Assistant Counsel (Attorney) – Entry Level
The Department of the Navy (DON) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is seeking motivated early-career attorneys to join the legal team supporting Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) in Dahlgren, Virginia.
This is an exciting opportunity to begin your legal career supporting real-world national security missions while working alongside engineers, scientists, contracting professionals, and Navy leadership on advanced warfare systems and technologies.
NSWCDD supports research, development, and integration efforts in areas such as directed energy, digital engineering, software, modeling & simulation, and combat systems.
What You Will Be Doing
As an Assistant Counsel, you will primarily support federal acquisition law matters, including both Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based contracts and non-FAR-based agreements. You may also gain experience supporting additional practice areas such as:
- Fiscal law
- Ethics and standards of conduct
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
- Privacy Act matters
This position offers hands-on experience advising clients, conducting legal research, drafting legal opinions, and supporting mission-focused programs across the Department of the Navy.
Minimum Qualifications
At the time of application, applicants must:
- Possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an American Bar Association accredited law school
- Be admitted to practice and an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory/commonwealth, or the District of Columbia
- Be a U.S. citizen able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
- At least one year of recent professional legal experience; OR
- Possess a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree requiring one full academic year of graduate study
Recent law school graduates with less than one year of professional legal experience may also qualify based on superior academic achievement, including:
- Top third of graduating class
- Law review or journal experience
- Moot court participation
- Order of the Coif membership
- Other distinguished academic accomplishments
Why Dahlgren?
At NSWCDD, your work directly supports the Sailors and systems that protect national security. You’ll have the opportunity to build meaningful legal experience while contributing to impactful Navy missions and innovative technologies.
