SEC Attorney Advisor Opportunities

In most instances, interested applicants should go to USAJOBS to review a current listing of vacant positions. For Attorney Advisor positions at the SK-13 grade level and below, the SEC is allowed to hire candidates through noncompetitive procedures. This means that an application to an existing job opportunity announcement is not required to be selected for a position; however, all applicants must be U.S. citizens.

If you are interested in such opportunities, please make sure you meet the minimum requirements below and follow the guidelines in the “How to Apply” section.

Minimum Qualifications

• SK-11: Applicant must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction).
• SK-12: Applicant must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction). In addition, applicant must have one year post-J.D. experience as a practicing attorney OR possess a LLM.
• SK-13: Applicant must possess a J.D. degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing (any jurisdiction). In addition, applicant must have two years post-J.D. experience as a practicing attorney, one year of which was in the specialty area of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position OR possess a LLM and have one year post-LLM experience as a practicing attorney.

Special Qualifications

One year of legal experience may be credited if the applicant possesses any one or combination of the following special qualifications:

• A second professional law degree (Master of Law/LL.M.);
• Membership on a law school’s journal or law review;
• Membership in the Order of the Coif;
• Graduation in the top 33 percent of law school class;
• One year of significant non-legal work experience in a field related to the position for which the applicant is being considered (e.g., work experience with FINRA or other financial regulatory authority, or other work experience directly applicable to the work of the position for which the attorney is being hired); or
• A judicial clerkship following law school graduation.
• Law Clerk and Legal Intern Appointments

How to Apply

If you are an attorney and want to apply directly to a specific Division or Office, please submit your complete application package to the desired Division/Office mailbox (listed below) with the following supporting documentation:

• Resume
• A cover letter outlining your relevant background and experience (which should also be addressed in the resume)
• Application for Attorney Appointment
• Veterans’ preference documentation (if applicable)
• Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable; if hired, you will be asked to provide an official transcript)
• Documentation showing that you are an active member of the bar in good standing
   

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants

Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature; includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, and retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination.

For additional information, see Equal Employment Opportunity Information for SEC Job Applicants and Employees – Filing Complaints of Employment Discrimination.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties, or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

• an applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• an employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• an employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.