Legal Careers
Attorney Advisor (Senior Counsel - Death Penalty)
St. Louis, MO 63103 - United States
This position is organizationally assigned to the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) North Central Regional Office. The physical duty location is at the Consolidated Legal Center (CLC) in St. Louis, Missouri. The legal practice at St. Louis CLC covers a wide variety of issues focusing on correctional law and litigation, either through administrative or litigation channels and includes such matters as inmates' reasonable access to the courts (through access to legal materials, legal correspondence, and attorney-client visits), conditions of confinement, medical care, diet and religious accommodations, housing assignments, hygiene and sanitation, and discipline. The office handles issues specifically related to the federal death penalty, execution protocols, and correctional legal issues arising from the confinement of individuals sentenced to death.
The incumbent is responsible for directing, managing, and implementing Presidential Executive Orders, Department of Justice (DOJ) directives and guidance, and BOP initiatives related to the federal death penalty. The incumbent works closely with and advises BOP Executive staff and DOJ senior leadership to develop and manage policy initiatives related to the death penalty and to ensure obligations related to the federal death penalty are fulfilled.
The incumbent provides legal advice and guidance regarding the confinement of death sentenced inmates, which may include issues relating to access to counsel and the courts, conditions of confinement, medical or mental health treatment, and access to or denial of rights or privileges unique to this population. This may require occasional travel to the Special Confinement Unit, located in Terre Haute, Indiana, or other facilities housing death-sentenced inmates.
The incumbent is responsible for analyzing, providing legal interpretations, and preparing reports concerning the development and implementation of the federal execution protocol. This may involve leading a team of attorneys and other subject matter experts to provide recommendations concerning the development, adoption, or modification of federal execution protocols.
The incumbent will assist U.S. Attorney's Offices and DOJ litigating components to defend litigation arising from the administration of the federal death penalty, execution protocols, or civil litigation relating to the confinement of death sentenced inmates and will provide assistance during capital prosecutions of federal defendants. The incumbent provides advice and guidance regarding the processing of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests concerning the federal death penalty and provides assistance to defend litigation resulting therefrom.
The incumbent may be required to attend federal executions to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory framework, legal precedent, Executive Orders, and departmental policy and may oversee, coordinate, or direct BOP staff in carrying out a federal death sentence.
Applicants who are not current Federal government employees will be covered by Non-Federal Law Enforcement retirement.
Current Federal Government employees covered under Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) retirement and have not completed three years of primary LEO coverage, will not be covered by Law Enforcement Retirement while in this position. Applicants must return to a position with primary LEO position to
regain coverage.
A prerequisite of the secondary law enforcement position is the completion of the mandatory courses in "Introduction to Correctional Techniques Phase I and Phase II". If you have not completed the mandatory courses in "Introduction to Correctional Techniques Phase I and Phase II", you are ineligible for a secondary law enforcement position and coverage. This is not applicable to non-law enforcement positions.
Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), and have at least four (4) years of post - J.D. experience, and some experience related to the death penalty.
Preferred qualifications: Prior and extensive experience in correctional law and/or federal civil litigation is preferred, but not required.
Applicants must submit a cover letter highlighting relevant experience, resume (not to exceed two pages), list of references, and a writing sample by August 17, 2026 to Christina Scofield, Regional Counsel, North Central Region, at cscofield@bop.gov.
Please include "Attorney Advisor (Senior Counsel - Death Penalty)" in the subject line.
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.
Current salary and years of experience will determine the appropriate salary level. The possible salary range, including locality pay adjustments, is GS-15 ($151,699 to $197,200).
Department Policies
The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and treating employees with fairness, dignity and compassion. We must ensure that no applicant for employment or employee of our Department is denied equal opportunity because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex – including pregnancy – or because of age, physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor and that all have the freedom to compete on a fair and level playing field. To learn more, please view the Department’s full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy 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://help.usajobs.gov/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.
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.
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