Attorney General Jobs in District of Columbia
Attorney General jobs in District of Columbia center on federal oversight, public law, and government accountability, with the District serving as one of the most active markets for senior legal leadership in the country. Most openings are concentrated in Washington, D.C. itself, where the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, and major law firms with federal practices such as Covington and Burling maintain deep, lasting hiring needs. The most in-demand specialties are civil rights enforcement, public corruption prosecution, and administrative law. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Summary
The Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Litigation and Enforcement is the principal supervisory and managerial assistant to the Assistant General Counsel for Litigation and Enforcement. The Deputy assists in the management of a staff of trial attorneys and an administrative assistant. The Deputy oversees high-profile and complex litigation matters involving Departmental priorities, enforcement matters, and participation in proceedings before independent agencies.
Learn more about this agency
This job is open to
The public
Federal employees - Excepted service
Clarification from the agency
Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. This position is in the Excepted Service. For information on the Excepted Service, please visit: Excepted Service Appointing Authorities@ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/excepted-service/
Duties
As a Deputy Assistant General Counsel, you will:
- Supervise the work performed by attorneys and other staff in the Office on complex and high-profile litigation and enforcement matters, including by directing courses of action, acting on recommendations, furnishing advice and assistance, approving or overruling proposed actions, and exercising other appropriate supervisory functions.
- Assist the Assistant General Counsel with the overall strategic leadership of the Office, including by refining the vision for the Office and rolling out new initiatives. For example, the Deputy plays a leading role in developing the Office’s enforcement initiatives and in working with the Operating Administrations (“OAs”) to set expectations about the roles of the Office and the OAs in litigation.
- Aid in the supervision of all aspects of work performed by staff by preparing performance appraisals and updating performance plans for attorneys and other staff in the Office, identifying needs for skill development and training opportunities that will meet those needs, and assisting with the hiring of new attorneys.
- Assist in ensuring that the Office renders effective legal advice and effective participation in proceedings raising major transportation issues with respect to programs of the Department and the Administration, and that the Office effectively works with the OAs and Department leadership on enforcement matters.
- Perform legal research and analysis, conducts conferences and consultations, and prepare memoranda, briefs, motions, regulatory filings, and letters to the Department of Justice expressing the Department of Transportation’s views and legal analysis relating to litigated matters involving DOT, and regulatory filings. Maintain continuing liaison with the Department of Justice, including the Office of the Solicitor General, with other executive branch departments, with offices within the Department of Transportation and with others affected by or with an interest in litigation concerning the Department.
The ideal candidate will have extensive litigation experience and will be familiar with DOT’s programs, its governing statutes and regulations, and the legal doctrines that are frequently invoked in our litigation. The candidate will be able to exercise sound, independent judgment and will be a self-starter who identifies issues and formulates solutions without awaiting instruction. The candidate will have the ability to think strategically and formulate a vision. The candidate will thrive in a fast-paced work environment, will have excellent written and oral communication skills, and will be committed to aggressively pursuing the goals and policies of the President and the Secretary.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
- Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
- This is an Excepted Service position.
- Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
- BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
- TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period.
- ETHICS/CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT: All employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 2635, including restrictions on owning financial interests that may conflict with performance of their duties. Some employees, like those involved in contracting or regulating non-Federal entities, are subject to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure requirements set out in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 263.
- GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
Qualifications
To qualify, your experience should include experience and education equal or equivalent to the following:
GRADE 15 - you must have at least one year of experience equal to or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include:
- Be a graduate of an accredited law school with a LL.B., J.D., or have completed a structured, multi-year apprenticeship under the supervision of a practicing attorney or judge equivalent.
- Be an active member in good standing of the bar in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
- Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.
- Administrative Law - Knowledge of state and Federal administrative laws, including procedures, regulations, guidelines, and precedents related to case preparation and settlements.
- Compliance - Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance.
- Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
- Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
- Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
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.
For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4
All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.
