OPLA FIELD LEGAL OPS
Overview
Summary Organizational Location: This announcement will be used to fill multiple vacancies at Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Field Locations. This is a not-to-exceed term position and may be extended based on the needs of the agency. The salary range listed is the General Schedule (GS) base rate. Recruitment incentives may be available to eligible candidates, in which case a service agreement will be required. Duties
Help OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing over 1,500 attorneys nationwide. In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 25 OPLA Field Locations in more than 60 cities throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices. OPLA attorneys provide legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal and employment law. OPLA attorneys represent the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Contract Board of Appeals. OPLA attorneys support the Department of Justice in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE. The selected attorney will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft legally supportable policies to address the needs of agency operational components. The attorney will be expected to routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and DHS's Office of the General Counsel Headquarters. The selected attorney will be required to assess litigation risk and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice. As a General Attorney, you will perform the following duties at the full performance level: Represent the United States Government in removal proceedings before immigration judges, frequently involving applicants for asylum or for other forms of relief under immigration laws; Provide expert legal counsel in the interpretation of highly complex immigration and customs laws including comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of statutory, regulatory and case authorities; Prepare cases for litigation by conducting legal research; prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, stipulations, affidavits, and other legal documents; Prepare witnesses for litigation; conduct direct examination and cross examination; present oral arguments advancing ICE's legal position; negotiate the disposition of cases with opposing counsel; and advise the Chief Counsel and / or Deputy Chief Counsel on cases potentially warranting deferred action or other exercise of prosecutorial discretion; Construct litigation reports for United States Attorney's Offices on civil matters pending in the federal courts involving ICE, and serve as liaison between Department of Justice's Office of Immigration Litigation and the local Enforcement and Removal Field Office on immigration matters pending in the Circuit Courts of Appeals; Provide legal advice and support to the other ICE components and litigation support to United States Attorney's Offices in immigration and / or customs matters. The position also involves appellate advocacy before the Board of Immigration Appeals, including the preparation of briefs and other pleadings. Note:
OPLA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations when appropriate. If a reasonable accommodation is required for any part of the application process, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement. Locations and Enrollment
You have the opportunity to identify one location preference. Note that multiple duty locations fall within the area of responsibility (AOR) of each office. Your location preferences are NOT guaranteed. Duty locations offered will be based on the needs of the agency. If you decline the duty locations offered during the official job offer, you will be removed from further consideration. Retired applicants must be retired on or before the opening date of this announcement. This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within OPLA. Requirements
Conditions of employment You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug screen for federal employment. If you are a male born after 12/31/59, you must certify registration with the Selective Service. You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs). You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement. You may be required to serve a two-year trial period, if the requirement has not been met. You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Qualifications
Dual Compensation Offset Waiver for General Attorneys Approved for Rehires: This announcement is being used to recruit CSRS and FERS annuitants on a limited basis with a waiver of salary offset (if a dual compensation waiver is requested) under certain specified circumstances not to exceed 07/31/2028 excluding annuitants with early voluntary and buyout retirements. Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset (dual compensation) waiver are eligible for: Full annuity and full Federal salary. Annual and sick leave (not applicable for an intermittent work schedule). Full-time work schedules. Receive overtime (on a full schedule). Overtime hours are counted towards maximum hour limitations. New hires under this authority will be offered a non-status, not-to-exceed term appointment in the excepted service which may be extended based on the needs of the agency. Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset (dual compensation) waiver are NOT eligible for: Additional retirement coverage (other than Social Security coverage). TSP Contributions. Reemployed annuitants may only receive one appointment per job series. Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on 08/22/2025. Qualification claims will be verified. Applicants should possess the ability to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, be detail oriented, prioritize competing assignments, and work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units. They should have a strong interest in supporting and providing stellar client services to diverse program offices including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership, and must tailor communications to a particular audience. Applicants should be able to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner. Characteristics and competencies include integrity, sound professional judgment, organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, stellar client services, the ability to function independently and cooperatively, and superior written and oral advocacy skills. To qualify for the GS-14: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing and have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: Skills in litigating cases before courts and proficiency in objecting to the admission of excludable evidence during trial; Trial advocacy skills, including proficiency in case strategy, direct examination and cross-examination, and oral argument; Experience involving contact with government witnesses, immigration judges, and opposing counsel in immigration court proceedings; Reviewing memoranda of understanding, applications for search and/or arrest warrants, personal assistance agreements, requests for certification of undercover operations, affidavits in support of wire-taps, and related matters of investigatory concern to ICE officers and agents; Outstanding written, oral advocacy and judgment skills; strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills; ability to function independently and as part of a team. Bar Membership:
You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Education
All applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Additional information
This is a not-to-exceed term position and may be extended based on the needs of the agency. This position is at the full performance level. Bargaining Unit Status: This is a bargaining position. The exclusive representative for this bargaining unit position is the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), with representation provided by AFGE, Local 511. E-Verify:
DHS uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. Direct Deposit:
All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments via direct deposit. Veterans' Preference:
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, OPLA considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Financial Disclosure:
If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment. Suitability:
If you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must complete an Optional Form 306 and sign/certify the accuracy of all information. False statements may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal, or legal penalties. Background Investigation:
DHS requires all employees to be reliable and trustworthy. Selected applicants must undergo a background investigation and obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level as a condition of placement. This may include a credit check and review of financial obligations. Drug Test:
Pursuant to E.O. 12564,ICE is committed to a drug-free workplace. All applicants tentatively selected are subject to pre-employment drug testing. One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits. Open to learn more about federal benefits.
