Attorney Advisor (General)

Closing Date: 24th February, 2026

Description:

Job Description:
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) & Information Law Section provides authoritative legal counsel on FOIA and all information-disclosure matters involving DEA records, including records implicating active cartel investigations, sensitive law enforcement techniques, and cross-border operations. The Section serves as agency counsel in federal FOIA litigation and functions as the gatekeeper for DEA information release. Section attorneys advise on complex and high-risk FOIA requests; interagency, congressional, and state and local information demands; disclosure of DEA information held by other agencies; and compliance with all laws, regulations, and policies governing the collection, retention, and protection of sensitive law enforcement information. Attorneys independently deliver expert-level advice, coordinate litigation strategy with Assistant United States Attorneys, and work across DEA Headquarters, Field Divisions, and the Office of Chief Counsel to identify and mitigate disclosure risks with agency-wide impact.

Duties also include:

• Lead the evaluation and application of FOIA exemptions, particularly complex ones like Exemption 6, 7C, 7E, and 7D and prepare detailed justification demonstrating facts to support the use of the exemption and the ability to articulate a foreseeable harm analysis.
• Oversee FOIA administrative appeals, work collaboratively with the FOIA Intake and Processing Unit and collaborate with law enforcement divisions to ensure FOIA processing aligns with DEA's ongoing investigative efforts while balancing transparency requirements.
• Assess and mitigate disclosure risks with agency wide operational, reputational, or national security implications.
• Conduct legal review of audio, video, and photographic footage requested for commercial media use to ensure compliance with FOIA, Privacy Act, and DEA policy.

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; and 5) a demonstrated ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment. Five (5) years of legal experience is preferred, and experience in administrative law is also preferred but not required.

To qualify for each GS level:

• Applicants applying for the GS-13 must have 2 or more years of post J.D. legal experience
• Applicants applying for the GS-14 must have 3 or more years of post J.D. legal experience
• Applicants applying for the GS-15 must have 4 or more years of post J.D. legal experience

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: www.naces.org/members.php.

Salary:
Salary listed includes locality: (GS-13 $121,785 - $158,322) (GS-14 $143,913 - $187,093) (GS-15 $169,279 - $197,200)

Number of Positions
1

Travel:

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