The National Security Agency (NSA) is a Component of the DoD Intelligence Community with combat support responsibilities. The work force is comprised of both military assignees and civilian employees located worldwide.  NSA's core missions are to protect U.S. national security systems and to produce foreign signals intelligence information.  NSA also supports U. S. Cyber Command as it executes cyber activities. 

The NSA Office of General Counsel is establishing a Legal Honors Program for highly motivated entry-level attorneys.  The program will be a three-year term appointment including rotations through two legal practice groups, with at least one rotation through a practice group directly advising on NSA mission activities.  Attorneys working in NSA OGC apply their expertise, skills, and education to further the Agency's interests by advising clients engaged in executing the Agency's foreign intelligence and information assurance missions; conducting research; and otherwise enabling NSA's missions through acquisition, security, training, and human relations activities.  Selectees will learn first-hand about NSA and its associated authorities.  In the process of advising and representing the Agency, the selectee will be interacting with NSA employees at all levels as well as with attorneys across the Executive Branch, to include the Department of Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Department of Justice. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:   NSA OGC is seeking highly motivated entry-level attorneys to join its Legal Honors Program.  NSA has a unique, dynamic mission and personnel with world class technical skills.  As a result, the legal expertise required of NSA's lawyers is often not found in legal specialties taught in most law schools or practiced in other government agencies, in private firms, or in industry.  NSA OGC has six legal practice groups: Acquisition, Research and Technology; Administrative Law and Ethics; Litigation; Intelligence Law; and Information Assurance/Cyber Security.  Attorney duties will vary depending upon practice group assignment.

Information Assurance and Cyber Security:
As an attorney in this Practice Group, you would responsible for advising clients on cyber security and foreign intelligence law issues relating to NSA's Information Assurance mission. You would be responsible for primarily advising clients and leaders in the NSA/CSS Threat Operations Center and the Information Assurance Directorate.

Intelligence Law:
As an attorney in this Practice Group, you would be responsible for advising on legal matters relating to NSA's Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) mission.  You would also handle issues arising under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), including preparation of applications for electronic foreign surveillance requiring the approval of either the Attorney General or the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.  Legal advice runs the gamut from reviewing documents that affect the conduct of SIGINT activities to providing time-sensitive legal advice on current operational matters.

Administrative Law and Ethics:
As an attorney in this Practice Group, you would be responsible for advising the NSA Director, the Associate Directors for Human Resources, Security & Counterintelligence, Education & Training, and the Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Office.  You would also represent the Agency before Administrative Boards and Appeals and the Merit Systems Protection Board.  You would advise individual employees on conflicts of interest, outside employment, acceptance of gifts, and a variety of other matters related to the Ethics in Government Act.  You would also advise Agency leadership on ethics issues and provide training on all aspects of ethics across the entire Agency.

Acquisition Research and Technology:
As an attorney in this Practice Group, you would be  responsible for advising the NSA Director, the Senior Acquisition Executive, acquisition professionals, and NSA requiring organizations on all aspects of the NSA acquisition process.  Your responsibilities would include advising on acquisition strategy documents, requests for proposals, and contract awards.   You would also advise on contract administration issues and represent the Agency in procurement-related litigation in various fora. You would also advise on logistics, export, fiscal, and data rights issues, license agreements, and cooperative research and development agreements.

Litigation
As an attorney in this Practice Group, you would primarily serve as an Employment Law Attorney representing NSA in third party administrative, quasi-judicial and judicial proceedings on civilian personnel and equal employment opportunity matters.   You would also assist in judicial reviews of administrative decisions in coordination with attorneys from the Department of Justice in matters involving the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA).  You would advise the Director and Staff on all matters involving FOIA and PA.  You might also consult with the Department of Justice on a challenging criminal caseload involving terrorism, espionage and other criminal matters.

SELECTION FACTORS:  Selections are made based on many elements of a candidate's background including a demonstrated commitment to government service, academic achievement, leadership, law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, past employment, and extracurricular activities especially if they relate to national security law, cyber security law or government service. Strong written and oral communications skills and an interest in working in a dynamic, team environment are also required.    Eligibility is limited to law students graduating in the spring of 2014 or law school graduates from 2012 or 2013 who are seeking their first legal position following a judicial clerkship or graduate law program that commenced immediately after law school graduation.  Applicants shall be graduates of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.  If selected, 2014 graduates are required to pass a bar examination within14 months of the commencement of their employment and be duly licensed to practice as an attorney in a U.S., state, territory or the District of Columbia.  Attorneys who graduated from law school in 2012 or 2013 must be members in good standing of a U.S. territory or U.S. state Bar and/or the District of Columbia.
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Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule
     
Salaries will depend upon the attorney's prior experience and will be determined by the Office of Human Resources and the hiring office.  Appointments will generally be at the GG-12 level.  Candidates with two years of judicial clerkship experience may be considered for entry as a GG-13.
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How To Apply - External
     
To apply for this position, please click the 'Apply Now' button located at the top or bottom of this page.  After completing the application and clicking the 'Submit Final' button, you will receive a confirmation email.  Emails regarding your application status will be sent periodically.  Please ensure your spam filters are configured to accept emails from noreply@nsa.gov.

In addition to applying on line, please submit resume, law school transcript and legal writing sample to the NSA Office of General Counsel, ATTN: Legal Honors Program, Suite 6250, 9800 Savage Road, Fort George G. Meade, MD  20755-6250.

***PLEASE NOTE:

U.S. Citizenship is required for all applicants.  Reasonable accommodations provided to applicants with disabilities during the application and hiring process where appropriate.  NSA is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations.  All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564.  Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph.


This position is a Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package.
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DCIPS Disclaimer
     
The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the DoD Intelligence Community Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS).  All positions in the NSA are in the Excepted Services under 10 United States Codes (USC) 1601 appointment authority.

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