
Attorney Advisor (International)
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Washington, DCFull-time$160–272K/yrPosted 1 day ago
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Job overview
The Attorney Advisor (International) works in the CFTC’s Office of International Affairs, which supports the Commission’s international activities and analyzes foreign regulatory developments. The role conducts legal research, drafts written products, reviews proposed rules, represents the Commission at meetings, and negotiates regulatory arrangements with foreign authorities. It also monitors international developments and prepares legal analyses and advice for the Commission and agency staff.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Summary
The Office of International Affairs serves as the primary focal point for the agency's international activities. In this connection, OIA assists the Chairman and the Commission in its formulation of international matters and coordinating the Commission's varied international activities, provides information to the Commission concerning foreign regulatory systems, and analyzes foreign regulatory developments.
Duties
As an Attorney Advisor (International) in the Office of International Affairs (OIA), your principal duties will include conducting research, drafting reports, legal interpretations, memoranda and other written products as assigned. You will review Commission proposed rules and other actions, participate in the representation of the Commission at international meetings and domestic inter-agency meetings relating to international policy, and negotiate and draft regulatory arrangements with foreign authorities. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: Negotiating and drafting documents intended for an international audience, which may involve reports for international bodies such as the International Organization of Securities Commissions and the Financial Stability Board. Drafting briefing memoranda on international developments and reports. Reviewing draft rules prepared by other offices and divisions with a view towards ensuring consistency with international standards. Monitoring foreign regulatory developments, as well as producing and maintaining analyses of regulatory developments. Preparing legal interpretations and memoranda for the Commission, its operating divisions and other senior staff with respect to difficult, complex and novel legal problems. Negotiating and drafting international arrangements with foreign regulators and policymakers for information sharing and cooperative regulatory oversight. 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 CT-14: At least 4 years of relevant legal experience after completion of law school. Examples of relevant legal experience include: • Demonstrated skill in research and analysis of complex legal issues, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills. • Knowledge of commodities or related law and regulations, international law, financial markets, corporate law, and general administrative law. • Knowledge of derivatives markets, including futures, options, and swap markets, and clearing for these markets. 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.
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 How You Will Be Evaluated
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 the 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. Your resume will be referred to the selecting official if you have self-certified that your application package is complete; to include resume, bar membership details, and any applicable transcripts; this is a part of the initial review process. This does not mean you are considered qualified for the position. A qualification analysis will be conducted to ensure the selectee meets all requirements, including education and minimum qualifications listed on the vacancy announcement. A complete application package is required to be considered qualified and eligible for selection. Please review the "Requirements" section of the vacancy announcement to understand the list of required documents for a complete application package. Additional information may be requested later in the recruitment process. 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). You may preview questions for this vacancy. Other 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 is a Bargaining Unit position located in the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU) Chapter 337. 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.
How this job compares
Set against the 2,724 open Legal Counsel jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 7, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$160–272K/yr
- Washington, D.C. median$170–243K/yr101 salary ranges
- US median$155–231K/yr2,050 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $216K, is 3% above the Washington, D.C. median midpoint ($210K) — in the middle half of Legal Counsel salary ranges in Washington, D.C..
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 113 open Legal Counsel jobs in Washington, D.C. and 2,724 across the US. 11% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 4 years of experience; Legal Counsel postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (2,420 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a doctorate or professional degree; 1,967 of the 2,724 open Legal Counsel jobs (72%) ask for a doctorate or professional degree.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 7, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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