Additional information
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your 2-year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
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.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
To receive full credit during evaluation, your assessment responses must explicitly point back to your resume, as HR cannot make assumptions about your experience. You must write your narrative answers in full paragraph format, beginning each response with the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full-time/part-time, average hours worked per week, and federal series/grade (if applicable) as listed on your resume. Within the paragraph, clearly describe your specific individual duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes to prove your level of expertise. HR will cross-check your narrative against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every detail and timeframe claimed in your written response, the claimed experience will be disallowed, which may result in an ineligible determination.
You will not be considered for the position if any part of the application or supporting documentation is incomplete. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or adverse action after hiring.
Applicants will not be rated or ranked.
All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
The following is a list of documents that are only required based on the type of position. Please review each of the following sections to determine which documents you need to provide with your application.
RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size. A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages.
Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience.
For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/
COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE.
PROOF OF BAR MEMBERSHIP: Must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.
TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED as there is a stated education requirement for the series. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - click here.
WRITING SAMPLE: If selected for an interview, a writing sample may be requested.
VETERANS: Department of Transportation attorney positions are in the excepted service, not the competitive civil service. There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Transportation considers veterans’ preference eligibility as a positive factor in the attorney hiring process. If you are eligible for veterans’ preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with supporting documentation, e.g., SF15, DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 pm (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.
- To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting.
- Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.
- You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/
If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at Transjobs@dot.gov.
Agency contact information
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States
Next steps
You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com (Select "My USAJobs" and click "Applications". Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist will evaluate your application. Qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. Appropriate veteran's preference will be applied. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.
Overview
- 0905 Attorney
- Suitability/Fitness
See All 18 Attorney General Jobs in District of Columbia
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Attorney General Job Market in District of Columbia
A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What District of Columbia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in attorney general jobs across District of Columbia.
- Active membership in good standing with the District of Columbia Bar
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school required
- Significant experience in government litigation or public interest law
- Demonstrated record of complex civil or criminal case management
- Strong research and written advocacy skills for appellate or regulatory work
- Experience advising government agencies on statutory and regulatory compliance
Attorney General Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a attorney general in District of Columbia?
To work as an attorney general in District of Columbia, you must be admitted to the District of Columbia Bar, administered by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The path begins with a Juris Doctor degree, passage of the Uniform Bar Exam accepted in D.C., and character and fitness review. The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia recruits attorneys through competitive application, with a strong preference for candidates who have public law, civil rights, or government litigation backgrounds.
Which companies hire attorney generals in District of Columbia?
Employers hiring attorney generals in District of Columbia right now include U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Department of Justice, and US Federal Trade Commission, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. The District's concentration of federal agencies, government contractors, and public interest organizations makes it one of the deepest markets for this role in the country.
Which District of Columbia cities have the most attorney general jobs?
The cities with the most attorney general openings in District of Columbia are Washington. Washington, D.C. dominates the distribution because it is home to the federal government, the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, and a dense cluster of law firms and nonprofit legal organizations that work directly with federal and local agencies.
Are there remote attorney general jobs in District of Columbia?
Yes, but they're limited. About 33% of attorney general openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that much of this work involves in-person court appearances, agency coordination, and client-facing proceedings that require physical presence. Advisory, policy, and appellate roles are the most likely to offer hybrid or remote arrangements.
How can I get hired as a attorney general in District of Columbia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a clerkship or fellowship with a D.C. court or federal agency followed by a junior attorney role within the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, which runs a formal honors attorney program for recent law graduates. Lateral entry from public defender work, legal aid organizations, or a D.C.-area nonprofit law clinic is also well recognized. Passing the D.C. Bar and gaining any supervised government litigation experience, even through clinical programs, gives candidates a meaningful edge.
Where can I find and apply to attorney general jobs in District of Columbia?
You can find and apply to attorney general jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the District. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and interests, and apply directly to each position that fits.
See All 18 Attorney General Jobs in District of Columbia
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