General Attorney (Program Litigation)

⁠​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌⁠The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of Law & Policy (L&P) seeks Program Litigation attorneys to promote, advocate for, and protect the agency's legal interests in benefit program litigation arising under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. Program Litigation attorneys primarily handle federal court cases challenging agency policies, procedures, and benefit/disability claim determinations.


Submit a copy of your law school transcripts that includes your name, the name of the educational institution, course title(s), number of credits, grade, and degree award date. Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. Self-prepared transcripts will not be accepted. You must submit your transcripts according to the application submission details of this announcement. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail. If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of the personnel action placing you into the new position.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Resumes exceeding two pages in length will not be considered, please visit the new resume guidance for more information.

Positions will be filled in the Excepted through the use of Schedule A 213.3102(d) appointing authority. Competitive examining procedures will not be conducted. Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirements shown above.

Law Degree: Applicants must hold a law degree from a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association.

Bar Membership: Applicants must also be an active member of the bar, and in good standing. You must be duly licensed, authorized and eligible to practice as an attorney under the laws of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a U.S. Territory. This is a continuing requirement of the position. Below is a list of acceptable documents. To be considered, at least one of the following three documents is required. Any proof of bar document submitted must include your name, status, state, and must be dated within one year of the closing date of the announcement:

• Letter or Certificate of Good Standing dated within one year of the announcement; OR
• Copy of your Bar card with the current year if it reflects a date that is within one year of the announcement; OR
• Screen print from a Bar website that reflects your active Bar membership (must include the state and be dated within one year of the announcement).

In addition to the above requirements, applicants must also meet the following criteria to qualify at each grade level:

For the GS-11:

• J.D. or LL.B. and at least 1 year of professional legal experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or higher in the Federal service; OR
• A second professional law degree (LL.M) which requires one full year of graduate study; OR
• J.D. or LL.B. and superior law student work or activities as demonstrated by one of the following:

(a) Academic standing in the upper-third of the law school graduating class.
(b) Work or achievement of significance on your law schools' official law review.
(c) Special high-level honors for academic excellence in law school, such as election to the Order of the Coif.
(d) Winning of a moot court competition or membership on the moot court team that represents the law school in competition with other law schools
(e) Full-time or continuous participation in a legal aid program as opposed to one-time, intermittent, or casual participation.
(f) Two significant summer law office clerk work experiences of at least 40 hours per week.

For the GS-12: Requires at least 2 years of professional legal experience working as an attorney with at least one year of this experience being equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.

For the GS-13: Requires at least 3 years of professional legal experience working as an attorney with at least one year of this experience being equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service.

For the GS-14: Requires at least 4 years of professional legal experience working as an attorney with at least one year of this experience being equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service.

Applicants MUST meet all eligibility requirements on or before the closing date of the announcement to be considered for the position.

SSA has discretion to determine what grade level and salary may be offered.