Legal Careers
Attorney Advisor (Deputy Judicial Attache)
The Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice seeks a dynamic and seasoned attorney to serve as a Deputy Judicial Attaché in Bogota, Colombia. This position is a two-year reimbursable detail.
The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) supervises and has responsibility for enforcing federal statutes pertaining to 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 relating to the federal narcotics law enforcement including proposed and enacted legislation, policy, enforcement initiatives, and criminal and civil litigation. The section has direct litigation responsibilities in significant investigations and prosecutions targeting national and international narcotics trafficking and money laundering organizations.
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 Judicial Attaché ensures that U.S. law enforcement interests are represented and given priority at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota. Provides assistance to the U.S. Embassy, Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, state prosecutors and federal law enforcement agencies on bilateral law enforcement operations such as extradition, bilateral evidence sharing, and undercover operations. Works to strengthen relations between the United States government and Colombian investigative, prosecutorial and judicial institutions to ensure efficient legal procedures for bilateral law enforcement initiatives. Advocates for legal and policy reforms to overcome obstacles and make the bilateral law enforcement relationship run more efficiently. Facilitates negotiations for the drafting of bilateral agreements and helps oversee their implementation. Provides the U.S. Ambassador, the Department of Justice, and other U.S. agencies with briefings, advice and recommendations on issues affecting the bilateral law enforcement relationship. Enlists support from other Embassy agencies, including securing operational law enforcement training and technical assistance for key Colombian officials and institutions, and funds for projects important to the bilateral law enforcement relationship. Facilitates requests by the Colombian government to obtain evidence or witness testimony from the U.S. Ensures U.S. prosecutors and agents provide relevant assistance to Colombian officials and follow protocols to maintain and strengthen the law enforcement relationship with Colombia.
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. Applicants must be an active member of the bar in good standing.
- GS-15: At least five (5) years post J.D. experience, one of which must be equivalent to the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include working as a lead attorney on felony level cases or specialized criminal litigation (i.e. white collar, computer crime, racketeering), cross examining witnesses, and leading the work of support attorneys and paralegals.
- GS-14: At least three (3) years post J.D. experience, one year of which must be equivalent to the GS-13 federal grade level. Examples of specialized experience include working as an attorney on felony level cases or specialized criminal litigation (i.e. white collar, computer crime, and racketeering). Handles smaller cases independently and works as part of trial team on larger, more complex cases.
All applicants must be fluent in spoken Spanish and proficient in written Spanish at a professional level.
Applicants must have or be able to obtain through their Component/Agency and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications: Your qualifications will be further evaluated based upon the following competencies. You are required to respond to each competency in the occupational questionnaire portion of this announcement. Failure to respond to these questions may result in your being deemed not highly qualified for the position.
- Knowledge of issues affecting a U.S. bilateral law enforcement relationship with other countries and Colombia in particular.
- Experience managing complex international counternarcotics investigations and extraterritorial prosecutions.
- Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships with federal law enforcement agencies and components of the federal government.
- Experience working with MLATS, informal evidence-sharing, provisional arrest warrants, extraditions and the tools, techniques and authorities available for complex transnational criminal investigations.
- Experience in the following areas: corruption and public integrity conduct affecting U.S. bilateral justice interests (such as FCPA violations and kleptocracy), illicit finances (including money laundering, asset forfeiture and transnational financial crime); and other forms of transnational organized crime (such as human smuggling, arms trafficking and transnational child exploitation).
Although this vacancy announcement expires on March 4, 2024, the announcement may be closed at any time if selections are made. The Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, on the closing date of this announcement. All interested attorneys meeting these qualifications should submit a cover letter and resume to barbara.lee@usdoj.gov.
Under a detail assignment, there is no change to the selectee’s base pay. If applicable, the selectee will also receive appropriate post and overseas salary differentials.
Department Policies
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.
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.
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.
Unless otherwise required by law, the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits employees of the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal contractor acting on its behalf from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history record, either in writing or orally, before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to the hiring office using the contact information listed in the announcement.
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.
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).
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.
This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer 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.