Attorney Adviser

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent office whose mission is to promote excellence, integrity, and accountability throughout the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In our dynamic environment, the OIG conducts investigations, audits, evaluations, and inspections to enhance program effectiveness and efficiency and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and mismanagement in DHS programs and operations.

This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT, applications will be accepted until January 25, 2027 or until vacancies are filled. Attorney Advisors (General) in the Office of Counsel (OC) provide legal advice, services, and policy recommendations to the Inspector General and a nationwide staff of auditors, information technology experts, investigators, and program analysts. Typical work assignments include representing the OIG before administrative bodies, conducting investigations into suspected violations of laws of the United States and rules and regulations relating to programs and operations of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), providing legal advice and policy recommendations to the Inspector General and OIG program offices on civil, criminal, and administrative law matters, including program fraud, ethics, contracting, and procurement. The range of legal duties include: GENERAL LAW DIVISION Advising OIG leaders and program offices on matters associated with immigration law, administrative law, civil and criminal procedure, investigative techniques, law enforcement, and - of particular current interest - intelligence, national security, classification, acquisitions, ethics, fiscal law, and federal criminal prosecution. Conducting legal sufficiency reviews of DHS OIG audits, inspections, investigations, subpoenas, law enforcement/ investigative policy, Giglio determinations, consistent with the Inspector General Act of 1978 and other applicable authorities. Providing advice concerning the conduct of criminal investigations, inspections, and evaluations. Serving as Agency Counsel to the DOJ and USAOs for federal litigation involving DHS OIG matters. Providing training to various DHS OIG audiences regarding issues within the General Law Division's portfolio. Advising clients on the proper handling, safeguarding, and dissemination of classified information. INFORMATION LAW AND DISCLOSURE DIVISION Providing legal advice to internal and external stakeholders on issues impacting the entire breadth of the DHS OIG's portfolio, including Touhy regulations, information disclosure, Privacy Act (PA), and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Serving as an attorney advisor researching, interpreting, and opining on novel and complex information law issues, including laws, statutes, and regulations pertaining to the FOIA and PA. Serving as agency counsel in FOIA/PA litigation. Providing training to various DHS OIG audiences on various disclosure related topics. PERSONNEL LAW DIVISION Providing advice to managers on various personnel issues to include, but not limited to, misconduct, discipline, performance, leave issues, and Equal Employment Opportunity matters. Providing advice to the Human Resource Division on personnel issues, drafting, and providing legal sufficiency reviews for directives, policies, and guidance. Providing training to managers and employees on various personnel related topics. Representing DHS OIG before various administrative bodies including the Office of Special Counsel, Merit Systems Protection Board, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Serving as Agency Counsel to the DOJ and USAOs for federal litigation involving personnel matters. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION DIVISION - INVESTIGATIVE COUNSEL Conducting investigations, drafting and preparing the investigative case, which includes: identifying the primary nature of the allegations, specifying the potential violations of law, rule or regulation, specifying the focus of the investigations, considering coordination of investigative efforts with other authorities, projecting the type of evidence that will be required and the investigative steps and strategies that should be employed, and conducting interviews and reviewing and analyzing of documentary evidence during the course of the investigation. Analyzing the record, evaluating facts, determining questions of law, and either recommend adoption of a decision prepared by another attorney/investigator or draft a thorough decision with well-reasoned analysis and recommendation for consideration and adoption by agency officials who exercise final authority in such matters. Conducting complaint intake to determine whether complaints, supplemented when necessary by complainant interviews, constitute complaints of reprisal warranting investigation. Serving as experts in the area of federal whistleblower law and policy, advising the Inspector General and Counsel on updates and developments in the law.