General Attorney (District Court Litigation Division)

General Attorney (District Court Litigation Division)

Department: Department of Homeland Security

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $85447 - $197200 Per Year

Job Summary: Join the fast-paced federal litigation team within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor's (OPLA) District Court Litigation Division (DCLD) and leverage your legal experience to help protect the homeland. These positions are located in Washington, D.C.

Major Duties:

• OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing over 3,000 attorneys nationwide. OPLA provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices and serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Selected attorneys will fill the Counsel position and primarily serve as DHS's agency counsel by representing agency interests in civil litigation and through the adjudication of administrative tort claims. Counsel work closely with the DHS Office of the General Counsel Headquarters (OGC HQ), other DHS component legal offices, and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) entities, such as the Civil Division-including the Office of Immigration Litigation and the Torts Branch-as well as U.S. Attorney's Offices throughout the nation. Counsel in (DCLD) manage civil litigation against ICE and cases that otherwise impact ICE equities or its personnel. This includes assisting ICE personnel, OGC HQ, and DOJ in all aspects of federal civil litigation, such as: Development of legal strategy and arguments Motion practice Discovery Settlement negotiations Trials and appeals in cases ranging from common-law tort suits, lawsuits under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and suits seeking injunctive or declaratory relief under the Constitution, including class actions Counsel also adjudicate administrative claims for personal injuries and property damage pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-2680. Additional responsibilities include: Conducting training regarding litigation risk Representing ICE's interests in litigation-related discussions with other agencies and DHS components Responding timely and thoroughly to agency taskings Drafting and providing opinions and comments on legislative proposals The selected attorney(s) will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to research and craft persuasive, legally supportable positions to address the needs of agency operational components. They will routinely provide timely oral and written guidance to ICE officers and agents, division management, and senior leadership within OPLA, ICE, and OGC HQ.

Qualifications: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on 05/18/2026. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification. In light of the nature of DCLD's work, attorney assignments are fast-paced, high-profile, and must be addressed in real-time. Attorneys selected in response to this announcement will be given significant responsibilities immediately. Selectees must possess the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies: Ability to prioritize multiple assignments effectively Exercise sound legal and practical judgment Efficiently produce high-quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues Work effectively in a fast-paced environment, both independently and as part of a team Demonstrate initiative and the ability to work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner Applicants should be prepared to take on challenging assignments and contribute to the mission of protecting the homeland. Bar Membership: You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Current or Former Political Appointees: 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. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including individuals with intellectual, severe physical, or psychiatric disabilities as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.

How to Apply: To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12952028 and submit the required documentation outlined under the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below. The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/18/2026 to receive consideration. To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position. If you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-18