
Attorney-Adviser (Chairman's Attorney Honors Program)
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, DCFull-time$70–142K/yrPosted today
See where you stand before you apply. No sign-up to start.
You apply on the posting's application page, with no Olive account needed.
Watch jobs like this. New roles like this one near Washington, DC, by email.
Don't just apply. Show up ready.
Olive works from this exact posting.
At a glance
Olive focuses on jobs in the United States, including remote roles you can work from there.
Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
The SEC’s Chairman’s Attorney Honors Program offers permanent appointments for entry-level attorneys in a two-year developmental program, with placements in designated divisions and offices. The Fall 2027 session includes work in enforcement, examinations, investment management, trading and markets, general counsel, and international affairs. Applicants must meet the basic attorney requirement and one of the stated minimum-qualification paths by the announcement’s closing date.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Summary
The Chairman's Attorney Honors Program offers permanent appointments for entry-level attorneys beginning with a two-year developmental program intended to promote careers in the civil service. Many selections will be made nationwide from this announcement. If you are a third year law student, please see the linked announcement for Law Clerk opportunities.
Duties
The Chairman's Attorney Honors Program is a program that hires law school graduates currently employed as judicial law clerks, legal fellows, or current and/or past participants of an SEC internship programs (paid or un-paid) to work as entry-level attorneys. This program is designed as a means to secure future employment with the SEC for those that are eligible as defined by the "Minimum Qualifications Requirements" below. If selected, you are assigned to a single Division or Office. The Chairman's Attorney Honors Program is a two-year long developmental program. It is the responsibility of the Commission to interpret and enforce federal securities laws; issue new rules and amend existing rules; oversee the inspection of securities firms, brokers, investment advisers, and ratings agencies; oversee private regulatory organizations in the securities, accounting, and auditing fields; and coordinate U.S. securities regulation with federal, state, and foreign authorities. The Commission is concerned primarily with promoting the disclosure of important market-related information, maintaining fair dealing, and protecting against fraud. The following divisions and offices are hiring for the Fall 2027 session of the Chairman's Attorney Honors Program at the SEC at the designated locations only: Division of Enforcement (ENF)- Chicago Regional Office (Chicago) Division of Enforcement (ENF)- Fort Worth Regional Office (Fort Worth) Division of Enforcement (ENF)- Washington, DC (HQ) Division of Examinations (EXAMS)- FINRA and Securities Industry Oversight (FSIO) - Washington, DC (HQ) Division of Examinations (EXAMS)- Office of the Chief Counsel (OCC) - Washington, DC (HQ) Division of Examinations (EXAMS)- Office of Clearance and Settlement (OCS) - Washington, DC (HQ), New York, NY, and Chicago, IL Division of Investment Management (IM) - Washington, DC (HQ) Division of Trading and Markets (TM) - Washington, DC (HQ) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) - Washington, DC (HQ) Office of International Affairs (OIA) - Washington, DC (HQ) Information can be found by clicking the division/office name above. Typical duties can include: Actual duties will depend on placement within the Commission Division of Enforcement (ENF) Investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws Gathering and analyzing evidence supporting potential Commission enforcement actions Conducting legal research and writing Division of Examinations (EXAMS) Working as a member of a team with other staff members engaged in conducting examinations; responding to trends in the market; identifying areas of the market that merit special attention; and developing new inspection/examination procedures and processes; Conducting research, reviews and analysis of a variety of documents related to compliance; conducting reviews of customer trading and securities holdings; reviewing firm marketing; and developing recommendations to resolve problems in assigned areas of specialization; Preparing reports, correspondence, memoranda and other documents summarizing reviews, research and analysis related to registered entities' compliance with the federal securities laws Division of Investment Management (IM) Investigating possible violations of the federal securities laws Conducting related legal research and writing Providing guidance to companies on SEC rules and forms Working on matters related to the equity, options, security-based swaps, and fixed income markets Reviewing disclosure filings for compliance with federal securities laws Division of Trading and Markets (TM) Reviewing the market and credit risk models used by ANC broker-dealers, OTCDDs and SBSDs Administering Exchange Act rules applicable to brokers and dealers of securities and their dealings with investors and other market participants Linked and coordinated facilities and financial market infrastructure for clearance and settlement of a wide range of securities transactions and products Office of the General Counsel (OGC) Providing authoritative legal advice and assistance, both orally and in writing, to other attorneys and specialists across the Commission, including analysis of complex legal issues with broad policy implications. Reviewing and analyzing proposals for rules and regulations drafted by the Commission's divisions and offices. Preparing a variety of written documents to convey information and analysis, including legal memoranda. Also conveying information and analysis orally through briefings, consultations, and other presentations. Office of International Affairs (OIA) Investigating possible violations of the federal securities laws Conducting related legal research and writing Providing guidance to companies on SEC rules and forms Working with a rulemaking team or rule filings submitted by self-regulatory organizations Working on matters related to the equity, options, security-based swaps, and fixed income markets Qualifications
