General Attorney (Labor) (Honors Attorney)
National Labor Relations Board, Office of The General Counsel, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Full Time, Permanent
Pay scale and grade: GS 12 (Promotion potential 13)
Apply by: 20 November 2026
Salary: $102,415 – $133,142 per year

Summary

This position is established as part of the National Labor Relations Board Honors Program. The Honors Program supports positions working in three different program areas: Board, General Counsel-Headquarters, and General Counsel-Field.

This position is specifically for the General Counsel-Headquarters program area.

The purpose of this position is to provide experience that exposes the employee to the full range of agency legal practices.

This job is open to the public. U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. All U.S. Citizens; Veterans.

Duties

As a General Attorney (Labor) (Honors Attorney), GS-0905-12, typical work assignments in the General Counsel-Headquarters program area include:
– Drafting district court and appellate briefs; and
– Drafting memoranda recommending whether to issue complaint in complex cases; and
– Assisting attorneys with investigations, preparing for trials and trials involving all aspects of civil litigation; and
– Drafting various motions and other pleadings and participates in settlement and mediation sessions;
– Performing in-depth legal research to uncover applicable Court and Board decisions and/or any prior precedents which affect the outcome of an issue.

Requirements

Conditions of employment:
– U.S. Citizenship is required.
– Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
– This is not a virtual (remote) position.
– Relocation expenses are not authorized.
– This position is in the Excepted Service.
– This position is part of the Bargaining Unit.
– Applicants may be subject to completion of a two-year trial period.
– This is a positive education position. Transcripts are required to be considered for this position.
– You will be required to sign an Honors Program Participant Agreement.
– Active Bar license is required for verification. Bar license must reference Bar number and indicate current standing.
– Selectee may be subject to a background investigation prior to appointment.
– Must submit complete application package online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

Qualifications

Basic Eligibility Requirements
Education: An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have their first professional law degree (J.D. or LL.B.) OR be currently in process of obtaining an advanced law degree (e.g., LL.M or J.S.D.) from a law school accredited by the ABA.
Bar Membership and Certification: Must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States.
In addition, applicants must have at least one of the following:
– A GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 or above (or equivalent) or are in the top 25% of their law school class or
– Have previously interned or worked at the NLRB or another labor agency; or
– Have other specialized labor law or labor relations experience.

Minimum Qualifications: To be eligible for the General Attorney (Labor) (Honors Attorney), GS-0905-12 position and grade, applicants must:
– Currently serving in at least a one (1)-year post-law school experience as a judicial clerk, honors attorney, or legal fellow; OR
– A legal fellow that was started within six (6) months of graduating with my first professional law degree; OR
– In the last year of an advanced law degree (e.g., LL.M or J.S.D.) from an ABA accredited law school.
Specialized Experience: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level that has included: experience providing analysis and/or the interpretation of issues that may include legal and/or policy implications; experience performing legal research and recommendations based on legal principles to substantiate conclusions; experience communicating orally to relay and explain legal issues and factual scenarios in a legal environment.

Additional information: Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement. The National Labor Relations Board is an equal opportunity employer. Telework eligible: Yes – as determined by the agency policy. Travel Required: Occasional travel – up to 10% for this position. Drug test: No. Security clearance: Other. Federal service type: Excepted Service. Represented by a union: Yes.

Announcement number: NL27EX13100787ZA. Control number: 891156900.
Agency contact: Honors Program Manager, ohrhonors@nlrb.gov. Address: OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL, 1015 Half St SE, Washington, DC 20570-0040, US.