Overview
Attorney Advisor (Ethics) Jobs in Washington, DC at US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Summary
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal services to the Commission, ensuring that all agency actions comply with the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and related regulations. OGC represents the Commission in federal courts and before administrative bodies in litigation involving enforcement appeals, challenges to Commission actions, derivatives industry bankruptcies, employment matters, and other administrative proceedings.
Learn more about this agency
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
Applications accepted from all US Citizens.
Duties
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is seeking a highly skilled Attorney Advisor to serve in the General Law, Ethics, & Workforce Branch. As an Attorney Advisor (Ethics), you will:
- Carry out all aspects, programs, and activities of the CFTC’s ethics program, including advising leadership, divisions, and employees on ethics requirements.
- Review public and confidential financial disclosure reports, conduct conflicts-of-interest analyses, and certify disclosures in accordance with governing regulations.
- Provide expert legal counsel on federal ethics laws and authorities, including:
- 18 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq.
- 5 C.F.R. §§ 2634 et seq.
- CFTC supplemental ethics regulations
- Federal Vacancies Reform Act
- Hatch Act
- Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act
- 31 U.S.C. § 1353
- Address exceptionally difficult legal or factual questions with broad policy impact.
- Provide legal interpretations and written opinions on complex ethics matters.
- Coordinate with program offices to ensure compliance with ethics rules, financial disclosure obligations, and training mandates.
- Serve as subject matter expert on ethics policy, conflicts of interest, and employee conduct standards.
- Support the Legal Division’s broader mission by contributing to litigation analysis, rulemaking review, and administrative adjudication when ethics issues intersect with agency operations.
- Provide professional guidance to other attorneys and review designated assignments when cases or matters require coordinated legal work.
- Work collaboratively on a team to support other legal requirements as needed.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- U.S. Citizenship
- Favorable Background/Security Investigation
- Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- May be subject to a two-year trial period.
- Must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency (knowledge, skills and abilities) in the following areas:
- Legal, Government, & Jurisprudence
- Ethics & Integrity
- Compliance & Enforcement
- Critical Thinking / Problem Solving
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following:
- J.D.; and
- Active membership of the bar in good standing in any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Note: proof of bar membership will be required before entry on duty)
AND
To Qualify at the CT-14 Grade Level: Candidates with a law degree (J.D. or equivalent) and bar membership and 4 years of relevant legal experience after completion of law school.
Relevant legal experience is defined as attorneys, law clerk, or other legal experience which was obtained after graduation from a law school. Legal and non- legal experience gained in the Federal government or private sector prior to completing a law degree cannot be used to satisfy the legal experience requirement. Work while in law school does not count.
Qualifying experience may include: Providing legal advice on ethics laws, financial disclosure requirements, conflicts-of-interest analysis, or employee conduct regulations.
Education
Successful completion of a full course of study (J.D.) in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criterion, see www.ed.gov.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
Relocation: Relocation expenses will not be paid.
Trial Period:
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 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 probationary/trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
This position is NOT a Bargaining Unit position.
More than the number of positions listed may be filled through this vacancy announcement.
The overall salary range is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade. A new hire’s direct and overall experience are critical factors in determining a salary offer, therefore, it is important that your resume fully reflects all of your work experience. Note that the upper end of each range is typically applicable only to candidates with significant years of work experience and qualifications Please review the CFTC Compensation Program website for additional information.
The law prohibits public officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending their relatives. The law prohibits requesting, making, transmitting, accepting, or considering political recommendations for employment or other personnel actions for non-political positions. This includes recommendations from Members of Congress, Congressional employees, elected state or local officials, and political party officials and any recommendation based on party affiliation.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
When the application process is complete, we will review your resume and other supporting documentation, to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this announcement.
To qualify for this position, your resume must demonstrate sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. For the first level of review, your resume is the key evaluate your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. Your resume cannot exceed more than 2 pages.
This job is being filled under a Schedule A hiring authority 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102 and is excepted from the competitive civil service. You will be evaluated and deemed either eligible or ineligible based on the relevance and quality of your experience and education, bar membership, and desired qualifications described above. These positions are not covered by the usual civil service hiring procedures. There is no numerical rating system through which to apply veterans’ preference; however, CFTC considers veterans’ preference eligibility as a positive factor in hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans’ preference are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume, and to attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD Form-214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions. All eligible applicants will be further evaluated by subject-matter experts.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
- Resume showing all relevant and related experience (two pages max). If selected, your resume will be used to determine your initial pay setting decision;
- JD/Transcripts (unofficial copy is accepted for application package, but an official copy with date degree was awarded is required prior to a firm offer letter being extended);
- Bar membership details; (Required)
- Certificate of Good Standing (Required)
- Cover Letter (optional);
- Performance appraisal (optional);
- Writing sample (optional)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
How to Apply
RESUME REQUIREMENT: Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. Please ensure your resume clearly demonstrates how you meet the qualifications for the position within the two-page limit.
YOU MUST APPLY ONLINE: Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. You must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at USAJOBS.GOV. To begin, click the Apply Online button within the vacancy announcement and follow the prompts to create an account using LOGIN.GOV, if you have not done so already. LOGIN.GOV will walk you through each step of the account set-up and will automatically link your USAJOBS profile to LOGIN.GOV. Once you have established an account using LOGIN.GOV, you will then go back to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to answer the questions and submit all required documents. If you already have established an LOGIN.GOV account or want to return to your saved application, go to USAJOBS.GOV using your LOGIN.GOV username and password to apply or view your profile. If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at [email protected] or phone at 1-866.656.6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Veterans’ Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission considers veterans’ preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans’ preference must indicate their preference in response to the appropriate question in their assessment questionnaire (it is also recommended that information is included in their cover letter or resume) and they must submit supporting documentation (e.g., DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) which verifies their eligibility for preference. Although the “point” system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of non-service-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
Agency contact information
Jenna Giles
Phone
202-418-5625
Fax
202-501-0018
Address
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
1155 21st St NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20581
United States
Next steps
For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. Also, note that if you provide an email address that is inaccurate or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Overview
Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 08/05/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 5, 2026
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Position is eligible for telework in accordance with agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$180,060 – $264,489 per year
Pay scale & grade
CT 14
Promotion potential
14
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel – Occasional travel may be required.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
- 0905 Attorney
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
- Suitability/Fitness
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CFTC-OGC-2026-0018
Control number
877656900
Title: Attorney Advisor (Ethics)
Company: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Location: Washington, DC
Category:
