Join the fast-paced federal litigation practitioners of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor's (OPLA) District Court Litigation Division (DCLD) and leverage your legal experience to protect the homeland. These positions are located in Washington, D.C.
OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing over 3,000 attorneys nationwide. OPLA provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices and serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
Selected attorneys will fill the Counsel position and primarily serve as DHS's agency counsel by representing agency interests in civil litigation and through the adjudication of administrative tort claims. Counsel work closely with the DHS Office of the General Counsel Headquarters (OGC HQ), other DHS component legal offices, and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) entities, such as Civil Division, including the Office of Immigration Litigation, Torts Branch, as well as U.S.
Attorney's Offices throughout the nation. Counsel in DCLD manage civil litigation against ICE and cases that otherwise impact ICE equities or its personnel. This includes assisting ICE personnel, OGC HQ, and DOJ in all aspects of federal civil litigation, such as: Development of legal strategy and arguments Motion practice Discovery Settlement negotiations Trials, and appeals in cases ranging from common-law torts suits, lawsuits under and Bivens v.
Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and suits seeking injunctive or declaratory relief under the Constitution, including class actions. Counsel also adjudicate administrative claims for personal injuries and property damage pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-2680.
Additional responsibilities include: Conducting training regarding litigation risk Representing ICE's interests in litigation-related discussions with other agencies and DHS components Respond timely and thoroughly to agency taskings Drafting and providing opinions and comments on legislative proposals.
The selected attorney(s) will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to research and craft persuasive, legally supportable positions to address the needs of agency operational components. They will routinely provide timely oral and written guidance to ICE officers and agents, division management, and senior leadership within OPLA, ICE, and OGC HQ.
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or LLM degree. Please see Required Documents for more information. A student loan repayment incentive may be available; if such an incentive is available and is authorized, a service agreement will be required.
This position is with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.
The posted pay range is $85447 – $197200/yr.
This position requires a Secret security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-09-18.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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