Assistant Legal Adviser

📍 Washington, District of Columbia · 🏛 Department of State Headquarters · 💰 $151,661–$228,000 per year · 🎓 ES 00 · 🧭 Attorney (0905) · ⏳ Closes Nov 25, 2026 · 14 days left · 🗓 Posted Nov 11, 2026
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About this job

The Office of the Legal Adviser (L) provides legal advice and services to the Secretary of State and other senior officials, Department offices, diplomatic and consular posts abroad, and other U.S. government agencies on all legal matters, domestic and international, arising in the course of the Department's activities. The incumbent of this position will serve as an Assistant Legal Adviser and reports directly to a Deputy Legal Adviser.

Duties

The Assistant Legal Adviser for Diplomatic Law and Litigation (L/DL) provides legal advice and services on matters implicating diplomatic law, which are often of particular importance to United States foreign policy interests. This includes providing advice on the legal implications of contemplated actions by the United States or actions taken by foreign states or international organizations (frequently in international situations that present novel issues), including, for example, the consistency of the action with respect to domestic and international law and the practice of the Department and what consequences might result in relations with other nations. Responsibilities of the Assistant Legal Adviser (L/DL) include but are not limited to the following: Provides timely, effective, and expert legal advice for Department and interagency actions, including international negotiations, regarding: the interpretation and application of international agreements, customary international law, and domestic law pertaining to U.S. and foreign diplomatic and consular missions and personnel; the status, privileges, and immunities of international organizations, their personnel, and missions of member states in the United States; the immunity of foreign states and governmental officials in the United States, including interpretation and application of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act; the immunity of the U.S. Government and its personnel abroad, including in the context of litigation; head of state and other status based and functional immunity; and recognition of states and governments. Handles related legal issues and projects arising in the context of criminal proceedings and civil litigation, including matters arising under the Alien Tort Statute, and provides operational and litigation support to OFM, S/CPR, U.S. missions abroad, and other Department and interagency components. Directs and supervises the work of approximately 7-9 attorneys and paralegals and other staff assigned to the office. Reviews their work products to ensure that accurate and timely advice and services are provided. Discharges office management and administrative responsibilities. Promotes the Department's human resources policies and encourages employee development through varied work assignments, continuing legal education, and other means.

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. In order to qualify for the Attorney Advisor position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Education: Applicants must possess an LL.B. or a J.D. degree at the time of application and submit proof of your degree with your application. AND Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. You must submit proof of licensure with your application. The application process to recruit for this position is the RESUME BASED method. You must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications ( MTQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed and will be disqualified. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. Please submit your 2-page resume as an additional attachment. It is strongly recommended that you submit your 2-page resume in PDF format. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing ECQs or MTQs. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): YOUR RESUME (NOT TO EXCEED TWO PAGES) MUST CLEARLY DOCUMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE OF YOUR ECQs : ECQ 1 – Commitment to Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding. This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. ECQ 2 – Driving Efficiency. This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. ECQ 3 – Merit and Competence. This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 4 – Leading People. This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. ECQ 5 – Achieving Results. This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. NOTE: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES. MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ)s: IN ADDITION, YOU WILL BE EVALUATED ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ): Your responses to the MTQ should be embedded/addressed within your resume not to exceed two pages. MTQ 1 Demonstrated experience providing sound legal advice and representation involving the interpretation and application of public international law and domestic law to the foreign policy and management activities of large public or private organizations. MTQ 2 Demonstrated experience providing sound legal advice and representation through effective written and oral counsel and advocacy on issues relating to U.S. foreign relations, including with respect to foreign states, international organizations, and the conduct of U.S. diplomacy. NOTE: Your demonstrated leadership ability and the evidence of the ECQs and MTQs must be clearly shown in your resume. A separate narrative statement will not be accepted. A sample 2-page resume that incorporates ECQs and MTQs can be viewed on this link (indexed at page 16 - 17), “Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications” and “Senior Executive Service Qualifications & Fundamental-Competencies”. YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION IF YOU FAIL TO FULLY DEMONSTRATE EACH ECQ AND MTQ AND IF YOUR RESUME EXCEEDS TWO (2) PAGES. Current or Former (within last 5 years) Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employees in the Executive Branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee, please indicate this in your resume. Serving in a Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES appointment WILL NOT eliminate you from consideration.

Education

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.

