Attorney Advisor (General) U.S. Department of Justice

• 4.1 Arlington, VA Job Details Permanent | Part-time | Full-time $121,785
• $197,200 a year 9 hours ago Qualifications Legal advocacy Criminal procedure Writing skills Regulatory legal research Team training Bar Administrative law Editing Full Job Description Hiring Organization Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Hiring Office Office of Chief Counsel Attorney Appointment Type Attorney Permanent Job

ID H-DEA-27-13081094-DE-DJ

Location:

700 Army Navy Drive Arlington, VA 22202

•

United States Application Deadline:

Monday, October 19, 2026 About the Office The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Department of Justice, is seeking attorneys to work in the Office of Chief Counsel (CC). CC headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia, and provides legal advice and support to DEA management and field offices worldwide. CC attorneys coordinate with DEA investigative personnel, provide legal training, and respond to requests for assistance from DEA Division Counsel. They also prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, affidavits, memorandum opinions, engage in discovery, take and defend depositions, appear at motions and evidentiary hearings, and provide other support in civil and administrative litigation. The Office of Chief Counsel works with federal and state prosecutors, and federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to further DEA's mission. The Department of Justice seeks to build and retain a workforce that shares our commitment to public service and welcomes interested applicants. Job Description The Asset Forfeiture Section is comprised of a team of professionals dedicated to deterring, disrupting, and dismantling criminal drug trafficking organizations with Asset Forfeiture. Administrative, Civil-Judicial, and Criminal Forfeiture deprives criminals of their illegal drug proceeds and disrupts drug trafficking by confiscating facilitating property. Duties of Asset Forfeiture attorneys include: Serving as a subject matter expert for search and seizure matters, complex asset forfeiture and money laundering law, policy, and practice; and reviewing pre-seizure probable cause determinations for legal sufficiency and ensuring due process is afforded to parties with a legal interest in seized property. Collaborating with HQ and Field DEA personnel responsible for asset forfeiture processing to ensure efficient and legally sufficient forfeiture cases. Partnering with DEA personnel and other federal, state, local, tribal, and international law enforcement agencies to strengthen drug-related financial investigations; and examining forfeiture notice and publication efforts for legal compliance; and issuing Declarations of Administrative Forfeiture. Representing DEA at meetings involving forfeiture matters and delivering legal instruction to DEA personnel as well as domestic and international partners. Liaising and supporting U.S. Attorney Offices and DOJ litigating components prosecuting and defending DEA forfeitures in judicial proceedings; and reviewing draft legislation, policy proposals, and assisting with responses to Congressional inquiries. Ruling on petitions for remission or mitigation of forfeiture; and deciding requests for equitable sharing of forfeited assets. Qualifications All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. All applicants must be an active member of a bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction) and possess: 1) a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and have at least 2-year post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience; 2) excellent academic credentials; 3) strong oral and written advocacy skills; 4) superior legal research and analytical skills; and 5) a demonstrated ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment. To qualify for each

GS Level:

Applicants applying for the GS-13 must have 2 or more years of post J.D. legal experience with federal administrative, civil-judicial, and/or criminal asset forfeiture cases. Applicants applying for the GS-14 must have 3 or more years of post J.D. legal experience with federal administrative, civil-judicial, and/or criminal asset forfeiture cases. Applicants must also have experience working in a collaborative interagency environment involved in the reviewing or editing of intra-agency policies, interagency agreements, or proposed legislation. Applicants applying for the GS-15 must have 4 or more years of post J.D. legal experience with federal administrative, civil-judicial, and/or criminal asset forfeiture cases. Applicants must also possess experience providing legal counsel on complex asset forfeiture, financial, and money laundering investigations, advising senior agency decisionmakers on complex legal or policy matters, and training law enforcement agents on asset forfeiture issues. Application Process All applicants must apply through USAJOBS Vacancy Announcement Number

• H-DEA-27-13081094-DE-DJ All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. Resume
• must be no more than two pages in length; resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.

Resume should include applicants' name, email address, phone number, relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year), work schedule (e.g. part or full-time), the number of hours per week worked/volunteered, job title and description of duties performed. Education/Certification/Licensure when relevant or required for position. See Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume and visit the USAJOBS Help Center for more information.

Transcripts:

An unofficial transcript containing a full listing of courses, credit earned, grade and grade point-average, subject area, degree(s) earned, and dates of award.

Note:

If you are selected for this position, official transcripts will be required prior to your first day.

Writing Sample:

A brief or comparable analytic legal exposition that is your work product. (No more than 10 pages) Proof of current and active Bar Association Membership. Cover Letter Agency and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) Eligibles, if applicable: View information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must be rated in the Highly-Qualified category for this position and submit the supporting documents listed below to receive consideration for selection priority). (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable: The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent or higher will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). To claim 5-point preference, submit a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. To claim 10-point preference, submit the SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) AND all required documentation outlined on the form to support your claim (e.g., DD-214, official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, etc.). If we cannot verify your 10-point preference claim, your application will be reviewed for 5-point preference. To claim 10-point derived preference (i.e., spouses, widows, widowers or mothers of veterans), submit a completed SF-15 and all required documentation listed on the SF-15 to support your claim. To claim 0-point Sole Survivorship preference, submit a copy of your DD-214 or another form of official documentation showing that your discharge or release from active duty occurred on or after August 29, 2008, and was based on a sole survivorship discharge.

For all preference claims:

DD-214 must show the dates of service, type of discharge, and any qualifying service campaign medals. If you are currently on active duty and applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act , you must provide a certification on letterhead from your military branch which contains your military service dates, expected date of discharge or release, and the character of service to show that your military service was performed under honorable conditions. The expected date of discharge or release must be no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration for this vacancy announcement. For more veterans' preference information, visit the USAJOBS Help Center . Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflicts of interest or disqualification issues that may need to be addressed under those circumstances. Salary GS13: $121,785

• $158,322, GS14: $143,913
• $187,093, GS15: $169,279
• $197,200)