Attorney Advisor (General)

Hiring Organization

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Hiring Office

Office of Chief Counsel

Job ID

H-DEA-25-12777470-DE-DJ

Location:

Arlington, VA - United States

Application Deadline:

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

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). The office is located in Arlington, Virginia, and provides legal advice and support to DEA management and field offices worldwide. CC attorneys coordinate with DEA investigative personnel during investigations, provide legal training, and respond to requests for assistance from DEA Division Counsel. They also prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, affidavits, and memorandum opinions, as well as provide 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 Office of Chief Counsel and each of its sections serve the DEA mission in a variety of ways. Representative work of the sections includes the following, and applicants with experience in these areas are preferred:

Diversion: works with investigators across the country to bring administrative enforcement actions against doctors, pharmacists and pharmaceutical industry who handle controlled substances in a manner inconsistent with regulation; litigate complex matters in administrative court and coordinate parallel criminal and civil proceedings; and provide legal guidance in the promulgation of regulations, review legislative proposals and provide training to DEA personnel in this area of law.

Employment Defensive Litigation: defend DEA in administrative cases before the Merit Systems Protection Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; provide litigation support in Title VII and personnel-related litigation in the respective federal courts of the US; process administrative tort claims for personal injury and property damages due to DEA employees actions or omission that occurred during the performance of their official duties; and provide counseling on employment and personnel matters.

Intelligence Law: guides and supports DEA's Intelligence Division (IN) leadership and personnel; oversees all legal aspects related to the IN Division mission worldwide; and advises and supports IN Division personnel as they collect, collate, analyze, and disseminate tactical, investigative, and strategic drug-related intelligence information to federal, state, and local agencies, which supports effective law enforcement operations and initiatives against drug trafficking domestically and around the world.

Qualifications

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 1-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; 5) demonstrated ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment; and 6) Five (5) years of legal experience is preferred, and experience in administrative law is also preferred but not required.

Application Process

Applicants must submit a detailed resume, a cover letter highlighting relevant experience, transcripts, bar certification, and a legal writing sample.

The cover letter should include the announcement number, job title, and location.

All applicants will have to apply through USA Staffing: Vacancy Announcement Number: H-DEA-25-12777470-DE-DJ

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.

(It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.)

3. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account, or your application will be incomplete.

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

Salary listed includes locality: (GS13: $120,579 - 156,755) (GS14: $142,488 - 185,284) (GS15: $167,603 - 195,200)