Requirements

Requirements: This position is a drug-testing designated position subject to random testing for illegal drug use. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's completion and favorable adjudication of a background security investigation. The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521 requires the applicant selected for the this position submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually and upon termination of employment.

Evaluations

Veterans' Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service. You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications stated in this vacancy announcement. A multi-step process is used to evaluate and refer applicants: 1. Minimum requirements: Your application package must show that you meet all the requirements including the education and/or experience required for this position. You will be rated “not qualified” if you do not possess the qualification requirements for the position. If your application is incomplete, you may be found “ineligible”. 2. Rating and Ranking: A panel of subject matter experts will review your application and evaluate your qualifications for this position based on the information in your application. Your application will be evaluated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of this position. 3. Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for consideration for interview. The DOS Executive Resources Board (ERB) will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority where final interviews and reference checks may occur. Your supporting documents are an integral part of the process for determining your qualifications for the position. If your responses are not supported by your resume limited to two pages, you will be eliminated from consideration. After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, if a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Incomplete or late applications will not receive further consideration. The application process to recruit for this position is the RESUME BASED method. You must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED two (2) pages. Resumes exceeding the two (2) page limit will not reviewed and will be disqualified. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the ECQs or MTQs. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed. Unless you have already been certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) previously, your Executive Qualifications must be certified by OPM's QRB before an appointment can occur. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to OPM for review and certification by their QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SES CDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

How to apply

Prepare your application in USAJOBS To start your application, click Apply and we'll walk you through the process to attach a resume and any required documents. During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS. STEP 2: Submit your resume. Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume. STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions. STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section. To learn how to view the status of your submitted supporting documentation and application, visit the Application Instructions section of our agency's Civil Service selection process site. Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at mgshelp@monster.com or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET Alternate Application Procedures If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package. Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.

Applications are handled only on the official announcement. This page is a readable copy of the public announcement data — the official version controls if anything differs.

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Required documents

All required documents listed below must be submitted to our automated system "Gateway to State" prior to the closing date of this announcement, which is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Applicants who do not submit the required documentation WILL NOT be considered for this position. A complete application includes items described below. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible). Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. 1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each) showing all relevant experience which demonstrates the ECQs and MTQs listed in the Qualifications section. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and MTQs. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER. Include start and end dates for each position (e.g., month and year; month, day, and year). 2. VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy. 3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (if applicable): Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting you are a current Federal Civil Service employee. FORMER SES MEMBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility. If you are a former career SES member, you may be eligible for reinstatement if you successfully completed the SES probationary period (or were exempt from the probationary period because you were converted to the SES as a career appointee when the SES was established) and left the SES for reasons other than misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or less than fully successful performance, or resignation after receipt of a notice proposing or directing removal for such reasons. SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRD certification. PROOF OF HOLDING A FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE POSITION: If you work(ed) for an agency that does not provide an SF-50—for example, the United States Postal Service—provide documentation that confirms you currently hold or previously held a position in the Federal civil service. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Most recent performance evaluation IMPORTANT: Failure to meet or demonstrate each ECQs and MTQs in the two (2) page resume may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete applications package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Please do not submit any additional information not requested above.

What to expect next

After all application packages are received, we will review applications and evaluate applicants' qualifications. Then, in approximately two weeks after this announcement closes, we will refer candidates, as described in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section, to the hiring manager for selection consideration. Your application status will be updated up to four times during the following hiring phases: After applications are received. After applications are assessed to determine qualifications. After candidates are referred to the hiring manager. After a selection is made. For the selected candidates who receive a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability review and/or security background investigation that generally takes an average of at least two to six months.

Other information

For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at OAA@state.gov. Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of State requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information clearance as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this Assistant Legal Adviser job pay?

The announcement lists a salary of $151,661–$228,000 per year (ES 00).

When is the last day to apply?

Applications close on Nov 25, 2026 — 14 days from today.

Where is this job located?

This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia with the Department of State Headquarters.

How do I apply?

Applications are submitted through the official announcement on USAJobs. Use the Apply button on this page to go to the official posting — this site never takes applications itself.

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Data: USAJobs (U.S. Office of Personnel Management), retrieved 2026-11-11 · Announcement CSTM-2027-0005 · Official announcement. FederalJobs is unofficial and is not affiliated with OPM or the agency.
Assistant Legal Adviser
Nov 25, 2026 deadlineApply