matters affecting export controls and other trade-related issues.

Providing legal guidance on matters related to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. § 1862), addressing tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum arising from threats to U.S.

national security. Supporting BIS's efforts to secure the information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain by advising on ICTS transaction reviews and rulemakings.

Coordinating with other Department and U.S.

Government agencies' legal offices, including reviewing matters before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and supporting the U.S.

Department of Justice on litigation matters related to BIS.

Carrying out duties with varying degrees of preliminary instruction and review (depending on grade level at which hired and the nature of the assignment) requiring independent legal research, approach planning, and the development of legal recommendations.

The attorney in this position may also be required to perform other duties as assigned.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other General Attorney (Public Notice Flyer) GS-0905-11/12/13/14/15, FPL GS-15 positions within the Office of the Secretary in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/6/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/6/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: OS-OGC-PNF-26-12902644