Supervisory General Attorney

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Associate Chief Counsel, Los Angeles. This announcement has been extended and will close on 08/08/2026.

Duties

This position is that of a Deputy Assistant Chief Counsel within the Office of Associate Chief Counsel Los Angeles, located in Long Beach, CA. The Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) is one of the Government's largest and oldest legal offices. OCC attorneys work on cutting-edge legal issues and provide critical advice across the CBP portfolio, including trade enforcement, search and seizure, immigration, and government ethics. They also represent the agency in labor and employment matters and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice. This position starts at a salary of $172,476.00 (GS-15, Step 1) to $197,200.00 (GS-15, Step 10). In this position, you will become a key member of the legal team of the OCC. Typical work assignments include: Supervising and training attorneys and support staff, reviewing work assignments; making recommendations on hiring, promotion and awards; and directing the flow of cases and assignments through the office to ensure a timely response; Managing the legal office, planning and implementing a legal program; Following the lead established by the Assistant Chief Counsel and assisting in directing all operating components of CBP including, the Office of Field Operations, the ports under that office, the Office of Regulatory Audit, the Border Patrol, and the Office of Air & Marine; Responding to and providing guidance to clients on the interpretation of Customs, Immigration and related laws, the scope of authority of CBP officials, the legal implications of their actions, and litigation affecting CBP, both criminal and civil; Reviewing cases for possible appeal where a decision is unfavorable to the government, handling appeals or portions thereof including preparation of motions and briefs and the presentation of oral arguments at the request of the Department of Justice, and supervising provision of litigation and the representation of CBP before other forums such as state courts and administrative agencies.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below) You may be required to pass a background investigation CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link. DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, 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. Financial Disclosure is required. Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Qualifications and evaluation

Applicants will be rated based on their education, experience, demonstrated legal research and writing abilities, and performance during the interview process, which may include personal interview(s) and a writing exercise.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Benefits

Learn more about OCC's mission, core values and careers at https://careers.cbp.gov/s/career-paths/occ/occ-attorney

How to apply

Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by fax, hand-delivery, USA jobs or mail. Inquiries regarding this job opportunity announcement should be directed to: applicationscbpoccwest@cbp.dhs.gov Email your complete application package to: applicationscbpoccwest@cbp.dhs.gov. In the subject line of your email you must reference Vacancy CC/26-62 DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information visit this link. Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. When U.S. Customs and Border Protection completes their selections, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with hiring managers and Human Resources specialists at additional agencies who are hiring for similar positions. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by fax, hand-delivery, USA jobs or mail. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on 08/08/2026. If all materials are not received, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Inquiries regarding this job opportunity announcement should be directed to: applicationscbpoccwest@cbp.dhs.gov The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components 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 hc-recordsmgmt@cbp.dhs.gov. View common definitions of terms in this announcement.

Required documents

You must include the following information (in addition to specific information requested elsewhere in the vacancy announcement) to receive consideration for this position: Documents required: Cover Letter, Resume, Law School Transcript, SF50, Writing Sample Cover letter: Your application package must include a cover letter expressing your interest in this position. Please do not exceed two pages. Application packages received without a cover letter will not be given consideration. Resume: A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining grade setting. A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, announcement number, veteran's preference, phone number, email, the last four digits of your Social Security Number, relevant work history including a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade, and salary (if applicable). For additional required items, see the link. *Note: It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality. Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, to include Office 365 passwords. Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume? Transcripts: From an ABA approved law school or equivalent is required. Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials. If submitting documentation of an evaluation, transcripts are still required. Note: Official/unofficial transcripts will be considered when applying for the position. However, if selected for the position, an official law school transcript will be required at the time of selection. For a listing of some accrediting agencies, please see http://www.naces.org/members.htm. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information. Writing Sample: A writing sample is required as part of the application package and may not exceed five pages. It is your responsibility to verify that information submitted (i.e., resume, veterans documentation, and SF-50's) is received and accurate and must be in English. Applications and supporting documentation will only be accepted by e-mail at the address listed under the "How to Apply" section. The section also outlines the contact information for inquires.

Additional information

Relocation: Should relocation funding be available, expenses may be offered to the selectee either as a full "Permanent Change of Station" (PCS) or as a lump-sum payment under CBP's Voluntary Relocation Plan test program (VRP). Should the selectee be offered the VRP in lieu of any relocation benefits available under the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR), 41 C.F.R., Subtitle F, Chapter 302, the amount of the lump-sum payment will vary depending upon whether you rent or own your current residence and whether your residence is a single or multiple-person household. Any relocation expenses incurred that are greater than the VRP lump-sum payment amount will be your responsibility, and no subsequent claims for relocation expenses will be granted by CBP. The lump-sum payment, which will be made through direct deposit, will be treated as wages and, thus, will be subject to all applicable employment tax withholdings. To be eligible for the VRP, you must sign an employment agreement by completing CBP Form 334C-1 at the time of selection. Additional information can be found in CBP Directive 5330-026b, which is available on the CBPNet Policy Page. Trial/Probationary Period: Selectee may be required to serve a two-year trial/probationary period. TELEWORK: In accordance with agency and office policy. Travel: You may be required to travel. This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process (Excepted Service) and is not in the competitive civil service. Veterans Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however the Office of Chief Counsel considers veteran's preference eligibility as a positive factor in the hiring process. Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 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. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.