Attorney Advisor (General)

The United States Department of Justice; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 122,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Chief Counsel in Arlington, VA, seeks attorneys to provide legal advice and defend DEA in employment-related litigation. Ideal candidates have a JD, active bar, strong advocacy, and the ability to manage complex cases with minimal guidance.

Positions are at GS-13/14/15 levels with relocation and occasional travel as needed. Responsibilities include defending DEA before MSPB/EEOC, advising management on personnel matters,

Qualifications

• Active bar in good standing (U.S. jurisdiction); J.D. degree (or equivalent).
• Strong oral and written advocacy skills; superior research and analytical abilities.
• Experience in litigation, employment law, or related fields; ability to work with minimal guidance.

Responsibilities

• Defend DEA in administrative, employment-law cases before MSPB and EEOC.
• Serve as agency counsel working with U.S. Attorney offices to defend DEA in federal employment-related lawsuits.
• Provide advice to DEA management on employment and personnel matters.
• Review grievances, performance improvement plans, reasonable accommodations, and disciplinary actions.
• Liaise with the Office of Special Counsel and Department of Labor on investigations.

Job description

Application Deadline:

Thursday, September 17, 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. Become a member of a team where you can achieve your career goals and apply your skills and talents to our important mission.

This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administrator (DEA), Office of Chief Counsel. This position's primary purpose is to provide legal advice, review disciplinary proposals, defend DEA in employment-related administrative litigation, and support the defense of DEA in federal employment-related lawsuits.

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.

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 Employment and Defensive Litigation Section (EDL) is a one-stop shop for all DEA personnel and employment law issues. EDL attorneys provide legal advice, review disciplinary proposals, defend DEA in employment-related administrative litigation, and support the defense of DEA in federal employment-related lawsuits. EDL handles a wide range of employment-related disputes and litigation matters. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical abilities, excellent advocacy and litigation skills, and experience managing complex cases in a fast-paced environment and handling employment law counseling matters.

Some duties of EDL attorneys include:

• Defending DEA in administrative, employment-law cases before the Merit Systems Protection Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Serving as agency counsel working with United States Attorney offices to defend DEA in federal employment-related lawsuits across the country.
• Providing advice to DEA management on employment and personnel matters.
• Providing advice/review on grievances, performance improvement plans, reasonable accommodations, security clearance suspensions/revocations, disciplinary actions, and similar matters.
• Serving as DEA liaison in response to various employment-related investigations, including those by the Office of Special Counsel and Department of Labor.

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 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; and 5) a demonstrated ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment.

Applicants applying for the GS-13 must have 2 or more years of cumulative post J.D. legal experience in litigation, employment law, and/or a judicial clerkship.

Applicants applying for the GS-14 must have 3 or more years of cumulative post J.D. legal experience in employment in litigation, employment law, and/or a judicial clerkship. Applicants should have substantial post-JD experience working on relevant legal matters, such as employment law counseling matters or litigation matters, with little or no guidance and/or supervision. Applicants should have mediation and/or hearing experience.

Applicants applying for the GS-15 must have 4 or more years of cumulative post J.D. legal experience in employment in litigation, employment law, and/or a judicial clerkship. Applicants should have substantial post-JD experience working on relevant legal matters, such as employment law counseling matters or litigation matters, with little or no guidance and/or supervision. Applicants must have mediation and/or hearing experience leading teams and/or advising senior leadership on legal and policy matters.

Qualifying litigation experience may include civil, administrative, or criminal litigation. Applicants should have a strong interest in civil litigation and employment law. Preferred applicants will have prior experience in a judicial clerkship and/or civil or administrative litigation (particularly that is related to employment law). Applicants must possess superior research, analytical, and writing abilities.

Salary listed includes locality:

Salary listed includes locality: (GS13: $121,785 - $158,322) (GS14: $143,913 - $187,093) (GS15: $169,279 - $197,200)

Number of Positions

2

Travel

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation Expenses

None

This and othervacancy announcements can be found underAttorney Vacancies andVolunteer Legal Internships . The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.