Honors Attorney

JobSummary

The DOT Honors Attorney Program is a highly competitive program, primarily available to new or recent JD graduates completing judicial clerkships or judicial fellowships, offering a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the Department's diverse legal practice. To be eligible for our next program starting in August 2026, you must be a U.S. citizen graduating from law school in Spring 2026 or completing a judicial clerkship or judicial fellowship in Summer 2026.

LowGrade

11

HighGrade

12

PromotionPotential

13

OrganizationCodes

TD/TD01

Relocation

False

HiringPath

• fed-excepted
• public

MCOTags

TotalOpenings

Many

AgencyMarketingStatement

The Office of the Secretary (OST) oversees the formulation of National transportation policy and promotes intermodal transportation. Other responsibilities range from negotiation and implementation of international transportation agreements, assuring the fitness of US airlines, enforcing airline consumer protection regulations, issuance of regulations to prevent alcohol and illegal drug misuse in transportation systems and preparing transportation legislation. The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is ranked #6 in the 2023 best places to work in the Federal Government!

TravelCode

0

DetailStatusUrl

https://jobs.monstergovt.com/dot/ros/rosDashboard.hms?O=2&J=92446&S=1

MajorDuties

• As a Honors Attorney, you will: Provide legal advice and policy counsel to DOT leadership on complex areas of law affecting DOT's duties and responsibilities, both in writing and orally. Conduct legal research and analyses on sensitive matters. Provide training on a variety of laws and policies affecting DOT personnel. Engage with other Federal agencies, congressional committees, the courts, and other transportation stakeholders. Honors Attorneys work under the close supervision of experienced attorneys. Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, self-reliant and skilled individual willing to work in a challenging and fast-paced environment with experienced professionals committed to delivering the world's leading transportation system, serving the American people and economy through the safe, efficient, and sustainable movement of people and goods. The ideal candidate exercises initiative and must be creative in coping with exceptionally difficult and novel legal matters.

Education

MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to qualify for this position, candidates must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have a professional law degree, and must currently be a member in good standing of the bar of a State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia. To be eligible for our next program cycle starting in August 2026, you must be a U.S. citizen graduating from law school in Spring 2026 or completing a judicial clerkship or judicial fellowship in Summer 2026. NOTE: If you are not yet admitted to the bar of a State, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to qualify on Education, you must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.). An applicant who has not been admitted to a state bar may be selected for a Law Clerk, GS-0904-11 position. Appointment as a Law Clerk is limited to 14 months, during which time appointee must be admitted in good standing to the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the United States. Upon admission to the bar, the position will be converted to a permanent appointment as an Attorney Advisor.

Requirements

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position. This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service. Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency's telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your 2 year trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Evaluations

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements. All applications will be referred for direct consideration by the hiring office. Review of applications and hiring decisions by the selecting official may occur on a running basis prior to the closing date of this announcement. PLEASE NOTE: Upon successful completion of the program, depending on the agency's needs, you may be converted without a break in service to a permanent appointment in the excepted service. The position may have a career ladder target up to the GS-15 grade level depending on the office the candidate is selected to work in. There is no guarantee of a permanent position following this program. NOTE: If you are not yet admitted to the bar of a State, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to qualify on Education, you must possess a professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.). An applicant who has not been admitted to a state bar may be selected for a Law Clerk, GS-0904-11 position. Appointment as a Law Clerk is limited to 14 months, during which time appointee must be admitted in good standing to the bar of a court of general jurisdiction of a state, territory or possession of the United States. Upon admission to the bar, the position will be converted to a permanent appointment as an Attorney Advisor. This is an Excepted Service appointment. You will be on a trial period throughout your entire two-year program. If selected, you will be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employments and to authorize a background investigation. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

HowToApply

How to Apply You must submit a complete application package (including the required documents specified below) no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement by email to honors.attorney@dot.gov with the subject line " " If you are having difficulty submitting your application, please contact us via email at honors.attorney@dot.gov The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)).While your responses will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. In your response, you must provide a self-certification that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. If you choose to answer the below questions, please include a separate document, and email along with your resume. Provide answers to these four (4) short answer questions. (1) How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience (2) In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. (3) How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. Executive Orders can be found here: https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders/donald-trump/2025 (4) How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

WhatToExpectNext

Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date. You will be contacted directly if you are selected for an interview. Due to the large quantity of applications expected for these positions, we are unable to contact and provide status information to applicants that are not selected for an interview.

RequiredDocuments

RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size. Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://help.usajobs.gov//Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/build/ TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED as there is a stated education requirement for the series. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. PROOF OF BAR MEMBERSHIP (IF APPLICABLE) WRITING SAMPLE: Writing Sample (no more than 10 double-spaced pages that is an accurate reflection of your legal writing abilities and not substantially edited by a third party). Candidates selected for second round interviews may be asked to participate in a brief writing assignment at that time. VETERANS: If you are eligible for veterans' preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with supporting documentation, e.g., SF15, DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation. PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive credit, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.). Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents.

Benefits

BenefitsUrl

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/Guide-Me/New-Prospective-Employees/

OtherInformation

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

KeyRequirements

• This is an Excepted Service position.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.

WithinArea

False

CommuteDistance

0

ServiceType

02

AnnouncementClosingType

01

AgencyContactEmail

TRANSJOBS@dot.gov

AgencyContactPhone

000-000-0000

SecurityClearance

Not Required

DrugTestRequired

False

PositionSensitivitiy

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

AdjudicationType

• Suitability/Fitness

BargainingUnitStatusAdditionalText

This is a Bargaining unit position represented by AFGE (Local 3313/1137).