Retired FBI Special Agent John JJ Robinson returns to Help From My Friends Friday. John is a lawyer, screenwriter and security expert who generously assists authors in bringing authenticity to their writing. Today, he discusses the FBI’s Legal Attache Program and one of his assignments. Welcome back, John! ~ Donnell
The FBI’s Legal Attaché Program (LEGAT)
by John “JJ” Robinson
Author John J.J. Robinson
Amongst the many inquiries that I view from writers, one of the most frequent areas of interest relates to the interaction and cooperation between foreign law enforcement agencies and US law enforcement officers (LEOs) and agencies. My responses to these questions inevitably include some reference to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Legal Attaché (LEGAT) Program.
Like many bureaucratic organizations there are many misconceptions and misunderstandings in the public’s eye as to the origin and purpose of the Program. During my 28-year career as a Special Agent with the FBI, I feel fortunate to have been selected to serve as a LEGAT on a temporary duty (TDY) assignment in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina a few months after the US established diplomatic relations following the Bosnian War (1992-1995). As a result of my experiences and training, I felt it might be beneficial to inform and hopefully clarify the purpose of the program and the duties of a LEGAT serving in a foreign country.
HISTORY
With the transitory nature of humans along goes criminal activity. In the early 1900s it was easy for criminals to cross a state or country border to avoid prosecution. In an initial attempt to address these matters, several European countries created Interpol in 1923. In 1938, the US joined the organization which currently has 196 nation members.
In addition to Interpol, the European community also created Europol (European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) to address security and criminal issues unique to Europe and the EU. Europol primarily consist of European nation partners, but they have cooperative agreements with non-members. The US is not an official member of Europol, but there is mutual agreement to exchange technical and strategic information in preventing and investigating international crime.
In the 1940s the US was experiencing diplomatic and international criminal issues that prompted the FBI to assign Special Agents to the US Embassies in Mexico, Columbia, Canada and London. These agents were designated as Legal Attachés (LEGATs) and officially attached to the US Embassy. At the present time (2024) the amount of LEGATS and Support personal assigned to overseas locations has reached over 90 countries.
The LEGAT program is managed by the International Operations Division (IOD) located at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. 
LEGATs are selected from Special Agents who submit requests for assignments to the various overseas postings. If selected, the Special Agent is assigned to the IOD with a duty station at a specific US Embassy. These assignments are usually limited to two to three years. After which time the Special Agent will be reassigned to a post at another Field Office, Division or FBI HQ.
There are also temporary duty (TDY) assignments as LEGATs who are occasionally deployed overseas. This can be the result of increased activity that is occurring at an overseas location where additional resources are deemed essential to the FBI mission. These TDY assignments are usually three to six months in duration. During this time the Special Agent remains officially assigned to his/her Division or Field Office of origin as a temporary assignment to the IOD with a duty assignment to the US Embassy.
LEGAT MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The LEGAT is the official representative of the FBI Director in the country to which they are posted. The LEGAT will facilitate any
requests for information between the host country law enforcement agencies and US federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. He/She may also assist in coordinating local host country agencies in the performance of their investigations.
The LEGAT also has the responsibility of briefing the ambassador on situations that may affect US security and the political relationship between the US and the host nation. As a representative of the US and the FBI, the LEGAT is encouraged to develop relationships with the local law enforcement agencies that could foster the future exchange of information between the Bureau and the host agencies. Another important duty that a LEGAT is responsible for is to provide law enforcement-related training to host countries as it may relate to US legal and law enforcement policies and programs.
MY TDY ASSIGNMENT TO SARAJEVO, BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA
Every LEGAT assignment is different and unique. International relations, politics, language and cultures all have an impact on the 
duties that a LEGAT may be required or permitted to perform.
My TDY assignment as a LEGAT occurred shortly after the US and European nations military peace keeping units occupied the area of Bosnia Herzegovina that was formerly Yugoslavia. Sarajevo was still considered a “war zone” and we were required to be armed whenever we travelled outside the immediate area. The US Embassy was located in Sarajevo and the LEGAT presence was considered a satellite office of the LEGAT in the US Embassy in Vienna, Austria.
During my assignment I traveled throughout the various cantons (similar to US state counties) and interacted with the host law enforcement agencies. We discussed their current operational activities and any possible situations that could involve the assistance of the US Government and, specifically, the FBI.
