EXPERIENCED TRIAL ATTORNEY
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CRIMINAL DIVISION
NARCOTIC AND DANGEROUS DRUG SECTION
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 09-CRM-NDDS-010
About the Office: The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, seeks a dynamic and seasoned attorney to serve as an Assistant Judicial Attache in Bogota, Colombia for a two-year term appointment. The Criminal Division also will consider applicants who are currently employed by the Department of Justice and desire to be considered for a two-year detail to this position.
Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: The incumbent provides technical assistance and legal advice to the U.S. Embassy and Department of Justice on issues regarding extradition, money laundering, asset forfeiture and other legal issues. Provide technical assistance to the Government of Colombia and advice to the U.S. Embassy and Department of Justice on proposed legislation in the areas of extradition, money laundering, asset forfeiture, narcotic laws and other legislative proposals impacting on the interests of the United States Government. Provide technical assistance and advice to the U.S. Embassy on the drafting and implementation of bilateral agreements. Provide technical assistance and advice to the U.S. Embassy and Department of Justice on issues regarding judicial cooperation, evidence and information exchanges. Act as liaison between the Government of Colombia judicial institutions and the United States Government. Coordinate the efforts and contributions of applicable United States Government agencies and advise them on Colombian Law. In consultation with the Department of Justice, give specific explanations and recommendations on the prosecutorial value and use of evidence and information requested. Provide the United States Ambassador, the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice and other relevant United States agencies regular briefings and recommendations on general issues affecting Colombian legal institutions. Assist, as appropriate, Department of Justice, Agency for International Development, and the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, and Assistance and Training, Criminal Division, Department of Justice to identify training and technical assistance needs for Colombian officials. Assist, as appropriate, Colombian counterparts in joint investigations and prosecutions. Provide assistance and information to the Government of Colombia regarding the functioning of the United States Justice System.
Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia and have at least five years of post-J.D. legal experience. Applicants must have excellent interpersonal skills, be a self-starter, fluent in spoken Spanish, proficient in written Spanish, and have extensive prosecutorial experience.
Salary Information:
GS-13: $70,615 - $91,801 per annum
GS-14: $83,445 - $108,483 per annum
GS-15: $98,156 - $127,604 per annum
Submission Process and Deadline Date: Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, a current performance appraisal (if applicable). Please send your resume to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section
1400 New York Avenue NW, 11th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Attn: Charlene Briggs-Plunkett
This position is open until April 27th, 2009. The incumbent will be eligible for foreign allowances in accordance with the Department of State Standardized Regulations. Currently, allowances for Bogota Columbia are 15% post hazard differential pay, and a 5% danger pay allowance. Additional incentives or allowances may be considered.
Internet Sites: This and selected other legal position announcements can be found on the Internet at: http://www.usdoj.gov/oarm/attvacancies.html
Department Policies: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, disability, age, status as a parent, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization, or personal favoritism. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. 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.
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.
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 are encouraged to include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214 or other substantiating documents) to their submissions.
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.