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. The anticipated Entrance on Duty (EOD) date is September/October 2027, or sooner. BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the following: J.D. or LL.B. degree --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.) As an applicant you do not need to have been admitted to a state bar association. However, before you can start work with the SEC as an attorney, you must be an active bar member in good standing. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement. SK-11: Applicants must meet one of the following: Be currently employed as a judicial law clerk; or Be currently employed as a legal fellow; or Be currently and/or past participant of an SEC internship program (paid or un-paid). SK-12: Applicants must possess at least one year of post J.D. experience as a practicing attorney, AND, meet one of the following: Was employed as a judicial law clerk; or Was employed as a legal fellow; or Was employed as a past participant of an SEC internship program (paid or un-paid) that has graduated within two years of closing date of the announcement.
Education
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. If you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, you must submit a copy of your unofficial transcripts or equivalent by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. For more information, click here. Applicants may also find the following helpful: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an association of 19 credential evaluation services with admission standards and an enforced code of good practice. Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) is an association of 10 credential evaluation services with a board of advisors and an enforced code of ethics. How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. The application questionnaire will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following linkhttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13098143 If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the application questionnaire. Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire. After review of your application materials, if you are determined to be minimally qualified, you will be referred to the selecting official. Note about Attorney hiring in the Excepted Service and veterans' preference: Attorney positions are exempt from Part 302 procedures pursuant to 5 CFR 302.101(c). Agencies filling positions that are exempt from Part 302 requirements need only follow the principle of veterans' preference as far as administratively feasible, e.g., consider veteran status as a positive factor when reviewing applications. The SEC considers veterans' preference a positive factor in hiring decisions. If invited to interview, you will be evaluated on the following competencies: Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example. technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Other Information
If you would like to learn more about the Chairman's Attorney Honor Program, please register for one of our upcoming information sessions. Information Session Links: Wednesday, November 18, 2026; 1:30-3:30 PM ET; Register Here Wednesday, December 2, 2026; 11:00-1:00 PM ET; Register Here Promotion Potential: This position has promotion potential to the SK-14 grade level. SEC COMPENSATION PROGRAM: Total salary (base pay + locality) is dependent upon duty location. The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes; a selectee's initial pay will be established below the maximum rate of the range. The pay for current SEC employees will be determined according to the procedures specified in the agency's policy. Please click here for a compensation overview. Disability Employment: For information on disability appointments, click here. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be minimally qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP eligibles will be considered minimally qualified if they meet the minimum requirements for this position. Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the SEC application process due to a medical disability, please contact [email protected]. For religious-based accommodations, please contact [email protected] . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation. USA Hire Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: For more information, please click here. The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged non-compliance by contacting the Legal and Policy Office in the Office of Human Resources at [email protected].
How this job compares
Set against the 1,965 open Attorney jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 13, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$70–142K/yr
- Washington, D.C. median$142–197K/yr88 salary ranges
- US median$110–185K/yr1,300 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $106K, is 36% below the Washington, D.C. median midpoint ($166K) — in the lowest quarter of Attorney salary ranges in Washington, D.C..
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 94 open Attorney jobs in Washington, D.C. and 1,965 across the US. 6% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Washington, D.C.
- CGS Federal8 open
- Department of State Headquarters8 open
- Offices, Boards and Divisions5 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Attorney postings that state a minimum ask for (median 4 years, across 1,349 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a doctorate or professional degree; 1,181 of the 1,965 open Attorney jobs (60%) ask for a doctorate or professional degree.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 13, 2026. Figures based on too few postings are left out.
Prepare for this role
You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.