We also interacted with the US Army forces stationed at Camp Eagle. We assisted them on several cases involving the activities of local nationals hired by the US military and working at the base. In addition, we investigated several cases where Bosnian nationals were accused of committing acts of violence against US troops deployed in Bosnia Herzegovina. These investigations were a result of a recently enacted US law that sought to prosecute and punish any acts of violence perpetrated against US troops deployed in Bosnia.
In response to a request from the US Ambassador, we organized a presentation and discussion group that was delivered to a group of Bosnian judges on the history and organization of the FBI, US law enforcement agencies and procedures as well as the LEGAT Program.
During my deployment we received a request from the US Ambassador to organize a presentation and discussion group that would be delivered to a group of Bosnian judges. The subject of the presentation focused on the history and organization of the FBI, US law enforcement agencies and procedures as well as the LEGAT Program. The discussion group portion of the presentation focused on the legal, procedural and evidentiary differences and similarities between US and the new Bosnian legal and judicial systems.
SUMMATION
As a contributor to several writers’ websites and BLOGS, I’m often asked questions about FBI policy and investigative procedures. It’s my hope that an understanding of the complexities and nuances of an agent’s job, including that of a LEGAT, will bring more realism to writers’ stories. As a retired agent reading a crime novel, I tend to notice when an inaccurate policy or procedure is depicted involving a Bureau character. However, as an avid reader of crime and suspense novels, I thoroughly understand the need for literary license to make a story work. If it were only that easy in real life!
About the Author: John “JJ” Robinson is a retired Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent with 28 years of service. He was an Operator, Sniper and Sniper Team Leader in the San Francisco Division FBI SWAT Team for 16 years. He currently resides in Nevada and is the founder and Managing Member of O’Hana Security Consultants, LLC.
John, thank you. Adding yet another article to my research list. To say you’ve been around the block is an understatement 🙂
Around the block, across the street and through many a hill and dale. And I show every bit of the mileage.
Thank you for the opportunity to share and hopefully, enlighten.
J
John, thank you for sharing your interesting history. Enlightening and dangerous.
Always a pleasure Steve. Thank you for taking the time to read the article (which is totally credited to Donnell) and respond.
J
Thanks, John. I just finished a book using an FBI character at the Kenyan LEGAT who gets sent to the Congo. He was in Kenya temporarily (6 months) and I wasn’t sure that would be viable, but see that as totally possible now. He also carried in the Congo (and had security provided by the US embassy and the Congolese army) because of where they needed him to go (eastern jungle) to help assess a dead body there. That provided for all sorts of dynamics between all the entities. Probably a lot of stretching reality but at least what you said gives me a jumping off point in reality. Thanks. PS, Thanks for being such an integral part of Crimescenewriter too!
Sandy, it’s funny that you mentioned Kenya. I was there on a TDY assignment (not as a LEGAT) with our (San Francisco) FBI SWAT Team in 1998 following the bombing of the US Embassy. We were there to provide security for the Bu’s Evidence Response Team (EVT) that was combing through the debris for evidence from the explosion. At that time we did not have a LEGAT assigned there. But possibly as a result of the bombing our embassy eventually added a LEGAT slot there. I had a very interesting tour of duty there and I loved the locals. I wrote a very short story about my TDY assignment there which I would love to share. Possibly for Donnell to consider for her blog at a later date.
A temporary duty (TDY) assignment as a LEGAT is quite common and I would think six (6) months would be reasonable. The duration is predicated upon the needs and interests of the US Government and/or the FBI. For continuity you could have your FBI agent finishing up his TDY assignment in Kenya when a new requirement developed in the Congo. It could be decided at FBIHQ level that since your character was already in the area (Kenya) and his specialty was with evidence collection he would be redirected to the Congo.
This would require direct interaction between the FBIHQ and the US Ambassador in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I don’t believe there is a LEGAT designated to support the Congo so this would be a unique situation.
But, if you can make it sound or read logically, it could work. It sounds very interesting. You have your main storyline with undercurrents of international politics. I like it!
Good luck.
JJ
Sandy, sounds fascinating and based on what I read from John’s article, highly possible.
John, I’d love to read your short story and see if it’s a fit for the blog.
Many thanks for the detailed information. You have a wealth of knowledge and are generous with all you share on crimescenewriter!
You are very welcome and thank you for the positive response. Knowledge is of little value if it is not shared with those seeking to be enlightened.
JJ