Attorney Advisor (General)

Application Deadline Monday, August 17, 2026 About the Office This position is located in the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), in Arlington, Virginia. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) OALJ, under the administrative supervision of the Chief Administrative Law Judge, conducts adjudicatory hearings throughout the United States in formal, contested, often complex administrative proceedings which arise under the Controlled Substances Act. The litigations are frequently complex, highly contested, and often subject to demanding time constraints. Job Description the incumbent is required to perform legal analysis, legal research, and legal writing as an Attorney Advisor/Law Clerk to an Administrative Law Judge and serve as the primary court room clerk during formal hearing sessions. Litigation issues include registration and controlled substance scheduling issues and involve the interpretation and application of federal and state law. Qualifications All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. All applicants must be an active member of a bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction) and possess:

1. a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and have at least 1-year post-J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience;
2. excellent academic credentials;
3. strong oral and written advocacy skills;
4. superior legal research and analytical skills;
5. demonstrated ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment;
6. experience as a law clerk or in administrative law preferred but not required.

Applicants applying for the GS-12 must have 1-year post J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience such as law clerk, litigation, administrative law or adjudication experience. Applicants applying for the GS-13 must have 2 or more years of post J.D. (or equivalent) legal or other relevant experience such as law clerk, litigation, administrative law or adjudication experience, travel regulations, and case management experience. Political Appointees (Current and Former) Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. 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. GS 12 $102,415.00 - $133,142.00 and GS 13 $121,785.00 - $158,322.00 includes locality pay Number of Positions 1 Travel Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocation Expenses None This and othervacancy 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr The United States Department of Justice