General Attorney

Launch a prestigious career as an Attorney with ICE's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA)! Join a legal team dedicated to defending the nation's immigration laws and safeguarding the United States with expertise and integrity. Recruitment and retention benefits may be available.

OPLA is now accepting applications for General Attorney positions at over 96 locations nationwide, including for its anticipated Milwaukee, Wisconsin location. You can apply online through USAJobs.gov, by searching keyword "General Attorney (OPLA Field Locations – Nationwide)." For more information, please visit Office of the Principal Legal Advisor | ICE and America Needs You | ICE.

OPLA is the most dynamic legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), expanding to over 3,000 attorneys nationwide. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other aliens. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices, including by providing legal expertise in the areas of commercial and administrative law, labor and employment, ethics, and information and privacy law.

After going through a robust training program, the selected attorney will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft supportable legal positions to address the needs of agency operational components. The attorney will be expected to routinely provide timely legal advice to ICE officers and agents.

Working as an OPLA attorney is a dynamic way to evolve your career while serving the public interest as a U.S. government employee. A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. You and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed. This job is neither remote nor telework eligible. Occasional travel may be required.

The salary range is the General Schedule (GS) base rate. Click here to access the GS locality pay tables.

Licensed attorneys must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or LLM degree. You must be a U.S. citizen, successfully pass a background investigation, and pass a drug screen for federal employment. Ability to obtain a security clearance is required.

If you are a current or former federal employee submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action. You may be asked to provide a writing sample, cover letter, and / or a copy of your recent performance appraisal.

Incentives : This position may offer up to $50,000 in signing and retention bonuses to eligible candidates, in which case a service agreement will be required. A student loan repayment incentive also may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required.

If you would like to learn more about working with OPLA, please visit our informational page.

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