Hiring Organization
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Hiring Office
Office of Chief Counsel
Attorney Appointment Type
Attorney Permanent
Job ID
H-DEA-26-12965997-DE-DJ
Location:
2500 Investigation Parkway
Quantico, VA 22134 - United States
Application Deadline:
Wednesday, June 10, 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 located 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, 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.
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 Strategic Programs Section (SPS) is comprised of attorneys, Special Agent Attorneys, and technical support staff, who provide a wide range of support to meet DEA’s operational needs.
The purpose of SPS is to focus on some of DEA’s most prevalent and visible programs, and to facilitate:
- The mitigation of legal risks to the agency and its personnel through thoughtful and creative legal guidance.
- DEA personnel receiving thorough and detailed entry level and in-service training.
- Proper coordination and communication both within DEA and externally with other enforcement and regulatory agencies.
In addition, the Use of Force Unit has Special Agent Attorneys within the Section who instruct at Basic Agent, Basic Intelligence Research Specialist, Basic Diversion Investigator, Basic Forensic Chemist, Group Supervisor Schools, and at numerous other courses conducted at the Academy.
Special Agent Attorneys:
Perform legal reviews of lesson plans for the entire Office of Training. This Unit does ongoing analysis of Agency priorities or changes in the law to determine the need for new or updated legal training.
Conduct research in all facets of drug law enforcement operations.
Research development of programs of instruction, lesson plans, evaluations, tests, and written legal materials produced by the Attorney/Instructor focus on the legal issues related to the operational needs of DEA personnel.
Research legal issues related to criminal investigations, intelligence, forensics, and diversion prevention.
Conduct studies and evaluations of all instruction required in the DEA training programs in order to assist in developing the appropriate legal curriculum for courses of study related to criminal investigations, intelligence, forensics, and diversion prevention.
Establish, develop, and maintain professional relationships with other attorneys and experts in DEA and other agencies within the areas of DEA training programs in order to remain informed regarding the nature of emerging or current legal issues related to criminal investigations, intelligence, forensics, and diversion prevention.
Conduct presentations, briefings, lectures and other legal training programs both at the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and in the field.
Conduct the primary legal training during the basic training programs at the DEA Training Academy in addition to conducting advanced training in various legal topics pertaining to the counterdrug mission.
Coordinate, conduct, and participate in moot court exercises at the DEA Training Academy and in the field, as necessary, and work with members of the DEA Training Academy staff in constructing scenarios suitable for later use as the basis for moot court exercises.
Coordinate the participation of other attorneys assisting in the playing of the roles of prosecutor, defense counsel, and judge in moot court exercises.
Do your career "Justice" by working with DOJ, which has been ranked in the Top 10 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. Come and join the nation’s law enforcement agency, where our most important resource is our people. The Department leads the nation in ensuring the protection of all Americans while preserving their constitutional freedoms. Become a member of a team where you can achieve your career goals and apply your skills and talents to our important mission. 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.
Qualifications
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Five (5) or more years of Law Enforcement and/or criminal investigations background is required.
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 5-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-15 must have 5 or more years of post J.D. legal experience in law enforcement operations or use of force, criminal or civil litigation, and/or legal instruction or course development.
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.
If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.
Application Process
Apply through USAJOBS - Vacancy Announcement No. H-DEA-26-12965997-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.
Required for ALL Applicants
Cover letter describing your interest in the position.
Resume - Showing applicant's 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.
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: (GS15: $169,279 - $197,200)
