Legal Careers
Supervisory Trial Attorney (Assistant Deputy Chief)
The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) supervises and has responsibility for enforcing federal statutes pertaining to narco-terrorism, narcotic drugs and other controlled substances. The Section advises the Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice and other federal officials involved in drug enforcement on all matters related to federal and international narcotics law enforcement including proposed and enacted legislation, policy, enforcement initiatives, and criminal and civil litigation. The Section has direct litigation responsibilities in significant drug and international investigations and prosecutions targeting national and international narcotics trafficking and money laundering organizations.
Litigation Unit attorneys work with federal law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and prosecute the most significant national and international drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Litigation Unit attorneys prosecute major transnational narcotic traffickers, money launderers and weapons traffickers in U.S. courts, using evidence gathered by U.S. federal agents in the United States, and often utilizing evidence gathered by foreign law enforcement officials abroad.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
The incumbent will serve as one of two Assistant Deputy Chiefs in the Litigation Unit, assisting the Unit's Deputy Chief in the direction and supervision of the Unit's attorneys and paralegals in carrying out the litigation functions of the Section.
As a Supervisory Trial Attorney/Assistant Deputy Chief, the incumbent will:
- Oversee the development of complex investigations and prosecutions;
- Assist and advise trial attorneys on litigation-related matters;
- Approve leave, plans, schedules, and coordinates work operations;
- Develop, analyze and recommend policies applicable to the Section regarding all aspects of drug law enforcement, including prevention and detection of criminal/civil activity, use and application of investigative and prosecutorial techniques, and civil/criminal practices and procedures.
- Evaluate work performance; provide advice and instructions to staff;
- Interview and recommend the selection of candidates;
- Resolve employee complaints, take action on disciplinary matters, and identify training needs;
- Represent the Section in Department, interagency and other committees and groups and task forces;
- On occasion, as directed by the Deputy Chief of the Litigation Unit, personally handle particularly complex cases and matters in court, as the Section's lead attorney or in substitution for another attorney from the Section.
- Develop and maintain personal contacts with officials and employees of U.S. Attorneys' Offices, other litigating components of the Criminal Division, and federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
The incumbent reports through the Deputy Chief of the Litigation Unit to the Principal Deputy Chief.
Required Qualifications
Interested applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of any State, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member of the bar in good standing.
Applicants must also have five (5) or more years of post J.D. legal experience, three of which involve federal prosecutorial experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior management experience and experience investigating and prosecuting complex, federal international narcotics cases, is preferred, but not required.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. A list of eligible candidates will be referred to the hiring managers every two week during the open period of the announcement. If you are interested in applying, it is recommended that you do so early.
The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement.
Please submit your application through USAJOBS. The list of required documents can be found in the USAJobs announcement.
1. If you do not already have an account, please create a USAjobs account before applying Create an Account. You will be able to upload your resume and supporting documents and complete your profile prior to applying.
2. Once you have an account, apply to the USAjobs vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/420414200.
The salary range for this position is GS-15, $126,245 - $158,700 per annum, which includes locality pay. See OPM's Web page at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/sala…
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Department Policies
Equal Employment Opportunity: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.
Reasonable Accommodations: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities: The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.
Suitability and Citizenship: It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.
Veterans: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
USAO Residency Requirement: Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.
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