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Attorney Advisor (General)
Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration
Office of Chief Counsel
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Summary
Department of Justice (DOJ) agencies post experienced attorney job announcements on the DOJ Careers page.
The DOJ typically hires hundreds of attorneys each year.
Learn more about this agency
Summary
Department of Justice (DOJ) agencies post experienced attorney job announcements on the DOJ Careers page.
The DOJ typically hires hundreds of attorneys each year.
Learn more about this agency
Overview
Help
Posted today · Apply by 06/05/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 5, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Arlington, VA
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $121,785 - $197,200 per year Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 15
Promotion potential 15
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule Full-time Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a union No
Drug test Yes Security clearance Top Secret Position sensitivity and risk Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number H-DEA-26-12970390-DE-DJ Control number 871005600
This job is open to
Help
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
Clarification from the agency
U.S. Citizens
Duties
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The Diversion Law Section works with investigators across the country to bring administrative enforcement actions against individuals and companies in the pharmaceutical industry who handle controlled substances in a manner inconsistent with federal regulations; provides legal guidance relating to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA); litigates complex matters in administrative court and coordinates parallel criminal and civil proceedings; provides legal guidance in the promulgation of regulations; reviews legislative proposals; and provides training to DEA personnel in this area of law. Attorneys in the Diversion Law Section may engage in litigation activities, legal review activities, or both.
For litigation attorneys, duties also include:
For legal review attorneys, duties also include:
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
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.
Preferred Experience: Expertise in the Controlled Substances Act is preferred. For litigating attorneys, experience in litigation and regulatory compliance is highly preferred. For legal review attorneys, extensive knowledge of the Administrative Procedure Act is required and knowledge of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) or training and experience in scientific areas such as biochemistry or pharmacology is highly desirable but not required.
To qualify for each GS Level:
Education
A J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
For a list of schools that meet these criteria, see www.ed.gov.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php.
Additional information
All applicants for employment with DEA must possess and maintain the highest levels of character and conduct. DEA will evaluate applicants qualifications based on these qualities. Once a conditional offer is made, DEA will conduct a continuous evaluation of information, as it is obtained, to ensure that the prospective employees with DEA meet the agency-specific qualifications in the areas of character and conduct. To this end, an unfavorable decision in any of the areas that follow will be deemed as disqualifying: Drug Policy Requirements (as specified in this announcement), Credit History, Candor and Honesty, Work History, History with the Law, and other qualities that would detract from the integrity and efficiency of the DEA.
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. 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 conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
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, writing sample, cover letter, transcripts, and bar membership), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
The assessment questionnaire includes four short, free-response essay questions which provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question in 200-words or less. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and have not used a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application.
Agency and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for selection priority. Candidates are considered well qualified if their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) exceed the minimum qualifications described in the announcement.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required documents
Required Documents
Help
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.
Required for ALL Applicants
Cover letter describing your interest in the position.
Resume - Showing applicants name, email address, 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. (No more than 2 pages)
Writing Sample - A brief or comparable analytic legal exposition that is your work product. (No more than 10 pages).
Law School Transcripts - Submit a copy of your law school transcript(s) (unofficial is acceptable). Applicants must be graduates of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
Proof of current and active bar association membership.
SF-50 (If Applicable) - SF-50(s) must show the effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, competitive status, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position.
Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents.
Political Appointees (Current and Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Help
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.
You may update your application documents and some questions related to your personal information at any time during the announcement open period. However, you will not be able to make changes to questions related to assessing the minimum qualifications and competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics) mentioned in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. To make an allowed update to your application, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Agency contact information
Debra Jordan
Phone 571-776-2688 Email debra.m.jordan@dea.gov Address Drug Enforcement Administration
Do Not Send Postal Mail
Springfield, VA 21310
US
Next steps
Once the online application package is received, you will be notified through USAJOBS of your qualification status and referral or non-referral to the hiring official for further consideration. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.We will notify you by email the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. Your application status will be updated up to four times during the following hiring phases:
Your status will also be updated on your USAJOBS account throughout the process.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period
Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service Signature and false statements
Social security number request
Required Documents
Help
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.
Required for ALL Applicants
Cover letter describing your interest in the position.
Resume - Showing applicants name, email address, 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. (No more than 2 pages)
Writing Sample - A brief or comparable analytic legal exposition that is your work product. (No more than 10 pages).
Law School Transcripts - Submit a copy of your law school transcript(s) (unofficial is acceptable). Applicants must be graduates of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
Proof of current and active bar association membership.
SF-50 (If Applicable) - SF-50(s) must show the effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, competitive status, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position.
Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents.
Political Appointees (Current and Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Help
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.
You may update your application documents and some questions related to your personal information at any time during the announcement open period. However, you will not be able to make changes to questions related to assessing the minimum qualifications and competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics) mentioned in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. To make an allowed update to your application, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Expand Hide how to apply
Agency contact information
Debra Jordan
Phone 571-776-2688 Email debra.m.jordan@dea.gov Address Drug Enforcement Administration
Do Not Send Postal Mail
Springfield, VA 21310
US
Next steps
Once the online application package is received, you will be notified through USAJOBS of your qualification status and referral or non-referral to the hiring official for further consideration. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.We will notify you by email the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. Your application status will be updated up to four times during the following hiring phases:
Your status will also be updated on your USAJOBS account throughout the process.
Expand Hide next steps
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability New employee probationary period
Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy
Selective Service Signature and false statements
Social security number request
Drug Enforcement Administration
TOUGH WORK. VITAL MISSION. Challenge yourself! You have the power to help combat drug trafficking. Be a part of DEA! Its tough work, but a vital mission. Whatever your background or expertise, your work at DEA will be tremendously rewarding because it will have a daily impact on national security and the quality of life of all Americans.
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, and memorandum opinions, 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 DEAs mission.
The Department of Justice seeks to build and retain a workforce that shares our commitment to public service and welcomes interested applicants.
Agency contact information
Debra Jordan
Phone 571-776-2688 Email debra.m.jordan@dea.gov Address Drug Enforcement Administration
Do Not Send Postal Mail
Springfield, VA 21310
US
Visit our careers page
Learn more about what its like to work at Drug Enforcement Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.
https://www.dea.gov/index.shtml
Summary
Department of Justice (DOJ) agencies post experienced attorney job announcements on the DOJ Careers page.
The DOJ typically hires hundreds of attorneys each year.
Learn more about this agency
Overview
Help
Posted today · Apply by 06/05/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 5, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Arlington, VA
No matching locations found.
Work site options
Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $121,785 - $197,200 per year Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 15
Promotion potential 15
Learn more about pay scale and grade
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule Full-time Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a union No
Drug test Yes Security clearance Top Secret Position sensitivity and risk Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number H-DEA-26-12970390-DE-DJ Control number 871005600
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