Lateral Attorney

Attorneys at CIA provide advice and counsel regarding a variety of issues relating to intelligence and national security, as well as the routine practices of an executive agency deployed worldwide.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) has an exciting, dynamic practice that covers a broad range of legal issues and practice areas, including national security law, fiscal law, employment law, government contracts and procurement, ethics, technology and cyber law, digital privacy, and FISA, among others. New OGC attorneys serve in our centralized OGC office, where we provide the core legal advice and counsel for Agency-wide functions. While OGC recruits experienced laterals based on their area of expertise, after completing an initial assignment of 2-4 years, laterals will have the opportunity (if desired) to rotate to different practice and mission areas.

The most competitive candidates will have strong academic credentials, demonstrated excellence in their prior work experience, and show a clear commitment to public service.

As an attorney, you will:

• Provide legal advice and policy counsel to CIA leadership on complex areas of law affecting the CIA's duties and responsibilities under authorities including the National Security Act, the CIA Act, and Executive Orders.
• Conduct legal research and analysis on sensitive matters.
• Deliver training on a variety of laws and policies affecting CIA personnel.
• Engage with other Intelligence Community elements, federal agencies, and congressional committees.
• Maintain productive working relationships with other OGC and Agency officers to further CIA's mission.

Minimum Qualifications

Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

• Active membership of the bar (any US jurisdiction).
• Active membership of the bar (an US jurisdiction)
• Demonstrated experience of at least three years in one or more of OGC's practice areas.
• Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation

Desired Qualifications

• OGC reviews all candidates for the following competencies:
• Legal analysis, reasoning and writing, including the ability to integrate and synthesize facts and law to make legally sound decisions, particularly in compressed timeframes.
• Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in challenging situations.
• Ability to navigate changing circumstances.
• Ability to manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently.
• Demonstrated expertise on complex legal matters, and strong client counseling skills, in one or more of the following practice areas: constitutional law, government contracts, employment law, ethics, fiscal law, international law, investigations, litigation (federal), privacy law, operational law, surveillance law, and tech/cyber law.
• Lateral hires, typically referred to as mid-career hires, have more than three years of post-law school experience and work on the most complex legal issues in the Agency.
• Please note other OGC job postings on CIA.gov tailored to specific practice areas (e.g., government contracts, employment law, etc.). Candidate may apply to a specialty practice area through the tailored job postings. This "Lateral Attorney" job posting is an opportunity for generalist candidates to highlight experience in multiple practice areas.

• You must be physically in the United States or one of its territories when you submit your resume via MyLINK.
• You must be registered for the Selective Service, if applicable.
• You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age (dual-national US citizens are eligible).
• You must be willing to move to the Washington, DC area.
• You must successfully complete a thorough medical and psychological exam, a polygraph interview, and a comprehensive background investigation.
• For further information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/how-we-hire/

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

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.

A career with the U.S. government includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Review the benefits for this position

For more information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/.

For further information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/.

This post is for viewing purposes only. To get started, please visit https://www.cia.gov/careers/, where you can read more about this position and express your interest in up to four jobs. Upon expressing your interest, you will be taken to MyLINK, which allows you to submit your resume and job rankings and provide basic information about yourself.

After you express interest for up to four positions on cia.gov/careers, a CIA recruiter may contact you for further discussion if your qualifications meet our needs. See the MyLINK FAQs on our website for more information.