General Attorney (Tax) (Special Counsel)

With nearly 1,700 attorneys, IRS Chief Counsel is the largest tax law firm nationwide. Our attorneys are among top tax law practitioners and some of the very best legal minds found anywhere. Together with the IRS, we serve the public by applying the tax code with fairness and integrity. After pausing hiring in 2025, we now seek new law graduates and experienced attorneys to join us.

Click to learn more:
IRS Office of Chief Counsel Careers Site
Meet Our People
Learn about our Legal Divisions For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

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 and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). The Strategic Litigation (SL) Division Counsel is a national organization with approximately 65 attorneys and 30 paralegals located in 30 cities nationwide. The SL Division, through its Special Trial Attorneys and paralegals, is responsible for handling the Office of Chief Counsel's most complex, high-profile, and significant cases in the United States Tax Court, which cases often establish national precedent or are otherwise important to tax administration. The SL attorneys and paralegals provide a full range of legal services on all issues, including advising the Internal Revenue Service on its most significant non-docketed cases, handling significant case litigation in the United States Tax Court, and assisting the Department of Justice in the handling of significant cases in both Federal and State Courts.

As a General Attorney (Tax) (Special Counsel), you will:

• Serve as a subject-matter expert for the SL Division on Tax Court matters, coordinating and disseminating changes in procedure and protocol, including such matters as the Electronic Courtroom and Virtual Courtroom.
• Serve as a liaison for the SL Division with DOJ with respect to the allocation of resources to refund and appellate litigation, coordinating litigation strategy when needed.
• Assist the SL Division Counsel and Deputy Division Counsels in ensuring uniformity and consistency of IRS positions on litigation issues. On behalf of the SL Division Counsel, interact with key technical advisors in other Division Counsel and Associate offices to ensure uniformity and consistency of sensitive legal positions and quick development of positions.
• Manage sensitive projects on SL matters for the Division Counsel and Deputy Division Counsels. Assist the SL Division Counsel in coordinating the entire Division's resource assignments to litigation efforts in Tax Court, and refund cases with DOJ.
• Serve as a resource to the Division Counsel, Deputy Division Counsels, Senior Level Counsels, and Strategic Litigation Counsels in coordinating the impact of events occurring on litigation in process with policy makers in Procedure and Administration (P&A) on difficult, important, and complex matters arising in tax litigation and in the administration of the Internal Revenue laws.
• Participate with stakeholders in other Division offices, the Associate offices, and the IRS to integrate the litigation program with other Enforcement and Guidance programs to achieve the Service's long-term strategy in tax administration.
• Participate with the Division Counsel/Deputy Division Counsels in the identification, planning and evaluation of Division Counsel programs, services, and resources. Recognize trends in SL issues and responds to trends identified, including recommending the need for new or additional legislation. Monitor and evaluate the impact of new or potential impact of proposed legislation and regulations on SL issues.

This is not an all-inclusive list.

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements detailed below by the closing date of this announcement. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

To qualify for this position of General Attorney (Tax) (Special Counsel), you must meet the qualification requirements listed below by the closing of this announcement:

Basic Requirements for General Attorney (Tax) (Special Counsel):

• Possess at least the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; AND
• Applicants must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

GS-15 Experience Requirements:

• 1 year of general professional legal experience from any area of expertise; plus
• 3 year(s) of professional legal tax experience

Professional Legal Tax Experience is defined as: 1) Thorough and comprehensive professional knowledge of and understanding of Federal tax statutes and regulations pertaining to Subchapter C corporations, and subchapter S corporations and partnerships; (2) Thorough and comprehensive knowledge of litigation strategies and procedures, including technology used in case work; and 3) The ability to apply sound judgment in developing and assessing settlement options/interests. At least one year of this experience must be equivalent to the work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-14).

Note: Only experience gained after Bar Admission may be credited as Professional Legal Experience.

Education Substitution: An LL.M. degree in the field of the position (tax) may be substituted for the one year of the general legal experience listed above.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

Time in Grade Requirement for GS-15: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-14).