Central Intelligence Agency Jobs 2026 – Lateral Attorney in Washington

To qualify for the Lateral Attorney position.. You must be an active member of the bar in any US jurisdiction and have at least three years of demonstrated experience in one or more of OGC's practice areas. You must also meet CIA employment requirements including US citizenship and ability to obtain a top-secret clearance.

• Active membership of the bar in any US jurisdiction.
• At least three years of post-law school experience in one or more OGC practice areas.
• US citizenship and ability to pass a thorough background investigation, medical and psychological exam, and polygraph interview.
• Legal analysis, reasoning, and writing skills, including ability to integrate facts and law under compressed timelines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Sound judgment in challenging situations and ability to manage changing circumstances.
• Ability to manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently.
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of: Constitutional Law, Government Contracts, Employment Law, Ethics, Fiscal Law, FOIA, International Law, Investigations, Federal Litigation, Privacy Law, Operational Law, Surveillance Law, or Tech/Cyber Law.

Provide legal advice and policy counsel to CIA leadership on complex areas of law under the National Security Act, CIA Act, and Executive Orders.

• Conduct legal research and analysis on sensitive matters affecting national security.
• Deliver training to CIA personnel on a variety of laws and policies.
• Engage with other Intelligence Community elements, federal agencies, and congressional committees.
• Maintain productive working relationships with OGC and Agency officers to further the CIA's mission.
• Advise on intelligence and national security law, procurement, employment law, ethics, fiscal law, privacy, and legislative affairs.

Visit the USAJOBS announcement for this position (Job ID: 757401400) and with your USAJOBS/Login.gov account.

• Complete the federal application questionnaire and attach your federal resume and required documents.
• Alternatively, express interest on the CIA careers website (cia.gov/careers) for up to four positions, then submit your resume and job rankings via MyLINK.
• Ensure you are physically in the United States or its territories when submitting your resume via MyLINK.
• After expressing interest, a CIA recruiter may contact you for further discussion if your qualifications meet the Agency's needs.

Apply on official page

This announcement is open from June 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026.

• The salary range for GS-14/15 is $143,913 to $197,200 per year.
• You must be willing to relocate to the Washington, DC area.
• Dual-national US citizens are eligible to apply.
• Selective Service registration is required if applicable.
• This posting is for generalist candidates; specialty practice area postings are also available on CIA.gov.
• All hiring decisions are based on merit and not on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent federal agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers. The Office of General Counsel (OGC) supports the CIA's mission by delivering legal advice across a broad spectrum of practice areas, including intelligence law, employment law, and government ethics. For attorneys passionate about public service and the rule of law, the CIA offers a unique opportunity to work on complex legal issues at the intersection of law and national security. Central Intelligence Agency is named as the hiring organisation for the Lateral Attorney post.

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