Closing Date: 21st October, 2026
Description:
Summary:The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture (MNF) 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 top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
Duties:
The incumbent serves as a Trial Attorney in one of the below MNF units. Applicants should identify in their cover letter any preference as to which MNF unit they would prefer to be assigned.
The Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
The Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.
The International Unit investigates and prosecutes cross-border money laundering schemes involving transnational criminal organizations, cartels, foreign official corruption and related money laundering affecting the U.S. financial system and prosecutes criminal cases and civil forfeiture matters to recover the proceeds of those crimes.
As a Trial Attorney, the incumbent:
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
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. 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.
Preferred Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include experience in complex investigations and litigation, and the skills and knowledge necessary to bring large, difficult, and complex cases to trial; 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.
In the Bank Integrity Unit: Experience with criminal offenses involving financial institutions and their officers, employees, and agents, including violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, the Money Laundering Control Act, and U.S. sanctions regimes (such as IEEPA and TWEA), and pursuing related asset forfeitures.
In the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit: Experience with complex money laundering involving third party, professional money laundering organizations, including entities that launder for drug cartels, fraudsters, and human trafficking/human smuggling groups, and with criminal and civil forfeiture actions.
In the International Unit: Experience with complex, sensitive, and high-profile criminal and civil investigations and cases involving international money laundering, transnational criminal organizations, foreign corruption, or sanctions evasion; obtaining foreign based evidence; conducting criminal and civil discovery; and civil forfeiture proceedings.
Education:
A J.D., or equivalent, degree.
Applicants who possess an equivalent degree rather than a J.D. may be subject to additional review by the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management.
Additional Information:
Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement to fill vacancies that occur subsequent to this announcement.
The Criminal Division participates in the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Additional information on DOJ's EEO policy can be found on our website. (https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline#:~:text=We%20must%20ensure%20that%20no,status%2C%20marital%20status%2C%20political%20affiliation)
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. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys' Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. Citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. Citizens are 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.
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.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please reach out to criminal.crmjobs@usdoj.gov or (202) 514-0361 for alternative application procedures.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Human Resources team at CRM.RA@usdoj.gov. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Fair Chance to Compete: The Fair Chance Act prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOJ employee or Federal contractor acting on its behalf has violated your rights under this Act, yo
The Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
The Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.
The International Unit investigates and prosecutes cross-border money laundering schemes involving transnational criminal organizations, cartels, foreign official corruption and related money laundering affecting the U.S. financial system and prosecutes criminal cases and civil forfeiture matters to recover the proceeds of those crimes.
As a Trial Attorney, the incumbent:
- Independently investigates and prosecutes criminal offenses within MNF's mission, and pursues related criminal and civil asset forfeitures;
- Leads complex investigations in districts throughout the United States;
- Utilizes sophisticated law enforcement techniques to obtain evidence from various sources and jurisdictions;
- Partners effectively with U.S. Attorney's Offices and law enforcement agencies to advance investigations and prosecutions;
- Recommends charging decisions and proposes dispositions in accordance with Department, Division, and Section policies and practices;
- Produces discovery, prepares for trial, and tries cases in federal courts throughout the United States;
- Briefs supervisors to include 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;
- Maintains positive and effective relationships with law enforcement partners; and
- Advises federal agents and prosecutors on complicated questions of law and Department policy;
- Collaborates professionally with paralegals and administrative personnel;
- Mentors and advises more junior attorneys; and
- Participates in outreach and training with law enforcement and prosecution partners throughout the United States and abroad.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to qualify for this position.
- You must undergo a pre-employment security investigation.
- All male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the selective service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
- Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
- You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- A two-year trial period may be required.
Qualifications:
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. 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.
Preferred Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include experience in complex investigations and litigation, and the skills and knowledge necessary to bring large, difficult, and complex cases to trial; 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.
In the Bank Integrity Unit: Experience with criminal offenses involving financial institutions and their officers, employees, and agents, including violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, the Money Laundering Control Act, and U.S. sanctions regimes (such as IEEPA and TWEA), and pursuing related asset forfeitures.
In the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit: Experience with complex money laundering involving third party, professional money laundering organizations, including entities that launder for drug cartels, fraudsters, and human trafficking/human smuggling groups, and with criminal and civil forfeiture actions.
In the International Unit: Experience with complex, sensitive, and high-profile criminal and civil investigations and cases involving international money laundering, transnational criminal organizations, foreign corruption, or sanctions evasion; obtaining foreign based evidence; conducting criminal and civil discovery; and civil forfeiture proceedings.
Education:
A J.D., or equivalent, degree.
Applicants who possess an equivalent degree rather than a J.D. may be subject to additional review by the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management.
Additional Information:
Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement to fill vacancies that occur subsequent to this announcement.
The Criminal Division participates in the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Additional information on DOJ's EEO policy can be found on our website. (https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline#:~:text=We%20must%20ensure%20that%20no,status%2C%20marital%20status%2C%20political%20affiliation)
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. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys' Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. Citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. Citizens are 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.
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.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please reach out to criminal.crmjobs@usdoj.gov or (202) 514-0361 for alternative application procedures.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Human Resources team at CRM.RA@usdoj.gov. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Fair Chance to Compete: The Fair Chance Act prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOJ employee or Federal contractor acting on its behalf has violated your rights under this Act, yo