Take on unique challenges as an attorney in VA’s Office of General Counsel

If you’re interested in practicing law and would like to put your expertise to good use in support of our nation’s Veterans, VA’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) has several outstanding opportunities in Washington, D.C., that may be a perfect fit for you. They’re particularly suited to recent law school graduates or those in the early stages of their career.

Your career

Right now, our team is seeking attorneys for the Court of Appeals Litigation Group (CALG). This group represents the VA secretary in all aspects of litigation before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, an independent Article I court.

Attorneys in this position will be responsible for:

• Managing a wide and varied case load, including participating in court-ordered mediation
• Drafting appellate briefs and substantive pleadings
• Serving as first chair in oral arguments before the court
• Interfacing with various stakeholders

To qualify for one of these positions, you must have completed a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and be an active member in good standing of the Bar in the United States or one of its territories. Attorneys with previous familiarity in appellate litigation or moot court participation, or previous law clerk experience, as well as experience in oral advocacy, journals, law reviews, writing fellowships, and/or Veterans law are strongly encouraged to apply.

Our work

The mission of OGC is to identify and meet the legal needs of VA. We serve as VA’s in‐house counsel, and our primary duty is to ensure the just and faithful execution of laws, regulations and policies that are the responsibility of the VA secretary.

Our attorneys act as business partners to our VA clients, providing sound legal expertise, critical problem-solving skills and risk‐management advice.

Through this work, we enable our fellow VA team members to accomplish their mission of service in support of our nation’s Veterans. We are committed to ensuring that everyone in our organization is focused on the needs of our Veterans, as well as an understanding and commitment to the priorities of VA.

The VA difference

While supporting the greatest mission in all of health care by serving Veterans is its own reward, the benefits of your new VA career offer plenty in the way of enticement.

To start with, we offer our employees strong starting salaries based on education, training and experience. We also offer steady growth, with periodic pay raises that address inflation and local market changes.

You’ll also have the option of a hybrid work schedule, meaning you won’t have to be in the D.C. office every day. Additionally, our employees receive 13 ‒ 26 paid vacation/personal days, as well as 13 sick days annually with no limit on accumulation, and we celebrate 11 paid federal holidays each year.

These positions offer access to federal insurance programs, too, so you can choose from a variety of plans that all cover preexisting conditions. Additionally, we pay up to 75% of health premiums, a benefit that can continue into retirement.

Work at VA

If you’re looking for a great start to your career as an attorney, or looking for a new avenue of your practice, consider a position supporting VA and the Veterans we serve.

• LEARN more about the Office of General Counsel.
• CONTACT Trevor Falnes with questions about these opportunities.
• APPLY for a position as an OGC attorney.
• EXPLORE the benefits of a VA career at VACareers.VA.gov.