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
PLEASE NOTE: OGC will accept resumes for Honors Attorney positions from 12-26 August 2024. OGC will not evaluate resumes submitted for the Honors Attorney position outside of the August 12 - August 26 window. In addition to submitting a resume, candidates should concurrently a) include their GPA as a line within their resume, and b) submit a current law school transcript when prompted to submit an "optional supplemental attachment."
OGC within the 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 applications from qualified individuals from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBTQ individuals, and persons with disabilities
As an Honors Attorney, you will be responsible for:
- 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.
- Engaging with other Intelligence Community elements, federal agencies, and congressional committees.
- Maintaining productive working relationships with other OGC and Agency officers to further CIA’s mission.
CIA OGC will evaluate and interview Honors Attorney candidates during August and September 2024 for employment starting August or September 2025. Interested candidates should submit resumes during the August 12 - August 26, 2024 resume drop window.
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
- JD degree from a law school accredited by the ABA completed by Spring 2025.
- Honors Attorneys must pass the bar within 14 months of onboarding.
- The Office of General Council (OGC) prefers that Honors Attorneys with no prior work experience prior to law school have a law school GPA of at least 3.0 for schools on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent on other scales.
- Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation
Desired Qualifications
All applicants 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.
- Honors Attorneys are positions for attorneys with less than three years of post-law school legal practice. Honors Attorneys work under the close supervision of experienced attorneys. Candidates must have a record of strong writing and interpersonal communication skills.