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Ethics Attorney

Ethics Attorneys provide advice to Agency personnel on the application of the Government Ethics statutes and regulations, and provide advice on the application of the Hatch Act.
  • Full time
  • Starting salary: $78,592 -$183,500
  • Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school; Active bar membership
Express Interest

Agency-wide Requirements

All applicants must be:

  • U.S. citizens (dual U.S. citizens also eligible)
  • At least 18 years of age
  • Willing to move to the Washington, DC area
  • Able to complete security and medical evaluations
  • Registered for the Selective Service

About the Job

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) provides legal advice and policy counsel to the Director of the CIA (DCIA) and other CIA officers on a variety of legal issues, to include intelligence and national security law; procurement and acquisition law; employment and personnel law; government ethics; fiscal law; general administrative law; privacy and civil liberties, and legislative affairs.

Our office places a high value on diversity of experiences and perspectives, and encourages MyLINK submission from qualified individuals from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBTQ individuals, and persons with disabilities.

Responsibilities include:

  • Providing 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.
  • Conducting legal research and analysis on sensitive matters.
  • Providing training on a variety of laws and policies affecting CIA personnel, including but not limited to collection of intelligence, employment and anti-discrimination laws, and government ethics.
  • Maintaining productive working relationships with other Intelligence Community elements, federal agencies, and congressional committees.

As an Ethics Attorney you will provide ethics advice to Agency personnel, review financial disclosure forms, conduct ethics training, and consult with the Office of Government Ethics on relevant issues.

Who You’ll Work With

At the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), we recognize our Nation’s strength comes from the diversity of its people. People from a broad range of backgrounds and viewpoints work at CIA, and our diverse teams are the reason we can keep our country safe.

Read more about diversity and inclusion

What You’ll Get

Our benefits support every aspect of a working professional’s life, including health and wellness, time off, family, finances, and continuing education. Our programs include highly sought-after government health benefits, flexible schedules, sick leave, and childcare.

As a CIA employee, you’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing your work is part of something bigger than yourself. Our work is driven by one mission: to keep our Nation safe. Every day is an opportunity to enhance U.S. national security.

Learn more about working at CIA

Minimum Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an ABA-accredited law school
  • Active bar membership from any of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Minimum of three (3) years of attorney experience in Executive Branch ethics issues doing the following:
    • Providing ethics advice to current and former Executive Branch employees
    • Reviewing confidential and public financial disclosure forms (OGE 450 and OGE 278, respectively)
    • Conducting ethics training
    • Consulting with the Office of Government Ethics on ethics issues
  • Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation

Desired Qualifications

All candidates are reviewed for the following competencies:

  • Legal analysis, reasoning and writing, including the ability to quickly integrate and synthesize facts and law to make legally sound decisions in compressed timeframes.
  • Interpersonal and communication skills.
  • The ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment.
  • The ability to exercise sound judgment in challenging situations.
  • Willingness to consider diverse perspectives and ability to navigate changing circumstances.
  • Ability to effectively manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently.
  • Ability to develop and maintain close and collaborative working relationships inside and outside the CIA.