Legal Advisor

📍 Washington, District of Columbia · 🏛 U.S. Courts · 💰 $198,534–$209,600 per year · 🎓 JS 16 · 🧭 General Legal And Kindred Administration (0901) · ⏳ Closes Jun 7, 2027 · 208 days left · 🗓 Posted Jun 8, 2026
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About this job

The United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court seeks to hire a Legal Advisor to assist the Judges of the Court in considering applications presented by the U.S. government for authority to conduct electronic surveillance, physical search or other forms of intelligence gathering pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The Legal Advisors advise Judges on legal issues presented in applications or otherwise before the Court.

Duties

Assist the Judges of the Court in considering applications presented by the U.S. government for authority to conduct electronic surveillance, physical search or other forms of intelligence gathering pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The Legal Advisors advise Judges on legal issues presented in applications or otherwise before the Court.

Qualifications

The Court invites applications from attorneys with at least eight years of legal work experience, including at least one year equivalent to work at the JSP-15 (or the GS-15) level. The Court is particularly interested in applicants with expertise in intelligence law, constitutional law, privacy or communications technology and the law. Experience as a clerk to a federal judge is preferred. To be considered, an applicant must be a licensed attorney and a member in good standing of the bar of at least one jurisdiction. An applicant must also currently hold or be willing to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Top Secret/SCI level.

Education

Juris Doctor Degree and a member of the bar in good standing of at least one jurisdiction.

Requirements

United States citizenship is required for consideration for this position. Because of the access to classified materials and information, a Top Secret/SCI clearance is required for this position. If the selected candidate does not currently hold a Top Secret/SCI security clearance, any appointment is contingent upon the favorable adjudication of a completed background investigation and being granted such a security clearance. The selected candidate will also undergo a background check. Employees of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court are excepted service appointments. Excepted service appointments are "at will" and can be terminated with or without cause by the court. Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Employees are required to use Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit. Selection will be made consistent with the provisions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Plan adopted by the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia. The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this announcement.

Evaluations

Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be considered by a panel. Applicants selected for an interview will need to appear in person and travel at their own expense.

How to apply

To be considered for this "at will" position, applicants are required to submit the following: A cover letter detailing how your experience relates to the position requirements AO-78, Federal Judicial Branch Application for Employment A resume detailing all relevant experience, education, and skills Writing sample, not to exceed ten pages Applications may be mailed or hand delivered to: United States District Court Attn: Human Resources (26-FISC-02) 333 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 2712 Washington, DC 20001 Or via e-mail to: DCD_HumanResources@dcd.uscourts.gov If applying by email, a single attachment in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format in one email message should be organized as follows: (1) Cover Letter, (2) AO-78, (3) Resume and (4) Writing Sample. Failure to submit a complete and signed cover letter, AO-78, resume, and writing sample will result in immediate disqualification. Description of Work section of the AO-78 must be complete to include salary information. Indicating "see resume" is not acceptable. Incomplete and/or unsigned applications will not be considered, returned or retained. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted and must travel at their own expense. One application per candidate will be accepted for this announcement.

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

Cover letter, AO-78 application, resume, and a writing sample, not to exceed ten pages.

What to expect next

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Benefits

Full-time employees of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court are eligible for a full range of benefits to include: A minimum of 11 paid holidays per year Paid annual leave in the amount of 13 days per year for the first three years, 20 days per year after three years, and 26 days per year after fifteen years Paid sick leave in the amount of 13 days per year Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Optional participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), the Flexible Benefits Program, the Commuter Benefit Program, and SmartBenefits (mass transit subsidy up to $340 per month) Employee Recognition Program, budget permitting Workers' Compensation Program On-site physical fitness facility Flexible work schedule Federal Occupational Health Services Program (FOH)/ On-site Health Unit Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Work Life Services Virtual Learning through the Judiciary Online University Student Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees Priority enrollment for children beginning at three months of age until kindergarten of all employees of the United States Courts in the Thurgood Marshall Child Development Center (TMCDC) For more detailed information about federal court benefits, please go to: www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this Legal Advisor job pay?

The announcement lists a salary of $198,534–$209,600 per year (JS 16).

When is the last day to apply?

Applications close on Jun 7, 2027 — 208 days from today.

Where is this job located?

This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia with the U.S. Courts.

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 DE-12983786-26-AB · Official announcement. FederalJobs is unofficial and is not affiliated with OPM or the agency.
Legal Advisor
Jun 7, 2027 deadlineApply