Legal Careers
Trial Attorney (Asset Forfeiture Fellow)
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who conceal profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees who violate money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and sanctions laws; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF, in partnership with the Justice Management Division's Asset Forfeiture Management Staff, leads the Department's Asset Forfeiture Program (AFP) and provides oversight of the Assets Forfeiture Fund (AFF). MNF administers the Department's asset forfeiture victim compensation program, which has provided over $12B in compensation for victims between 2000 and 2025, and the Department's equitable sharing program supporting over 6,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. MNF also provides expert guidance to and coordinates with Department leadership and components and federal, state, local, and foreign jurisdictions in prosecuting money laundering, financial institution cases, asset recovery matters, cartels, transnational criminal organizations and drug traffickers. The Section provides assistance to the Department, other agencies, and Congress by advising on legislative proposals to enhance the Department's ability to take the profit out of crime and combat transnational narcotics trafficking.
As an Asset Forfeiture Fellow in the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit of MNF, the incumbent conducts and monitors investigations, prepares and conducts trials and related litigation, and advises on pleadings and other court filings, in close consultation with Unit management and more experienced attorneys. As a Trial Attorney, the incumbent:
- Gains expertise in money laundering and forfeiture laws, supporting and leading financial investigations to dismantle money laundering organizations.
- Contributes to the development and maintenance of the Section's program to target financial facilitators; and fosters effective national investigation and prosecution of money laundering. This includes advising on strategy and legal complexities and participating in efforts to develop litigation priorities, policy, and legislative recommendations.
- Under the guidance of unit management and more senior prosecutors leads, supports and undertakes the most complex investigations and prosecutions within the federal courts throughout the United States; makes charging decisions and proposes dispositions with regard to assigned cases, issues lacking precedent, and other challenges in compliance with Department, Division, and Section policies and practices.
- Coordinates, deconflicts and partners with U.S. Attorneys and attorneys in other federal law enforcement agencies in the development and management of investigations and prosecutions money laundering organizations. Advises and instructs federal agents and U.S. Attorneys on complicated questions of law and Departmental policy.
- Consults with, and briefs unit management, as well as the Section Chief and Principal Deputy Chief, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General, and the Assistant Attorney General as necessary, on the status of all cases and matters related to enforcement against complex money laundering organizations.
- Helps to coordinate the preparation and litigation assignments of paralegals and clerical personnel.
- Participates in outreach and training conducted by MNF trial attorneys throughout the United States and abroad.
Required Qualifications:
Interested applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent, 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.
Grade Specific Qualifications:
- To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, applicants must possess a J.D., or equivalent degree.
- To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) year of post J.D. legal experience. Examples of specialized experience include: conducting legal research, drafting opinions and memoranda on criminal and civil matters, and assisting in preparation of dispositions. Applicants who do not currently have one year of post J.D. legal experience may apply for consideration at the GS-12 level if they indicate they expect to have one year of post J.D. legal experience by Fall 2026.
- To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, applicants must have at least one and a half (1.5) years of post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-12 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: performing legal analysis and formulating recommendations to senior managers; composing pleadings, briefs, and other court documents involving legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; and conducting civil or criminal litigation.
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. 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/873029900
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.
$85,447 - $158,322 per year
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.
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.