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The Attorney Honors Program is the FCC’s primary vehicle for hiring entry-level attorneys. AHP participants serve in a two-year employment and training program designed to introduce them to the field of communications law and policy. The FCC encourages law students in their final year of study, recent law school graduates, and current judicial clerks with superior academic credentials and an interest in public service and communications law to apply. See www.fcc.gov/attorneyhonorsprogram.
Learn more about this agency10/11/2024 to 11/21/2024
$82,764 - $153,354 per year
GS 11 - 13
Many vacancies in the following location:
No
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Not required
No
Term - Excepted Term Appointment Not to Exceed 2 years.
Full-time - This is a full-time position. Work schedules, including telework, are at the discretion of the supervisor, consistent with agency policy.
Excepted
NA - If selected for the GS-904-11 Honors Attorney (Law Clerk) position, the full performance level is GS-11. If selected for the GS-905-12 or GS-905-13 Honors Attorney (Attorney Advisor) position the full performance level is GS-13.
No
No
No
Yes - The GS-904-11 Honors Attorneys (Law Clerks) are excluded from the bargaining unit. GS-904-11 Law Clerks are eligible to be non-competitively converted to a temporary Honors Attorney (Attorney Advisor) position upon passing the bar. GS-905-12/13 Honors Attorney (Attorney Advisors) are included in the bargaining unit. The exclusive representative is NTEU Chapter 209.
HonorsAtty-OGC-2025-001
813974300
Honors Attorneys gain valuable experience and benefit from a wide variety of learning experiences. Attorneys at the FCC draft decisions in adjudicatory and rule-making matters, work with internal and external constituencies to resolve complex policy issues before the agency, participate in international negotiations, represent the FCC in dealings with other government agencies, Congress and the private sector, and defend FCC decisions in the federal courts. Additionally, Honors Attorneys benefit from a specialized training and career-development curriculum designed specifically for the program. Typically, Honors Attorneys:
General Eligibility Requirements. You are eligible to apply during the fall application window for the 2025 Attorney Honors Program if you are a:
Before making a selection, the FCC reviews many facets of a candidate's background as outlined below. Graduating law students, recent law students who graduated in the spring or summer of 2024, and current judicial clerks with strong qualifications are encouraged to apply.
Current federal employees must meet one year of time in grade requirements. SF-50 must be provided to document time in grade.
Transcripts must be submitted to verify education. If transcripts (official or unofficial) are not submitted, candidates will not be deemed eligible for this position. If you are unsure if your school is accredited, please use the following link to verify:Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
GS-11 QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
Candidates must either (a) be enrolled in an accredited degree-seeking program in pursuit of a J.D., LL.M. or other graduate law degree and be scheduled to complete their course of study by the summer of 2025; or (b) have recently completed their J.D., LL.M. or other graduate law program in the spring or summer of 2024 or have successfully completed their J.D., LL.M. or other graduate law program and be currently serving as a judicial clerk. (See “General Eligibility Requirements” for additional criteria).
Transcripts must be submitted to verify education. If transcripts (official or unofficial) are not submitted, candidates will not be deemed eligible for this position. If you are unsure if your school is accredited, please use the following link to verify: Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
NOTE: Candidates must have successfully completed their J.D. or LL.M. program by the summer of 2025 in order to be eligible for appointment as an Honors Attorney at the FCC.
GS-12/13 QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
Professional Law Experience: Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Honors Attorney positions. Education requirements include: a professional law degree, J.D., LL.B. or LL.M., or other graduate law program.
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
GS-12
Applicants must have a minimum of one year of professional law experience and specialized experience in or equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. For this position, examples of specialized experience include the following:
GS-13
Applicants must possess at least two years of professional law experience and specialized experience and at least one year of the experience must be specialized experience which is at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. For this position, examples of specialized experience include the following:
Qualifying Experience
Examples of qualifying experience include but are not limited to: academic achievement, writing skills, law review and/or moot court experience, clinic or extracurricular activities.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
SEE INFORMATION OUTLINED UNDER THE SUBHEADING "QUALIFICATIONS".
EEO Policy Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement
Veterans Information
Legal and Regulatory Guidance
If you are not a U.S. Citizen, you may be eligible for federal employment and may apply for the Honors Attorney Program if you fall into one of the following categories of individuals:
(Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-260, Div. E, Title VII, § 704, December 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1182.)
In addition to meeting one of the criteria listed above, you are still subject to the requirements of immigration law. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to being hired. If you are selected as an FCC Honors Attorney, you must also successfully complete a background investigation.
For more information about citizenship requirements for federal employment, please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website at https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/non-citizens. If you have additional questions about the eligibility of non-U.S. citizens for the FCC Attorney Honors Program, please contact Kristin Young in the FCC Office of Human Resources at Kristin.Young@fcc.gov.
Other:
- Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.
- If applicable, you will be required to serve a trial period of one year.
- In order for you to be employed at the FCC, there are certain Commission and Federal laws governing the financial interests of you and members of your immediate family. If selected for the position, you must submit a financial disclosure statement upon assuming the position.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
All candidates will be considered without regard to political or religious affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, national origin, non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap, age, or any other non-merit factor. THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
All applicants will be evaluated on the extent and quality of experience and education relevant to the duties of the position.
Each of the following documents should be submitted as a separate PDF file, with your last name as part of the file name.
Applicants will be deemed ineligible if they do not provide any one of the documents outlined above.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
For the Fall 2025 Attorney Honors Program, applicants should apply online using the Commission’s automated recruitment system. You must submit all necessary application materials identified in the announcement by the specified closing date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If applying online poses a hardship, please contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time) prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement. For more information on applying for federal jobs, please check this webpage https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to.
Selected applicants may be invited for interviews. The FCC reviews applications as quickly as possible. Our typical review and selection process involves both interviews and reference checks.
All positions for the Attorney Honors Program are located at the FCC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Honors Attorneys are placed in one of the agency's operating bureaus or offices. Specific placements within the agency will be based on the participant’s interests and experience and the needs of the FCC. Honors Attorneys may have the opportunity to rotate to a new placement within the agency after their first year. Participants who enter the fall 2025 class will be expected to begin their employment with the agency by September 2025. At the end of the two-year program, Honors Program attorneys will be eligible for consideration for continued employment at the FCC.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/813974300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The FCC is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Attorneys at the FCC work on cutting-edge legal and policy issues in the communications and technology arenas. They advance access to communications that are essential for all Americans, including Americans with disabilities, to work remotely, learn remotely, receive healthcare, and engage in commerce; pave the way for a 5G future and advance rural broadband; protect the rights of consumers; review major mergers and acquisitions; and promote public safety.