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Summary Organizational Location: This announcement will be used to fill multiple vacancies at Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Field Locations. This is a not-to-exceed term position and may be extended based on the needs of the agency. The salary range listed is the General Schedule (GS) base rate. Recruitment incentives may be available to eligible candidates, in which case a service agreement will be required. Duties
Help OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing over 1,500 attorneys nationwide. In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 25 OPLA Field Locations in more than 60 cities throughout the United States. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices. OPLA attorneys provide legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal and employment law. OPLA attorneys represent the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Contract Board of Appeals. OPLA attorneys support the Department of Justice in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE. The selected attorney will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft legally supportable policies to address the needs of agency operational components. The attorney will be expected to routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and DHS's Office of the General Counsel Headquarters. The selected attorney will be required to assess litigation risk and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice. As a General Attorney, you will perform the following duties at the full performance level: Represent the United States Government in removal proceedings before immigration judges, frequently involving applicants for asylum or for other forms of relief under immigration laws; Provide expert legal counsel in the interpretation of highly complex immigration and customs laws including comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of statutory, regulatory and case authorities; Prepare cases for litigation by conducting legal research; prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, stipulations, affidavits, and other legal documents; Prepare witnesses for litigation; conduct direct examination and cross examination; present oral arguments advancing ICE's legal position; negotiate the disposition of cases with opposing counsel; and advise the Chief Counsel and / or Deputy Chief Counsel on cases potentially warranting deferred action or other exercise of prosecutorial discretion; Construct litigation reports for United States Attorney's Offices on civil matters pending in the federal courts involving ICE, and serve as liaison between Department of Justice's Office of Immigration Litigation and the local Enforcement and Removal Field Office on immigration matters pending in the Circuit Courts of Appeals; Provide legal advice and support to the other ICE components and litigation support to United States Attorney's Offices in immigration and / or customs matters. The position also involves appellate advocacy before the Board of Immigration Appeals, including the preparation of briefs and other pleadings. Note:
OPLA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations when appropriate. If a reasonable accommodation is required for any part of the application process, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement. Locations and Enrollment
You have the opportunity to identify one location preference. Note that multiple duty locations fall within the area of responsibility (AOR) of each office. Your location preferences are NOT guaranteed. Duty locations offered will be based on the needs of the agency. If you decline the duty locations offered during the official job offer, you will be removed from further consideration. Retired applicants must be retired on or before the opening date of this announcement. This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within OPLA. Requirements
Conditions of employment You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug screen for federal employment. If you are a male born after 12/31/59, you must certify registration with the Selective Service. You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs). You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement. You may be required to serve a two-year trial period, if the requirement has not been met. You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Qualifications
Dual Compensation Offset Waiver for General Attorneys Approved for Rehires: This announcement is being used to recruit CSRS and FERS annuitants on a limited basis with a waiver of salary offset (if a dual compensation waiver is requested) under certain specified circumstances not to exceed 07/31/2028 excluding annuitants with early voluntary and buyout retirements. Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset (dual compensation) waiver are eligible for: Full annuity and full Federal salary. Annual and sick leave (not applicable for an intermittent work schedule). Full-time work schedules. Receive overtime (on a full schedule). Overtime hours are counted towards maximum hour limitations. New hires under this authority will be offered a non-status, not-to-exceed term appointment in the excepted service which may be extended based on the needs of the agency. Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset (dual compensation) waiver are NOT eligible for: Additional retirement coverage (other than Social Security coverage). TSP Contributions. Reemployed annuitants may only receive one appointment per job series. Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on 08/22/2025. Qualification claims will be verified. Applicants should possess the ability to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, be detail oriented, prioritize competing assignments, and work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units. They should have a strong interest in supporting and providing stellar client services to diverse program offices including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership, and must tailor communications to a particular audience. Applicants should be able to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner. Characteristics and competencies include integrity, sound professional judgment, organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, stellar client services, the ability to function independently and cooperatively, and superior written and oral advocacy skills. To qualify for the GS-14: You must be a graduate from an accredited law school, be an active member in good standing and have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: Skills in litigating cases before courts and proficiency in objecting to the admission of excludable evidence during trial; Trial advocacy skills, including proficiency in case strategy, direct examination and cross-examination, and oral argument; Experience involving contact with government witnesses, immigration judges, and opposing counsel in immigration court proceedings; Reviewing memoranda of understanding, applications for search and/or arrest warrants, personal assistance agreements, requests for certification of undercover operations, affidavits in support of wire-taps, and related matters of investigatory concern to ICE officers and agents; Outstanding written, oral advocacy and judgment skills; strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills; ability to function independently and as part of a team. Bar Membership:
You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Education
All applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Additional information
This is a not-to-exceed term position and may be extended based on the needs of the agency. This position is at the full performance level. Bargaining Unit Status: This is a bargaining position. The exclusive representative for this bargaining unit position is the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), with representation provided by AFGE, Local 511. E-Verify:
DHS uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. Direct Deposit:
All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments via direct deposit. Veterans' Preference:
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, OPLA considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Financial Disclosure:
If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment. Suitability:
If you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must complete an Optional Form 306 and sign/certify the accuracy of all information. False statements may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal, or legal penalties. Background Investigation:
DHS requires all employees to be reliable and trustworthy. Selected applicants must undergo a background investigation and obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level as a condition of placement. This may include a credit check and review of financial obligations. Drug Test:
Pursuant to E.O. 12564,ICE is committed to a drug-free workplace. All applicants tentatively selected are subject to pre-employment drug testing. One or more positions may be filled using this vacancy announcement. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits. Open to learn more about federal benefits.
#J-18808-Ljbffr