Posted June 23, 2026
Core General Attorney
Division of Enforcement
San Francisco, CA
Full Time
Compensation: $141,511 to $283,417 Annually
Reference: DivisionofEnforcement873501300
The Division of Enforcement is seeking a General Attorney (Core General Attorney) with optional selection into the Complex Financial Instruments Unit (CFI) or the Asset Management Unit (AMU). As a Core General Attorney, you will conduct complex investigations being undertaken by the SEC.
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you must submit a copy of your unofficial transcripts or equivalent by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Internal Applicants: OHR will verify education qualifications for internal applicants using documents in the Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF). If required transcripts or certificates are not present in your eOPF, you will be required to provide them to OHR. If selected, a start date will not be established until official transcripts are received.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. For more information, click here.
Applicants may also find the following helpful:
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an association of 19 credential evaluation services with admission standards and an enforced code of good practice.
Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) is an association of 10 credential evaluation services with a board of advisors and an enforced code of ethics. In this role as a Core General Attorney, you will be responsible for:
Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following:
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you must submit a copy of your unofficial transcripts or equivalent by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Internal Applicants: OHR will verify education qualifications for internal applicants using documents in the Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF). If required transcripts or certificates are not present in your eOPF, you will be required to provide them to OHR. If selected, a start date will not be established until official transcripts are received.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. For more information, click here.
Applicants may also find the following helpful:
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an association of 19 credential evaluation services with admission standards and an enforced code of good practice.
Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) is an association of 10 credential evaluation services with a board of advisors and an enforced code of ethics. In this role as a Core General Attorney, you will be responsible for:
- Developing investigative or litigation plans and adjusting as appropriate during the course of an investigation.
- Drafting subpoenas and other requests for documents, questions witnesses through interviews, testimony, or depositions, evaluating documentary or testimonial evidence to demonstrate whether sufficient evidence exists to prove violations of federal securities laws, and preparing litigation-related documents.
- Providing management with advice and work products exhibiting knowledge, insight, and understanding of relevant law and facts. Using sound judgment to determine the quality, accuracy and relevance of information or data, analyzing information to identify relationships and trends, and integrating and synthesizing facts to reach reasonable conclusions.
- Communicating with agency officials at all levels, including supervisors, coworkers, staff in courts and private industry, and other agencies.
- Organizing work, setting priorities, and determining short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them. Developing innovative solutions to address issues and problems or involving novel or unexplored questions of law or policy.
- May participate in all aspects of litigation in federal court and administrative proceedings.
In addition to the core duties, if selected for a specialized Unit (CFI or AMU) you will also be responsible for:
Complex Financial Instruments Unit (CFI)
The CFI focus is the proactive identification and investigation of securities law violations arising from the creation, rating, sale, usage, and valuation of complex financial instruments, including security-based swaps, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and structured and exchange-traded products, as well as derivatives and other complex products and trading practices.
The AMU uses its specialized knowledge to develop proactive, non-traditional investigative approaches, and to identify emerging risk areas.
Applicants are responsible for confirming all required materials are submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Please check the How You Will Be Evaluated and Required Documents sections carefully, as missing documents will render the application incomplete and ineligible for review.The CFI focus is the proactive identification and investigation of securities law violations arising from the creation, rating, sale, usage, and valuation of complex financial instruments, including security-based swaps, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and structured and exchange-traded products, as well as derivatives and other complex products and trading practices.
- CFIU monitors new, novel, and developing product areas and focuses on cases, initiatives, and resolutions that have a high impact on market and industry practices.
The AMU uses its specialized knowledge to develop proactive, non-traditional investigative approaches, and to identify emerging risk areas.
- Conducting complex investigations being undertaken by the SEC involving asset managers. Develops investigative or litigation plans and adjusts as appropriate during the course of an investigation.
Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following:
- J.D. or LL.B. degree --AND--
- Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Note: proof of bar membership will be required before entry on duty.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement.
SK-14: Applicant must have 3 year(s) post J.D experience independently identifying legal issues, providing legal analyses, providing legal solutions/recommendations, and preparing legal documents, such as contracts, dispositions, pleadings, and motions, 2 year(s) of which includes:- Applying Federal securities laws, rules and regulations.
- Conducting investigations or civil cases or administrative proceedings.
- Legal Analysis - Utilizes expert legal knowledge to apply relevant law to the facts of each case.
- Critical Thinking - Considers a variety of factors, general and subject matter-specific, when making decisions and determining next steps in a case.
- Development and Use of Record - Strategically collects, analyzes, and organizes an evidentiary record.
- Case Management - Manages cases efficiently using best practices.
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