Six Figure Work

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Lateral Attorney

Central Intelligence AgencySource: USAJOBS

Company websitecia.gov (Central Intelligence Agency, opens in new tab)

Base salary $143,913  to $197,200

Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Washington, DC

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  • LocationWashington, DC
  • WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
  • Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
  • Last checked (15 min ago) · observed since

About this job

Summary

Attorneys at CIA provide advice and counsel regarding a variety of issues relating to intelligence and national security, as well as the routine practices of an executive agency deployed worldwide.

Duties

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) has an exciting, dynamic practice that covers a broad range of legal issues and practice areas, including national security law, fiscal law, employment law, government contracts and procurement, ethics, technology and cyber law, digital privacy, and FISA, among others. New OGC attorneys serve in our centralized OGC office, where we provide the core legal advice and counsel for Agency-wide functions. While OGC recruits experienced laterals based on their area of expertise, after completing an initial assignment of 2-4 years, laterals will have the opportunity (if desired) to rotate to different practice and mission areas. The most competitive candidates will have strong academic credentials, demonstrated excellence in their prior work experience, and show a clear commitment to public service. As an attorney, you will: Provide legal advice and policy counsel to CIA leadership on complex areas of law affecting the CIA's duties and responsibilities under authorities including the National Security Act, the CIA Act, and Executive Orders. Conduct legal research and analysis on sensitive matters. Deliver training on a variety of laws and policies affecting CIA personnel. Engage with other Intelligence Community elements, federal agencies, and congressional committees. Maintain productive working relationships with other OGC and Agency officers to further CIA's mission.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Interested candidates should be passionate about the ideals of our American republic, committed to upholding the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, and committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government. Hiring decisions will not be based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Active membership of the bar (any US jurisdiction). Active membership of the bar (an US jurisdiction) Demonstrated experience of at least three years in one or more of OGC's practice areas. Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation Desired Qualifications OGC reviews all candidates for the following competencies: Legal analysis, reasoning and writing, including the ability to integrate and synthesize facts and law to make legally sound decisions, particularly in compressed timeframes. Interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work both independently and as a team member in a demanding environment. Ability to exercise sound judgment in challenging situations. Ability to navigate changing circumstances. Ability to manage multiple work assignments and competing priorities concurrently. Demonstrated expertise on complex legal matters, and strong client counseling skills, in one or more of the following practice areas: constitutional law, government contracts, employment law, ethics, fiscal law, international law, investigations, litigation (federal), privacy law, operational law, surveillance law, and tech/cyber law. Lateral hires, typically referred to as mid-career hires, have more than three years of post-law school experience and work on the most complex legal issues in the Agency. Please note other OGC job postings on CIA.gov tailored to specific practice areas (e.g., government contracts, employment law, etc.). Candidate may apply to a specialty practice area through the tailored job postings. This "Lateral Attorney" job posting is an opportunity for generalist candidates to highlight experience in multiple practice areas.

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

How you will be evaluated

For more information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/.

Required documents

For further information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/.

How to apply

This post is for viewing purposes only. To get started, please visit https://www.cia.gov/careers/, where you can read more about this position and express your interest in up to four jobs. Upon expressing your interest, you will be taken to MyLINK, which allows you to submit your resume and job rankings and provide basic information about yourself.

What to expect next

After you express interest for up to four positions on cia.gov/careers, a CIA recruiter may contact you for further discussion if your qualifications meet our needs. See the MyLINK FAQs on our website for more information.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency on USAJOBS · View original posting (opens in new tab)

This range next to 6 other live Central Intelligence Agency roles with the nearest advertised base floor
Chart as a table
This range next to 6 other live Central Intelligence Agency roles with the nearest advertised base floor
RolePublished base
Lateral Attorney (this listing)$143,913 - $197,200
NRO OIG Inspector$136,658 - $180,484
Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner$133,142 - $158,322
Clinical Psychologist$179,891 - $288,000
Organizational Psychologist$179,891 - $191,886
Registered Nurse$103,478 - $112,662
NRO Inspector General - IT Auditor$102,415 - $187,093

Same $100K to $400K scale as every card. All Central Intelligence Agency roles · How to read the bar

Observed changes

  1. First observed on the employer's board
  2. Began meeting the published-salary criteria
Observed since
Employer-stated posting date
2026-09-01
Where this pay comes from

Location as the employer wrote it: Washington, District of Columbia

USD 143,913 – 197,200 · PA · federal_basic_pay

Method
Structured pay field published by the employer
Checked
Rule set
us-base-v2

The employer's job board publishes this pay as a dedicated data field. We read the field directly; no interpretation was needed.

What we verified

  • The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
  • The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
  • The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.

We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.