Attorney Advisor (General)

⁠​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌⁠This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Administrative Law Judges.

This position is located in the Office of Administrative Law Judges, 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.

A J.D. degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

For a list of schools that meet these criteria, see www.ed.gov.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: ww.naces.org/members.php. In conformity with the Administrative Procedures Act, 5 U.S.C. 551, et. seq. as well as the Controlled Substances Act and its attendant regulations, 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.

• Reviewing Issues presented that are often of extreme complexity, involving mixed medical, scientific and economic considerations as well as legal ones.

• Preparing drafts of procedural orders and formal judicial opinions or decisions to be issued by the Judge, making substantive, procedural, and evidentiary recommendations with respect to the issues presented in each case.

• Rendering legal advice and assistance with respect to issues and arguments presented before an Administrative Law Judge (Judge) having to do with the regulatory functions of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 801, et seq., as amended.
• Serving as the Judge's conduit for communication with the parties regarding logistical issues, handles all exhibits and court clerk duties at formal hearings, arranges prehearing conferences, and performs a host of other administrative duties.
• Dealing with a wide variety of administrative and security personnel at state, federal, and administrative courthouses all over the country to assure that hearings proceed in appropriate surroundings with due decorum and expeditiously without interruption.

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; and 6) experience as a law clerk or in administrative law preferred but not required.

To qualify for each GS Level:

-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.