Legal Careers
Trial Attorney, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit
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.
The incumbent serves as a trial attorney in the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit (NDDU), which prosecutes the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
The incumbent:
- Manages complex investigations and prosecutions against cartels and drug trafficking organizations charged in the federal courts in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States.
- Uses sophisticated techniques to pursue cutting edge investigations against transnational criminal organizations.
- Coordinates with U.S. and foreign law enforcement to gather evidence in the United States and overseas.
- Makes charging decisions and proposes dispositions with regard to assigned cases. Briefs unit, Section, and Division leadership on these decisions.
- Researches and writes pleadings and proceeds to trial in federal court.
- Advises agents and partners on complex legal questions and Department policy related to narcotics charges and prosecution of cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
- Manages the work of the investigative team and preparation for trial including working with paralegals, analysts, and support staff.
- Participates in training courses, seminars, conferences throughout the United States.
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.
- To qualify at the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have at least four (4) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-14 grade level. Examples of specialized experience include: independently performing legal analysis; composing pleadings, briefs and other court documents involving unique and/or difficult legal issues in civil or criminal litigation; conducting highly complex civil or criminal litigation; and leading paralegals and support staff.
- To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, applicants must have at least three (3) years post J.D. legal experience, one of which was specialized experience at, or equivalent to, the GS-13 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.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience in complex investigations and litigation, and the skills and knowledge necessary to bring large, difficult, and complex cases to trial; experience with international narcotics investigations and prosecutions; the ability to write clear and persuasive criminal pleadings at the district court and appellate level; skills in legal research, issue spotting, and legal analysis; attention to detail; ability to conduct concise yet thorough oral briefings; and the ability to exercise sound judgment. In addition, the successful candidate must have strong interpersonal and leadership skills, and the ability to work successfully in a team setting.
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.
- 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.
- Once you have an account, apply to the USA jobs vacancy: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/865472600?_gl=1*19j3bl3*_ga*MzczMTMwMTkwLjE3NzYzNTM3MTI.*_ga_5222X8D281*czE3NzYzNTM3MjEkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzYzNTQ1MzAkajYwJGwwJGgw
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.
The salary range for this position is $169,279 – $197,200 per annum, which includes locality pay. See OPM’s Web page at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2026/DCB.pdf
Department Policies
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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.
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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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