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State Department Legal Careers

In addition to general counsel, L also hires non-rotating “specialized” lawyers with specialized legal experience in the following areas: labour law; medical confidentiality and health care; construction, procurement and procurement; FOIA litigation; ethics and financial disclosure; regulations and administrative law; international arbitration; visas and immigration; and nationality and citizenship. As explained in the Summer Internship Program and Externs sections, see careers.state.gov for information about other legal internships and internships at the Department of State, the U.S. Embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands, the U.S. Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. The Office of Legal Counsel (L) hires general counsel who rotate across L`s wide range of practices approximately every two to five years. L`s new employees are typically recruited by court officers, lawyers from other federal agencies, private lawyers, and other legal entities. L also occasionally hires third-year law students with higher qualifications. Competition for L-shaped positions is intense. Outstanding academic achievements, international or relevant work experience, demonstrated interest in public service, strong interpersonal skills, analytical skills, writing skills, honours or special achievements, relevant publications and extracurricular activities are important considerations in all selections. The Deputy General Counsel for Buildings and Acquisitions (L/BA) provides legal advice and services on matters of particular importance to U.S. foreign policy interests. This includes providing important advice on the legal implications of planned measures (often in unprecedented international situations), such as the extent to which a proposed proposal under consideration would depart from accepted practice and the consequences it might have for relations with other countries.

The Office of the Legal Counsel (L) provides legal advice and services to the Secretary of State, Department offices, diplomatic and consular missions abroad, and other U.S. government agencies on all domestic and foreign legal matters arising in the course of the Department`s activities. The incumbent of this position acts as Deputy Legal Counsel and reports directly to the Deputy Legal Counsel of L. Generally, an attorney who is an active member of the bar of a U.S. jurisdiction and at least one year after J.D. Legal or other relevant experience is suitable for an experienced attorney position. Still, some lawyer positions require more experience and additional admission criteria. Lawyers negotiate, draft and interpret international agreements on a wide range of issues, including peace initiatives, arms control talks, trade liberalization agreements, international commodity agreements, consular conventions, and private law conventions on issues such as judicial cooperation and recognition of foreign judgments.

They also work with ministry officials on legislative initiatives, drafting and interpretation of national laws, departmental regulations, executive decrees and other legal documents. They represent or assist the United States at meetings of international organizations and conferences and numerous U.S. programs, and represent the United States before international tribunals such as the International Court of Justice and Iran-United States. Claims Tribunal as well as in international arbitration. Lawyers work closely with the Department of Justice in litigation in the United States and other countries affecting the interests of the department, and also have increasing opportunities to represent the department before national courts and administrative tribunals before the Foreign Service Grievance Board, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and in contractual disputes. Advice. For this position, candidates must submit a narrative statement relating to the following mandatory technical qualification: The Office of the Legal Adviser advises on all legal issues, national and international, that arise in the context of the work of the Department. This includes assisting heads of the Department and policymakers in formulating and implementing U.S.

foreign policy, as well as promoting respect for and development of international law and its institutions as a fundamental element of that policy. Unless you are currently pursuing a career in the Senior Executive Service (SES), are eligible for readmission to the SES, or have successfully completed an OPM-approved SES candidate development program, you must submit separate narrative statements about each of the basic executive qualifications (final five questions to assess the vacancy). Candidates must also submit separate narrative statements covering each of the mandatory technical qualifications (listed below) in order to be considered for the position. For more information on how to properly prepare basic management qualification statements, visit the Office of Personnel Management website. The office consists of approximately 200 permanent lawyers and approximately 100 ancillary staff, including specialist paralegals, contract analysts, secretaries and general administrative staff. While all are based in Washington, D.C., the firm`s lawyers also hold positions as legal counsel and associate counsel at the U.S. missions in Geneva and The Hague, as well as legal counsel positions at U.S. missions to the European Union in Brussels and the United Nations in New York.

Occasionally, the office provides lawyers for other positions abroad. The Department of Justice offers experienced lawyers a wide range of opportunities to work on many important and complex issues facing our country. Our lawyers are active in almost all areas of legal practice. The Attorney General`s Summer Law Internship Program is the Ministry of Justice`s competitive, centralized recruitment program for paid summer internships. The majority of SLIP staff are second-year law students who work at the Department of Justice during the summer between their second and third year of law school. The SLIP is also open to graduates between graduation and the start of a full-time qualifying internship or scholarship. Their experience should explicitly show that: the office is divided into sections that roughly correspond to the various offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including regional offices that focus on specific regions of the world, and functional offices that deal with specific issues, such as: human rights and refugees; political and military affairs; economy and economy; oceans, international environmental and scientific affairs; Legislation and foreign aid or management. Accordingly, the Office of the Legal Counsel is divided into twenty-three departments, in addition to offices in The Hague, Geneva, Brussels and New York. Lawyers` “rotation” preferences are requested after being assigned for approximately two years; Lawyers typically change roles within the firm every two to three years to broaden their experience and take on new challenges. If you do not have the mandatory technical qualifications described above, you may not be eligible for this position.

The Department of Justice selects approximately 1800 volunteer interns each year. Approximately 800 interns volunteer each school year and approximately 1000 interns volunteer each summer. These positions are not paid, but highly sought after because of the responsibility and experience they provide. All judicial organizations publish their job offers of experienced lawyers on this site. You can search for vacancies by hiring component, geographic region and/or field of activity. If you are interested in a currently vacant lawyer position, please apply directly to the hiring organization and follow the application instructions in the job posting. L is committed to fostering a diverse and representative workforce and encouraging women and minorities to apply. Lawyer positions within L are exempt from competitive hiring procedures.

L follows the principle of veteran preference in its lawyer hiring processes, where administratively possible, and views veteran status as a positive factor at all stages of the hiring process. It complies with all applicable federal non-discrimination laws. The U.S. Department of State is committed to recruiting and retaining qualified persons with disabilities. The Ministry is strongly committed to fulfilling its positive obligations under the Rehabilitation Act 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be recruited and promoted on the basis of merit within the Department.